The words “bargain” and “insurance” probably shouldn’t be used in the same sentence, especially when you are looking for the best insurance rates for drivers under 25. In an attempt to save some money, let’s open your eyes to a few of the factors that can significantly affect insurance premiums, and find out if we can help you shave a little off the next policy you buy.
For drivers age 25 and younger, one of the largest factors that determine the annual cost of car insurance is where you choose to live. More populated areas tend to have higher auto insurance costs, whereas more rural areas profit from lower rates.
The table below shows the most costly cities in Washington for drivers under 25 to buy auto insurance in. Seattle ranks #5 with an annual rate of $1,405 on average, which is approximately $117 monthly.
| Rank | City | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tacoma | $1,441 |
| 2 | Federal Way | $1,435 |
| 3 | Lakewood | $1,434 |
| 4 | Auburn | $1,422 |
| 5 | Seattle | $1,405 |
| 6 | Kent | $1,391 |
| 7 | Renton | $1,361 |
| 8 | South Hill | $1,314 |
| 9 | Shoreline | $1,312 |
| 10 | Bellevue | $1,243 |
| 11 | Everett | $1,238 |
| 12 | Marysville | $1,208 |
| 13 | Redmond | $1,201 |
| 14 | Sammamish | $1,196 |
| 15 | Kirkland | $1,195 |
| 16 | Vancouver | $1,181 |
| 17 | Lacey | $1,111 |
| 18 | Olympia | $1,105 |
| 19 | Spokane | $1,071 |
| 20 | Spokane Valley | $1,054 |
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Premium costs are estimated as the specific geographic location can increase or decrease auto insurance rates greatly.
Deciphering which company offers the best car insurance rates for drivers under 25 involves a bit more effort than just getting one or two price quotes. Every car insurance company used slightly different criteria to set premium rates, so let’s take a look at the car insurance companies with the overall cheapest rates in Washington.
Keep in mind that Washington car insurance rates are based on many factors that will increase or decrease the cost of your policy. Simply turning a year older, moving to a new city, or having an accident can trigger changes in premium that may make certain companies more affordable than before.
Cheap Insurance Rates for Young Drivers
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Capital | $754 |
| 2 | Grange | $822 |
| 3 | Nationwide | $981 |
| 4 | PEMCO | $994 |
| 5 | Travelers | $998 |
| 6 | Mutual Enumclaw | $1,034 |
| 7 | USAA | $1,060 |
| 8 | California Casualty | $1,083 |
| 9 | The Hartford | $1,090 |
| 10 | Chubb | $1,116 |
| 11 | Allied | $1,131 |
| 12 | State Farm | $1,176 |
| 13 | Safeco | $1,192 |
| 14 | Amica | $1,206 |
| 15 | American Family | $1,208 |
| 16 | Liberty Mutual | $1,257 |
| 17 | Farmers | $1,329 |
| 18 | National General | $1,480 |
| 19 | Progressive | $1,480 |
| 20 | MetLife | $1,647 |
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Capital quotes some of the cheapest car insurance rates in Seattle at around $754 per year. This is $658 less than the average premium paid by Washington drivers of $1,412. Grange, Nationwide, PEMCO, and Travelers also are some of the best Seattle, WA car insurance companies.
As shown in the table above, if you are currently insured with Grange and switched to Capital, you may see yearly savings of in the vicinity of $68. Policyholders with Nationwide may save as much as $227 a year, and PEMCO insureds might cut rates by $240 a year.
Remember that these premium estimates are averages for all insureds and vehicles and and are not calculated with an exact location for drivers under 25. So the car insurance company that fits your situation best may not even be in the top 25 companies in the list above. That emphasizes why you need to get quotes using your own specific driver and vehicle information.
The vehicle you are insuring is probably the most important factor when comparing the lowest-priced auto insurance for drivers under 25. Vehicles with average performance, an excellent safety record, or low incidents of liability claims will cost less to insure than high performance models.
The information below shows auto insurance rates for a handful of the most cost-effective vehicles to insure in Washington.
| Vehicle Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda CR-V EX 4WD | $3,376 |
| Ford Escape Limited 4WD | $3,591 |
| Hyundai Elantra SE Touring Station Wagon | $3,598 |
| Toyota Prius | $3,641 |
| Ford Explorer XLT 2WD | $3,728 |
| Ford F-150 XL Regular Cab 4WD | $3,737 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan Hero | $3,943 |
| Toyota Camry LE | $3,951 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LT 2WD | $3,943 |
| Chevrolet Impala LT | $3,952 |
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 4WD | $3,943 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4WD | $3,953 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab TRD Off-Road Package 4WD | $3,993 |
| Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport 2WD 4-Dr | $4,060 |
| Ford Edge Limited AWD | $4,155 |
| Toyota Corolla S | $4,165 |
| Nissan Altima 2.5 S 4-Dr Sedan | $4,155 |
| Find Cheaper Rates Go | |
Data variables include single female driver age 20, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Washington minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, and safe-driver. Price estimates do not factor in zip code location which can increase or decrease premiums significantly.
By looking at the data, models like the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, Hyundai Elantra, and Toyota Prius are going to be some of the less-costly vehicles to insure for drivers age 25 and younger. Car insurance rates will tend to be more expensive anyway just because there is more claim risk for drivers under 25, but overall those vehicles will tend to have the cheapest car insurance rates that you are likely to find.
Careless Seattle drivers pay higher rates
The best way to find good car insurance rates for drivers age 25 and younger is to be a cautious driver and not receive tickets or have accidents. The diagram below shows how traffic citations and fender-benders raise insurance rates for each different age category. The premiums assume a single female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $500 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.
In the previous chart, the average cost of auto insurance in Washington per year with no accidents and a clean driving record is $1,450. Factor in two speeding tickets and the average cost jumps to $1,942, an increase of $492 each year. Next add one accident along with the two speeding tickets and the annual cost of car insurance for drivers under 25 jumps again to an average of $2,436. That’s an increase of $987, or $82 per month, just for not maintaining a clean driving record!
Get discounts on Seattle car insurance rates
Insurers that sell policies for drivers under 25 may have policy discounts that could potentially reduce rates by 40% or more if you meet the requirements. Companies and the discounts they provide are detailed below.
- 21st Century includes discounts for driver training, theft prevention, early bird, good student, and anti-lock brakes.
- State Farm discounts include good driver, defensive driving training, multiple autos, Steer Clear safe driver discount, passive restraint, accident-free, and good student.
- AAA offers discounts for education and occupation, multi-car, multi-policy, anti-theft, AAA membership discount, and good student.
- Liberty Mutual may have discounts that include newly married, new move discount, preferred payment discount, newly retired, multi-policy, new graduate, and hybrid vehicle.
- Progressive has savings for good student, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, online quote discount, continuous coverage, and homeowner.
The information below illustrates the difference between car insurance rates with and without discounts. The prices are based on a female driver, no accidents, no driving violations, Washington state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $250 deductibles.
The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second bar shows the rates with continuous coverage, good student, paid-in-full, vehicle safety, anti-theft, and passive restraint discounts applied. In this example, theaverage yearly reduction on car insurance for drivers under 25 is 21% or $312.
If you like to have some professional guidance when shopping for the best coverage for drivers age 25 and younger, the agents shown below are willing to help you make a decision which coverages and limits you need.
To find a Seattle insurance agency using an interactive map, click the button link following the list or click here to compare prices now.
Sound Insurance Agency, Inc.
9627 Aurora Ave N – Seattle, WA 98103 – (206) 527-0888
Allstate Insurance: Josh Boender
4453 California Ave SW – Seattle, WA 98116 – (206) 932-2191
Mark Hafemeister – State Farm Insurance Agent
14322 Lake City Way NE – Seattle, WA 98125 – (206) 365-0600
Jeffrey Taylor – State Farm Insurance Agent
4850 Rainier Ave S – Seattle, WA 98118 – (206) 725-8008
More insurance agents in Seattle, WA
How to find more affordable car insurance for drivers under 25
The list below summarizes some money-saving ideas that can help drivers buy more affordable coverage.
- Increase your credit score
- At-fault accidents can raise rates significantly
- The safer your car, the less it costs to insure
- Ensure your driving record is clean
- Higher physical damage deductibles lower rates
- Ensure you have the best deal by shopping around regularly
That last tip is extraordinarily necessary, as we noted in this write-up. Prices in Seattle fluctuate constantly, so don’t be unwilling to change to a new company if a more affordable price is available.
Having a favorite company is great, but it’s not a great idea if your bullheadedness ends up costing you a considerable chunk of change every month. Now is a great time to compare prices and find cheaper car insurance for drivers under 25.