The words “low-priced” and “auto insurance” really shouldn’t be used in the same sentence, especially when shopping around for the cheapest auto insurance for good students. Because it’s not cheap, let’s start the ball rolling by going over a few of the things that significantly impact auto insurance rates, and see if you can take a little off the next policy you buy.
Finding dependable, low-cost insurance is hard enough, and deciding which companies offer the lowest-priced auto insurance rates for good students will take a bit more work. Each insurance company has a unique formula to set their prices, so let’s take a look at the auto insurance companies with the overall best prices in Washington.
It’s important to understand that Washington auto insurance rates are based on many factors which can substantially decrease or increase the policy premium. Simply improving your credit score, buying a home instead of renting, or having a fender bender may cause policy rate changes resulting in some companies being higher-priced than before.
Compare Cheap Insurance Quotes for Students
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Capital | $754 |
| 2 | Grange | $838 |
| 3 | PEMCO | $974 |
| 4 | Nationwide | $990 |
| 5 | Travelers | $1,038 |
| 6 | USAA | $1,050 |
| 7 | Mutual Enumclaw | $1,065 |
| 8 | California Casualty | $1,072 |
| 9 | The Hartford | $1,080 |
| 10 | Chubb | $1,094 |
| 11 | Allied | $1,109 |
| 12 | State Farm | $1,130 |
| 13 | American Family | $1,172 |
| 14 | Amica | $1,219 |
| 15 | Safeco | $1,228 |
| 16 | Liberty Mutual | $1,257 |
| 17 | Farmers | $1,315 |
| 18 | Progressive | $1,510 |
| 19 | National General | $1,540 |
| 20 | MetLife | $1,631 |
| Get a Custom Quote Go | ||
Capital may have some of the lowest car insurance rates in Seattle at around $754 a year. Grange, PEMCO, Nationwide, and Travelers also make the cut as some of the cheapest Seattle, WA insurance companies.
As shown in the table above, if you currently buy coverage from Grange and switched to Capital, you could see an annual savings of in the neighborhood of $84. Washington drivers with PEMCO could save as much as $220 a year, and Nationwide policyholders might lower prices by $236 a year.
To compare your rates to other Washington insurance companies, click here to begin a quote or quote prices from the following companies.
Bear in mind that those policy prices are averages for all drivers and vehicles in Washington and and are not calculated with a specific location for good students. So the company that has the cheapest rates for you may not even be in the top 25 companies shown above. That helps illustrate why you need to compare prices as often as possible using your own driver information and specific vehicle type.
For student drivers, one of the largest considerations that are used to help calculate the annual cost of car insurance is your zip code. Cities with larger populations or higher claim trends are more likely to pay higher prices, whereas areas with fewer weather claims and lower vehicle theft rates tend to receive slightly lower rates.
The illustration below lists the most expensive areas in Washington for good students in which to purchase auto insurance. Seattle is ranked #6 with the annual price of $1,363 for car insurance, which is about $114 per month.
| Rank | City | Average Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Federal Way | $1,435 |
| 2 | Lakewood | $1,392 |
| 3 | Tacoma | $1,385 |
| 4 | Auburn | $1,366 |
| 5 | Shoreline | $1,366 |
| 6 | Seattle | $1,363 |
| 7 | Renton | $1,348 |
| 8 | Kent | $1,337 |
| 9 | South Hill | $1,300 |
| 10 | Bellevue | $1,256 |
| 11 | Everett | $1,250 |
| 12 | Redmond | $1,238 |
| 13 | Sammamish | $1,232 |
| 14 | Marysville | $1,221 |
| 15 | Kirkland | $1,195 |
| 16 | Vancouver | $1,192 |
| 17 | Olympia | $1,116 |
| 18 | Lacey | $1,078 |
| 19 | Spokane Valley | $1,065 |
| 20 | Spokane | $1,060 |
| Get a Custom Quote Go | ||
Premium costs are estimated as the specific zip code location can change premium rates noticeably.
The car, truck, or SUV that is being insured is a large consideration that determines whether or not you find the most economical coverage for good students. Vehicles with limited speed and performance, modern passenger safety features, or a positive history of liability claims will cost much less to insure than higher performance models. The next list ranks auto insurance prices for a handful of the most economical automobiles to insure in Washington.
| Vehicle Insured | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Ford Escape XLS 4WD | $4,831 |
| Honda CR-V EX-L 2WD | $4,886 |
| Jeep Wrangler Sport 4WD 2-Dr | $5,030 |
| Honda Accord EX-L 4-Dr Sedan | $5,212 |
| Toyota Prius | $5,264 |
| Honda Odyssey EX | $5,684 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan Hero | $5,739 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4WD | $5,747 |
| Chevrolet Impala LT | $5,739 |
| Toyota RAV4 Sport 4WD | $5,748 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LS | $5,739 |
| Ford F-150 Lariat Crew Cab 2WD | $5,791 |
| Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer AWD | $5,797 |
| Ford Focus SES 4-Dr Sedan | $6,009 |
| Hyundai Elantra SE 4-Dr Sedan | $6,065 |
| Ford Edge Limited AWD | $6,070 |
| Toyota Camry SE | $6,065 |
| Toyota Corolla LE | $6,074 |
| Nissan Altima 2.5 S 4-Dr Sedan | $6,065 |
| Volkswagen Jetta SE 4-Dr Sedan | $6,117 |
| Find Cheaper Rates Go | |
Price data assumes single female driver age 18, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Washington minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, and claim-free. Rate information does not factor in specific location which can affect premium rates considerably.
Based upon the table data, models like the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Jeep Wrangler, Honda Accord, and Toyota Prius are some of the cheaper vehicles to insure for student drivers.
Impact of careless driving on auto insurance rates
The easiest method to snag the cheapest auto insurance premiums in Seattle for student drivers is to be an attentive driver and maintain a clean driving record. The information below highlights how traffic violations and at-fault claims increase car insurance costs for different categories of driver ages. Data assumes a married male driver, full coverage, $1,000 deductibles, and no discounts are applied.
In the previous example, the average cost of auto insurance per year with no accidents or violations is $1,057. Add in two speeding tickets and the average cost swells to $1,447, an increase of $390 each year. Now throw in two accidents along with the two speeding tickets and the 12-month cost of auto insurance for good students jumps again to an average of $3,081. That’s an increase of $2,024, or $169 per month, just for being a careless driver!
The illustration below demonstrates how deductible levels can affect insurance premiums when quoting cheap insurance for good students. The premiums are based on a married female driver, comp and collision included, and no other discounts are factored in.
As shown above, a 40-year-old driver could cut expenses by $272 a year by switching their comprehensive and collision coverages from a $100 deductible up to a $500 deductible, or save $410 by changing to a $1,000 deductible. Even younger drivers, like the Age 20 chart data, could possibly save as much as $672 or more by choosing larger deductibles on their policy. When insureds make the decision to increase the deductibles on their policy, it’s a good idea to have enough funds in savings to offset the extra out-of-pocket expense associated with higher deductibles.
Here’s why price comparisons are so important
Seattle, WA auto insurance rates are impacted by many things that control the price you pay. Simply having a birthday, increasing deductibles, or getting a speeding ticket may cause policy rate changes that can make some companies more affordable than before. Not only may your risk profile change, but insurance companies file new rates multiple times each year in order to remain profitable. Heavier than normal losses can result in price increases, while lower claim expenses can produce cheaper Seattle car insurance rates.
For example, the bar chart below shows which company has the cheapest car insurance in Seattle, WA for a 35-year-old female driver with no violations or accidents, and solid credit. If we look at prices based on her personal risk profile, Capital might offer the most affordable car insurance rates in Seattle at $1,040 per year. This is $372 less than the average policy premium paid by Washington drivers of $1,412. Grange, PEMCO, Nationwide, and Travelers are the remaining best Seattle, WA auto insurance companies.
The chart below compares rates after we give the driver from the first rate comparison an accident claim, a little lower credit rating, and a stop sign violation. Since every car insurance company has their own formula to determining premium rates, comparing prices could result in a slightly different list of the cheapest companies as shown below.
California Casualty now has the best price on car insurance in Seattle, WA with The Hartford, USAA, Allied, and Chubb completing the list. This demonstrates why consumers need to spend some time comparing rates when trying to get the lowest auto insurance quotes for good students.
Insurance rates are influenced by many different factors and change substantially, so the most economical option a year ago may now not even be in the top five.
How to find cheaper insurance for good students
Lowering your rates is not difficult, and here are a few thrifty ideas that can help Washington drivers find more affordable car insurance.
- Higher credit ratings may save you money
- Try to pay small claims out-of-pocket
- Remove physical damage coverage on older vehicles
- Vehicles with good safety ratings have lower liability rates
- Buying your home and auto policies from the same company can earn a discount
- Increase the comprehensive and collision deductibles on your policy
- Ensure you have the best deal by shopping around regularly
The last item on the list is very important, as was pointed out in the article above. Car insurance prices in Seattle can be adjusted at any time, so drivers shouldn’t be resistant to switch companies if a cheaper rate is available.
Having a favorite company is fine, but it’s not a great idea if that loyalty ends up costing a fortune every year. In just a few minutes you could compare prices and find cheaper auto insurance for good students.
The auto insurance agents in Seattle shown below can answer your questions and help you decide which is the best policy, since some people have coverage questions and would like to have a little guidance when comparing insurance rates for good students. It can be hard to find the best rates on your own, and getting advice from a licensed agent can bring peace of mind knowing your coverage gives you enough coverage if you have a claim. To find a Seattle insurance agent close to where you live, click the button at the bottom of the list.
- Chuck McFarland – State Farm Insurance Agent
9776 Holman Rd NW #107 – Seattle, WA 98117 – (206) 788-4640 - Roy Potter Insurance
412 Queen Anne Ave N – Seattle, WA 98109 – (206) 284-0470 - Northwest Insurance Group
6055 California Ave SW – Seattle, WA 98136 – (206) 932-2500 - Lucho Singh – State Farm Insurance Agent
1420 Harvard Ave – Seattle, WA 98122 – (206) 329-4450 - Secord Agency Insurance
265 NE 45th St – Seattle, WA 98105 – (206) 783-4024