Deciphering which companies have the lowest-priced car insurance rates for drivers requiring a SR22 calls for a little more work in order to find the best policy.
Every insurance company has a proprietary method for filing rates in each state, so we need to take a look at the most budget-friendly car insurance companies in Washington. It’s important that readers know that Seattle car insurance rates are determined by lots of factors which can significantly increase or decrease the price you have to pay. Turning one year older, getting divorced, or getting a ticket for running a stop sign can cause premium changes that can now make some companies cheaper in comparison to the competition.
Cheap Insurance Rates for SR22 Drivers
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Capital | $754 |
| 2 | Grange | $822 |
| 3 | Nationwide | $952 |
| 4 | PEMCO | $964 |
| 5 | Travelers | $1,008 |
| 6 | Mutual Enumclaw | $1,054 |
| 7 | USAA | $1,082 |
| 8 | The Hartford | $1,090 |
| 9 | Allied | $1,098 |
| 10 | Chubb | $1,116 |
| 11 | California Casualty | $1,116 |
| 12 | State Farm | $1,165 |
| 13 | American Family | $1,208 |
| 14 | Safeco | $1,216 |
| 15 | Amica | $1,256 |
| 16 | Liberty Mutual | $1,309 |
| 17 | Farmers | $1,329 |
| 18 | Progressive | $1,480 |
| 19 | National General | $1,495 |
| 20 | MetLife | $1,631 |
| View More Rates Go | ||
Capital quotes some of the lowest car insurance rates in Seattle at around $754 each year. This is $658 less than the average price paid by Washington drivers of $1,412. Grange, Nationwide, PEMCO, and Travelers also make the cut as some of the lowest-priced Seattle, WA car insurance companies.
In the above rates, if you currently have a policy with Travelers and switched to Grange, you could realize an annual savings of around $186. Washington drivers with Mutual Enumclaw may save as much as $232 a year, and USAA policyholders might reduce rates by $260 a year.
Be aware that those premium estimates are averages for all insureds and vehicles and and are not calculated with a vehicle location for drivers requiring a SR22. So the auto insurance company that has the cheapest price for you may not even be in the list above. That’s why you need to compare rates from multiple companies using your own driver information and specific vehicle type.
For high risk drivers, one of the big considerations that help determine auto insurance rates is the neighborhood you call home in Seattle. More populated areas tend to have more expensive car insurance rates, whereas areas with less congestion tend to receive cheaper rates.
The information below sorts the most expensive cities in Washington for drivers requiring a SR22 to buy auto insurance in. Seattle ranks #7 with the annual price of $1,349 for the average policyholder, which is approximately $112 each month.
| Rank | City | Average Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tacoma | $1,441 |
| 2 | Lakewood | $1,434 |
| 3 | Renton | $1,389 |
| 4 | Federal Way | $1,379 |
| 5 | Kent | $1,378 |
| 6 | Auburn | $1,366 |
| 7 | Seattle | $1,349 |
| 8 | Shoreline | $1,312 |
| 9 | South Hill | $1,300 |
| 10 | Everett | $1,250 |
| 11 | Marysville | $1,245 |
| 12 | Bellevue | $1,243 |
| 13 | Sammamish | $1,220 |
| 14 | Redmond | $1,214 |
| 15 | Kirkland | $1,195 |
| 16 | Vancouver | $1,192 |
| 17 | Olympia | $1,116 |
| 18 | Lacey | $1,111 |
| 19 | Yakima | $1,068 |
| 20 | Spokane Valley | $1,065 |
| Get a Custom Quote Go | ||
Information shown are comparative as vehicle location can lower or raise coverage prices noticeably.
Types of discounts on Seattle insurance rates
Auto insurance companies that sell policies for drivers requiring a SR22 may have special discounts that can reduce rates by as much as 35% if you meet specific criteria. A few of the larger companies and their possible discounts are shown below.
- GEICO offers premium reductions for military active duty, defensive driver, five-year accident-free, emergency military deployment, and air bags.
- SAFECO includes discounts for teen safety rewards, anti-lock brakes, bundle discounts, multi-car, homeowner, teen safe driver, and anti-theft.
- State Farm offers discounts including multiple autos, anti-theft, student away at school, driver’s education, and safe vehicle.
- MetLife discounts include good driver, good student, claim-free, defensive driver, multi-policy, accident-free
- 21st Century may offer discounts for defensive driver, driver training, automatic seat belts, good student, theft prevention, and 55 and older.
- Progressive may include discounts for multi-vehicle, good student, online quote discount, multi-policy, continuous coverage, and homeowner.
The illustration below shows the difference between insurance rates with and without discounts applied to the rates. The premium estimates are based on a female driver, one violation and one at-fault accident, Washington state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows insurance cost with no discounts. The second shows the rates with passive restraint, continuous coverage, marriage, paperless filing, multiple policy, and vehicle safety discounts applied. When drivers qualify for the discounts, theamount saved on car insurance for drivers requiring a SR22 is 28% or $753.
Insurance rate increases from tickets or accidents
The easiest way to find the most affordable car insurance premiums in Seattle for high risk drivers is to be an attentive driver and not get tickets or have accidents. The chart below highlights how traffic violations and at-fault claims can increase insurance costs for different insured age categories. The costs are based on a married male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
The chart shows that the average cost of a car insurance policy per year with no accidents and a clean driving record is $1,448. Get written up for one speeding ticket and the average cost hikes up to $1,661, an increase of $213 each year. Now include one accident along with the one speeding ticket and the yearly cost of car insurance for drivers requiring a SR22 increases to an average of $2,259. That’s an increase of $811, or $68 per month, just for not being a responsible driver!
Chances are good that you’re overpaying for Seattle car insurance
Washington car insurance rates are impacted by many factors that may substantially change the cost of your policy. Simply turning a year older, becoming a homeowner, or having an at-fault accident may generate price changes that can now make some companies cheaper than competitors.
Not only may your risk profile change, but companies file new rates multiple times each year to ensure their profitability. Higher than normal claim frequency or severity may result in additional price hikes, while a better claims history can cause lower-priced Seattle car insurance rates.
To illustrate this example, the bar chart below shows the companies that have the cheapest car insurance in Seattle, WA for a 45-year-old female driver with no accidents or violations, and a good credit history. When quoting prices based on her current risk factors, Capital may have the lowest car insurance rates in Seattle at $1,094 per year. This is $318 less than the average premium paid by Washington drivers of $1,412. Grange, PEMCO, Nationwide, and Travelers are the remainder of the cheapest Seattle, WA auto insurance companies.
Let’s now give the driver in the first chart a claim surcharge, bad credit, and a stop sign violation. Since each auto insurance company uses their own method to determine rates, comparing insurance quotes could now result in a completely different list of the cheapest companies as shown below.
Mutual Enumclaw now has the best auto insurance rate in Seattle with Chubb, USAA, Allied, and California Casualty also having competitive pricing. This demonstrates why it is so important to shop around when trying to get the most economical insurance rates for drivers requiring a SR22.
Insurance prices are made up of many different factors and can change substantially, so the best company three years ago may now be an over-priced policy.
How to find the cheapest auto insurance for drivers requiring a SR22
Lowering your rates is not difficult, and here are some thrifty suggestions that can help Washington drivers find cheaper auto insurance.
- Raise deductibles to save money
- Good credit scores may lower your rates
- Do not waste money insuring older vehicles for full coverage
- Safer vehicles generally have cheaper insurance rates
- Maintain a clean driving record
- At-fault accidents can raise rates significantly
- Shop around for cheaper rates regularly
The final tip is especially important, as was emphasized in this article. Rates can be modified anytime, so don’t be unwilling to switch carriers if a cheaper rate is available. Having brand loyalty is commendable, but we do not recommend it if it’s costing you hundreds of dollars a year. If you have a few minutes, shop around and find cheaper car insurance for drivers requiring a SR22 in Seattle.