Deciding which insurers offer the cheapest insurance rates in Seattle will involve more time in order to find the lowest price. Every insurance company has their own formula to determine premium rates, so let’s look at the rankings for the insurance companies with the most affordable rates in Seattle, WA.
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Capital | $754 |
| 2 | Grange | $838 |
| 3 | Nationwide | $961 |
| 4 | PEMCO | $994 |
| 5 | Travelers | $1,008 |
| 6 | Mutual Enumclaw | $1,054 |
| 7 | The Hartford | $1,090 |
| 8 | USAA | $1,092 |
| 9 | Chubb | $1,094 |
| 10 | California Casualty | $1,105 |
| 11 | Allied | $1,142 |
| 12 | State Farm | $1,165 |
| 13 | American Family | $1,196 |
| 14 | Amica | $1,206 |
| 15 | Safeco | $1,228 |
| 16 | Liberty Mutual | $1,257 |
| 17 | Farmers | $1,355 |
| 18 | National General | $1,495 |
| 19 | Progressive | $1,525 |
| 20 | MetLife | $1,681 |
| Find Cheaper Rates Go | ||
Capital has some of the cheapest car insurance rates in Seattle at around $754 per year. This is $658 less than the average rate paid by Washington drivers of $1,412. Grange, Nationwide, PEMCO, and Travelers also rank well as some of the lowest-priced Seattle, WA insurance companies.
As the rates illustrate above, if you have coverage with Nationwide and switched to Capital, you could realize annual savings of roughly $207. Insureds with PEMCO could save as much as $240 a year, and Travelers policyholders might cut rates by $254 a year.
Remember that these policy rates are averages for all types of insureds and vehicles and are not factoring in a specific zip code in Seattle. So the insurer that has the cheapest price for you may not even be in the list above. That emphasizes why you need to get car insurance quotes using your own personalized driver profile and vehicle information.
For drivers in Seattle, one of the more important components that are used to help calculate the price you pay for insurance is where you normally keep your vehicle. Cities with larger populations tend to pay more, whereas areas with less crime or weather claims have the luxury of cheap car insurance rates.
The next table ranks the priciest cities in Washington to purchase car insurance in. Seattle makes the list at #8 with an annual premium of $1,349 for the average insured, which is about $112 each month.
| Rank | City | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Federal Way | $1,435 |
| 2 | Tacoma | $1,427 |
| 3 | Lakewood | $1,392 |
| 4 | Kent | $1,378 |
| 5 | Shoreline | $1,366 |
| 6 | Auburn | $1,366 |
| 7 | Renton | $1,361 |
| 8 | Seattle | $1,349 |
| 9 | South Hill | $1,300 |
| 10 | Redmond | $1,251 |
| 11 | Everett | $1,238 |
| 12 | Marysville | $1,221 |
| 13 | Bellevue | $1,219 |
| 14 | Kirkland | $1,207 |
| 15 | Vancouver | $1,192 |
| 16 | Sammamish | $1,184 |
| 17 | Lacey | $1,122 |
| 18 | Olympia | $1,083 |
| 19 | Spokane | $1,071 |
| 20 | Yakima | $1,068 |
| 21 | Spokane Valley | $1,054 |
| 22 | Richland | $1,023 |
| 23 | Kennewick | $1,001 |
| 24 | Pasco | $988 |
| 25 | Bellingham | $987 |
| Find Cheaper Rates Go | ||
Premium amounts are approximated as zip code location can alter auto insurance rates considerably.
Your low-price policy may be costing you money
Washington insurance rates are determined by lots of factors that will increase or decrease the policy price. Improving your credit score, moving to a new city, or getting a DUI may generate price changes that may make certain companies cheaper than competitors. And not only may your rating factors change, but car insurance companies modify pricing multiple times each year to adjust for unexpected claims or profits. Heavier than normal losses may result in rate hikes, while a profitable period may result in lower-cost Seattle car insurance rates.
To illustrate this point, the data below shows the company with the cheapest car insurance in Seattle, WA for a 40-year-old male driver with no accidents or violations, and a good credit rating. When quoting prices based on his current rating profile, Capital may have the most affordable car insurance rates in Seattle at $1,093 each year. This is $319 less than the average rate paid by Washington drivers of $1,412. Grange, Nationwide, PEMCO, and Travelers are the remaining best Seattle, WA auto insurance companies.
The chart below compares rates after we give the driver from the first example an accident claim, slightly worse credit, and a speeding citation. Since each company uses their own formula to establish rates, getting updated rate quotes could result in a new list of the cheapest car insurance companies in Seattle as shown below.
The Hartford now has the lowest price in Seattle, WA with USAA, Chubb, California Casualty, and Grange now rounding out the top five. This example proves why Washington drivers need to compare lots of rates to get the most affordable car insurance quotes in Seattle. Insurance prices are influenced by many things and can change without notice, so the lowest-price company the last time you shopped your coverage around may now be one of the more expensive options.
The make and model of vehicle you are trying to insure is probably the biggest factor that determines the availability of affordable car insurance in Seattle. Vehicles with more horsepower, poor passenger safety features, or a high likelihood of having liability claims will cost significantly more to insure than more economical and safe models.
The information below ranks auto insurance prices for a selection of the cheaper vehicles to buy insurance for.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Ford Escape Limited 4WD | $1,442 |
| Hyundai Elantra SE Touring Station Wagon | $1,447 |
| Honda CR-V EX 2WD | $1,487 |
| Honda Odyssey EX | $1,540 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LT AWD | $1,574 |
| Toyota Prius | $1,611 |
| Ford F-150 XLT Regular Cab 4WD | $1,658 |
| Ford Explorer XLT 4WD | $1,668 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4WD | $1,712 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4WD | $1,720 |
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 4WD | $1,712 |
| Chevrolet Impala LS | $1,718 |
| Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 4WD 4-Dr | $1,740 |
| Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid | $1,757 |
| GMC Sierra SL Extended Cab 2WD | $1,767 |
| Honda Accord EX 2-Dr Coupe | $1,765 |
| GMC Sierra 2500HD SLT Extended Cab 4WD | $1,768 |
| Ford F-250 XL Super Cab Cabela Package 2WD | $1,796 |
| Ford Fusion Sport AWD 4-Dr Sedan | $1,799 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan SXT | $1,808 |
| Start Your Quote Go | |
Table data represents married male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Washington minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, multi-policy, claim-free, homeowner, and safe-driver. Price estimates do not factor in specific Seattle, WA garaging location which can decrease or increase price quotes substantially.
Looking at the rates, we can conclude that vehicles like the Ford Escape, Hyundai Elantra, Honda CR-V, Honda Odyssey, and Chevrolet Equinox will definitely be a few of the most budget-friendly vehicles to insure for drivers in Seattle.
Difference between liability only and full coverage rates
Reducing the cost of insurance is the goal of the majority of vehicle owners, and one of the fastest ways to reduce the cost of insurance in Seattle is to buy liability only. The chart below shows the difference between insurance premiums with full coverage and liability only. The data assumes no accidents, no driving violations, $1,000 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are factored in.
Averaged out for all age groups, comp and collision coverage costs $1,242 per year over liability only. That is a large expense and it proposes the question when is it safe to stop buying full coverage. There is no set rule that works best for making the decision to drop full coverage, but there is a guideline you can use. If the annual cost of comprehensive and collision coverage is about 10% or more of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, then it might be time to buy liability only.
For example, let’s assume your vehicle’s book value is $10,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most you would get paid by your company is $9,000 after paying your deductible. If you are currently paying more than $900 a year for full coverage, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.
The chart below shows how choosing a deductible can raise or lower yearly insurance costs when searching for cheap insurance in Seattle. The information is based on a married female driver, full coverage, and no discounts are applied.
The chart above illustrates that a 50-year-old driver could reduce rates by $200 a year by switching their comprehensive and collision coverages from a $100 deductible to a $500 deductible, or save $304 by using a $1,000 deductible. Even younger insureds, like the Age 20 chart data, could shave as much as $498 or even more by choosing a larger deductible amount.
When using a larger deductible, it will be important to have enough spare savings to enable you to pay the extra out-of-pocket expense, which deters some drivers from choosing higher deductibles.
Reckless driving habits raise insurance rates
The easiest way to obtain low insurance rates for drivers in Seattle is to be a careful driver and not get tickets or have accidents. The example below shows how violations and accident claims can drive up insurance premiums for each age group. The data assumes a married female driver, full coverage, $1,000 deductibles, and no discounts are factored in.
In the example above, the average cost of car insurance per year with a clean driving record and no accidents is $954. Get two speeding tickets and the average cost surges to $1,344, an increase of $390 each year. Then throw in one accident along with the two speeding tickets and the 12-month cost of insurance in Seattle increases to an average of $1,741. That’s an increase of $787, or $66 per month, just for not being attentive to the road!
How to find the cheapest auto insurance in Seattle
The list below details some of the better money-saving solutions that can help Seattle drivers locate more affordable car insurance.
- Improve your credit rating
- Safer vehicles generally have cheaper insurance rates
- Prevent rate increases by staying accident-free
- Don’t waste money on full coverage for older vehicles
- Bundle home and auto and save
- Shop your coverage around for the best deal
The last tip in the list is remarkably crucial, as was discussed in the prior information. Insurance prices in Seattle go up and down frequently, so you should be ready to buy from a new company if a cheaper price is available.
Loyalty to a specific company is fine, but it’s not a good idea if that stubbornness costs you hundreds of dollars year after year. Spend a few minutes and compare prices and find cheaper car insurance in Seattle.