The words “bargain” and “insurance” probably shouldn’t be used together, specifically when you are trying to find the best coverage prices for 16 year olds. Let’s familiarize you with some of the things that have an impact on car insurance prices, and find out if you can shave a little off the next policy you buy.
For new drivers, one of the more important considerations that determine the annual cost of car insurance is the neighborhood you call home in Seattle. Larger areas tend to pay more, whereas areas that tend to be more rural benefit from lower coverage costs.
The following table shows the highest-priced areas in Washington for 16 year olds in which to purchase auto insurance. Seattle makes the list at #3 having an annual price of $1,391 for the average policy, which is about $116 monthly.
| Rank | City | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tacoma | $1,441 |
| 2 | Federal Way | $1,421 |
| 3 | Seattle | $1,391 |
| 4 | Lakewood | $1,378 |
| 5 | Auburn | $1,366 |
| 6 | Renton | $1,361 |
| 7 | South Hill | $1,354 |
| 8 | Kent | $1,350 |
| 9 | Shoreline | $1,312 |
| 10 | Everett | $1,288 |
| 11 | Marysville | $1,245 |
| 12 | Redmond | $1,214 |
| 13 | Bellevue | $1,206 |
| 14 | Sammamish | $1,196 |
| 15 | Kirkland | $1,195 |
| 16 | Vancouver | $1,192 |
| 17 | Spokane | $1,104 |
| 18 | Lacey | $1,089 |
| 19 | Spokane Valley | $1,087 |
| 20 | Olympia | $1,083 |
| Find Cheaper Insurance Go | ||
Annual rates are estimated as the specific area where the vehicle is garaged can change premium rates considerably.
The type of vehicle you are seeking coverage for is one of the main factors when shopping around for low-cost insurance for 16 year olds. Vehicles with average performance, advanced safety features, or a track record of few liability claims will cost substantially less to insure than fast, unsafe models. The list below estimates coverage rates for the cheaper automobiles to buy insurance for.
| Make, Model, and Trim Level | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda CR-V EX 2WD | $6,007 |
| Ford Escape XLT 4WD | $6,060 |
| Hyundai Elantra SE Touring Station Wagon | $6,426 |
| Toyota Prius | $6,482 |
| Honda Odyssey LX | $6,705 |
| Ford F-150 XLT Super Cab 2WD | $6,758 |
| Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4WD 2-Dr | $6,767 |
| Volkswagen Jetta 2.0T Station Wagon | $6,847 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LS AWD | $7,123 |
| Toyota RAV4 4WD | $7,131 |
| Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid | $7,123 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4WD | $7,132 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab TRD Sport Package 4WD | $7,179 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan Crew | $7,187 |
| Ford Explorer Limited AWD | $7,179 |
| Toyota Corolla LE | $7,489 |
| Ford Edge Limited AWD | $7,494 |
| Chevrolet Impala LTZ | $7,489 |
| Toyota Camry XLE | $7,495 |
| GMC Sierra 2500HD SLE Regular Cab 4WD | $7,545 |
| Find Cheaper Rates Go | |
Prices above based on single female driver age 16, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Washington minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, and safe-driver. Rate information does not factor in Seattle, WA location which can alter prices significantly.
Looking at the data, models like the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, Hyundai Elantra, and Toyota Prius will be the cheaper vehicles to insure for new drivers. Prices will be more expensive because there is more exposure for 16 year olds, but generally speaking those models will tend to have the best rates that you’ll find.
Finding reliable, cheap insurance is hard enough, and finding out which companies have the cheapest auto insurance rates for 16 year olds takes even more perseverance.
Each insurer uses their own calculation for determining prices, so let’s begin by taking a look at the most competitive auto insurance companies in Seattle. It’s a good idea to be aware that Seattle, WA auto insurance rates are calculated based on many things which can significantly increase or decrease the price you pay. That is why it is so important to compare as many rates as possible when trying to get the most affordable insurance quotes for 16 year olds. Prices are impacted by many risk factors and change dramatically, so the cheapest rate six months ago may now be costing you a lot of money.
Best Car Insurance Prices for Teens
Capital offers some of the best car insurance rates in Seattle at around $754 a year. Grange, PEMCO, Nationwide, and Travelers also rank well as some of the lowest-priced Seattle, WA car insurance companies.
As shown in the rates above, if you are a customer of Nationwide and switched to Grange, you could see yearly savings of around $168. Customers with Travelers may save as much as $185 a year, and Mutual Enumclaw insureds might lower prices by up to $221 a year.
These premium estimates are averages for all ages of drivers and types of vehicles and do not take into consideration a specific vehicle garaging location for 16 year olds. So the car insurance company that fits your age and vehicle best may not even be in the list above. That is why you need to get rate quotes from many companies using your own driver and vehicle profiles.
Auto insurance company ratings
Selecting the top insurance company can be a challenge considering how many companies provide coverage in Washington. The company information in the next section may help you decide which companies to look at purchasing from. These ratings are only comprised of companies that write coverage in many states, so smaller companies that only insure vehicles in Washington are not taken into consideration for this list.
| Company | Value | Customer Service | Claims | Customer Satisfaction | A.M Best Rating | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | 98 | 100 | 100 | 94% | A++ | 98.6 |
| American Family | 98 | 89 | 100 | 86% | A | 95.4 |
| State Farm | 88 | 93 | 96 | 90% | A++ | 92.4 |
| The Hartford | 94 | 92 | 90 | 89% | A+ | 91.7 |
| AAA Insurance | 88 | 89 | 95 | 91% | A | 91.2 |
| GEICO | 84 | 93 | 93 | 89% | A++ | 90.3 |
| The General | 89 | 91 | 89 | 88% | A- | 90 |
| Titan Insurance | 90 | 87 | 91 | 95% | A+ | 89.6 |
| Progressive | 84 | 91 | 93 | 87% | A+ | 89.5 |
| Allstate | 85 | 90 | 92 | 88% | A+ | 89.3 |
| Nationwide | 87 | 88 | 84 | 90% | A+ | 88.7 |
| Liberty Mutual | 84 | 87 | 93 | 88% | A | 88.5 |
| 21st Century | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88% | A | 86.7 |
| Esurance | 85 | 80 | 95 | 87% | A+ | 85.9 |
| Safeco | 85 | 85 | 85 | 86% | A | 85.8 |
| Compare Rates Now Go | ||||||
Data Source: Insure.com Best Car Insurance Companies
Rate increases following a ticket or accident
The recommended way to score low auto insurance prices for new drivers is to be a cautious driver and avoid accidents and keep your driving record clean. The information below highlights how speeding tickets and fender-benders can raise yearly insurance costs for different ages of insureds. The price estimates are based on a single male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $250 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.
In the chart above, the average cost of auto insurance in Seattle per year with a clean driving record and no accidents is $1,553. Get written up for one speeding ticket and the average cost rises to $1,748, an increase of $195 each year. Then add in two accidents along with the one speeding ticket and the annual cost of auto insurance for 16 year olds jumps again to an average of $3,440. That’s an increase of $1,887, or $157 per month, just for not keeping your driving record clean!
Don’t stick with an overpriced policy
Seattle, WA auto insurance rates are impacted by many factors which can significantly increase or decrease the cost of having a policy. Turning one year older, increasing deductibles, or having a fender bender may cause policy rate changes that can now make some companies more affordable than before.
In addition to those changes, auto insurance companies change their prices multiple times each year to ensure their profitability. Larger than normal claims can result in increased rates, while a better loss history can result in lower-priced Seattle car insurance rates.
The graph below demonstrates which company has the cheapest car insurance in Seattle, WA for a 30-year-old female driver with no violations or accidents, and a good credit history. If we estimate prices based on her current rating profile, Capital offers the cheapest car insurance rates in Seattle at $1,062 annually. This is $350 less than the average price paid by Washington drivers of $1,412. Grange, Nationwide, PEMCO, and Mutual Enumclaw are the remaining cheapest Seattle, WA auto insurance companies.
In the next rate comparison, we’ll give the driver from the first rate comparison an at-fault accident, bad credit, and a stop sign violation. Since each auto insurer has their own guidelines for setting rates, getting updated rate quotes will most likely result in a completely different list of the cheapest Seattle car insurance companies as shown below.
USAA now has the lowest price in Seattle with The Hartford, California Casualty, Chubb, and State Farm also being competitive. This example demonstrates why it is critical to compare many different companies to find affordable auto insurance quotes for 16 year olds.
Auto insurance prices are impacted by many factors and can increase or decrease at any time, so the most affordable company a year ago may now be one of the more expensive options.
If you prefer to have a consultation when trying to find the best insurance rates for new drivers, the agencies below are willing to provide answers to your questions and help you determine which coverages are best. To locate an agency in your neighborhood, click the button at the bottom of the list.
- Brent Amacher – State Farm Insurance Agent
2319 California Ave SW Ste A – Seattle, WA 98116 – (206) 935-0499 - Brian Chambers – State Farm Insurance Agent
3206 16th Ave W – Seattle, WA 98119 – (206) 285-3003 - Kent Christianson – State Farm Insurance Agent
1705 N 45th, Ste A – Seattle, WA 98103 – (206) 632-8000
More Seattle, WA insurance agents
How to find budget-friendly car insurance for 16 year olds
Here are some of the better money-saving solutions that can help drivers find cheaper coverage.
- If possible, do not file small claims
- Accidents can significantly increase rates
- Drive safe vehicles
- Buying home and auto together can help save money
- Avoid getting tickets or violations
- Compare prices as often as possible
That last idea is remarkably valuable, as was stressed in this article. Insurance rates can change considerably based on profitability, so drivers shouldn’t hesitate to buy a policy from a new company if you can find a cheaper rate.
Having brand loyalty is commendable, but it’s not a great idea if that stubbornness costs you hundreds of dollars year after year. In just a few minutes you could compare rates and find cheaper insurance for 16 year olds in Seattle.