Are you at wits end from not being able to afford to pay auto insurance each month? You are no different than many other Washington consumers.
Astonishing but true, almost 70% of drivers kept buying from the same company for well over three years, and almost half have never compared rates from other carriers. Washington insurance shoppers could cut their rates by approximately $400 a year by just comparing quotes, but they don’t believe the benefits if they replace their high priced policy. Drivers have multiple car insurance companies to buy insurance from, and though it is a good thing to be able to choose, more choices can make it harder to locate the cheapest rates for Kia Optima insurance in Seattle.
It’s smart to price shop coverage periodically since prices fluctuate regularly. Just because you had the lowest price on Kia Optima insurance in Seattle two years ago you will most likely find a better rate quote today. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because I’m going to teach you the quickest way to remove unneeded coverages and save money.
How to buy Kia Optima insurance in Seattle, WA
Finding cheap Seattle auto insurance rates is a fairly straight forward process. You just need to spend a few minutes comparing free Seattle auto insurance quotes provided by online insurance companies.
It’s so easy to compare quotes online that it makes it obsolete to drive around to different Seattle agent offices. The internet makes this process obsolete unless your situation requires the professional abilities that you can only get from talking to an agent. Drivers can price shop your coverage online and still use a local agent.
The providers in the list below are our best choices to provide price quotes in Seattle, WA. If the list has multiple companies, we recommend you visit as many as you can to get the best price comparison.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optima LX | $244 | $518 | $434 | $26 | $130 | $1,352 | $113 |
| Optima EX | $200 | $384 | $320 | $18 | $96 | $1,018 | $85 |
| Optima SX | $252 | $520 | $404 | $24 | $120 | $1,320 | $110 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data based on single male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and Washington minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, safe-driver, claim-free, multi-vehicle, and multi-policy. Table data does not factor in specific zip code location which can decrease or increase premiums noticeably.
Choosing deductibles
When shopping for car insurance, a common question is how high should the physical damage coverage deductibles be. The following insurance rates can help illustrate the costs and benefits of buying low and high insurance deductibles. The first price estimate table uses a $250 deductible for physical damage and the second set of prices uses a $1,000 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optima LX | $228 | $384 | $334 | $20 | $100 | $1,091 | $91 |
| Optima EX | $258 | $452 | $334 | $20 | $100 | $1,189 | $99 |
| Optima SX | $258 | $452 | $334 | $20 | $100 | $1,189 | $99 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optima LX | $140 | $242 | $334 | $20 | $100 | $836 | $70 |
| Optima EX | $158 | $284 | $334 | $20 | $100 | $896 | $75 |
| Optima SX | $158 | $284 | $334 | $20 | $100 | $896 | $75 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Premium data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Washington minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-vehicle, claim-free, multi-policy, and homeowner. Table data does not factor in your specific Seattle location which can increase or decrease insurance rates significantly.
Based on this data, using a $250 deductible will cost you about $23 more each month or $276 for a full year than buying the higher $1,000 deductible. Since the policyholder would be required to pay $750 more to settle a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you tend to have at a minimum 33 months between claim filings, you would save money going with the higher deductible.
How to determine if higher deductibles are a good idea
| Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $96 |
| Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | – $73 |
| Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $23 |
| Difference between deductibles ($1,000 – $250): | $750 |
| Divide difference by monthly savings: | $750 / $23 |
| Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 33 months |
Full coverage or liability only
The example below visualizes the comparison of Kia Optima annual premium costs with and without full coverage. The premiums assume no tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, single male driver, and no discounts are applied.
Should you pay for full coverage?
There isn’t a steadfast formula of when to phase out full coverage on your policy, but there is a guideline you can consider. If the annual cost of having full coverage is more than around 10% of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, then you might consider buying liability only.
For example, let’s assume your Kia Optima replacement value is $8,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, you would only receive $7,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If it’s costing in excess of $700 a year to have full coverage, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
There are some conditions where only buying liability is not a good plan. If you still owe a portion of the original loan, you have to maintain full coverage in order to satisfy the requirements of the loan. Also, if your finances do not allow you to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should not remove full coverage.
Rate comparison for different deductibles
The example below shows how choosing a deductible and can affect Kia Optima insurance prices for different age groups. The premiums assume a single male driver, full coverage, and no discounts are factored in.
Auto insurance just makes sense
Even though it can be expensive, insurance is mandatory in Washington but it also protects more than you think.
- Just about all states have minimum liability requirements which means the state requires specific minimum amounts of liability protection if you drive a vehicle. In Washington these limits are 25/50/10 which means you must have $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $10,000 of property damage coverage.
- If your vehicle has a loan, most lenders will force you to buy full coverage to guarantee payment of the loan. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the bank may insure your Kia at a much higher premium rate and require you to pay the higher price.
- Insurance protects not only your Kia but also your financial assets. It will also pay for medical transport and hospital expenses for not only you but also any passengers injured in an accident. One policy coverage, liability insurance, also pays expenses related to your legal defense if you cause an accident and are sued. If your Kia gets damaged, collision and comprehensive (also known as other-than-collision) coverage will pay to have it repaired.
The benefits of buying enough insurance definitely exceed the cost, especially if you ever need it. According to a 2015 survey, the average American driver is overpaying more than $825 a year so shop around at every renewal to make sure the price is not too high.
Reduce your auto insurance rates with discounts
Auto insurance is expensive, but you may find discounts that you may not even know about. Some of these discounts will be visible when you get a quote, but once in a while a discount must be requested specifically before being credited. If you check and find you aren’t receiving every discount you deserve, you could be saving more on your auto insurance.
- Anti-lock Brake System – Cars, trucks, and SUVs equipped with ABS or steering control can avoid accidents so companies give up to a 10% discount.
- Home Ownership Discount – Just owning your own home can save a few bucks because it demonstrates responsibility.
- Save over 55 – Older drivers can possibly qualify for a small discount on rates.
- Multiple Vehicles – Buying insurance for primary and secondary vehicles on the same auto insurance policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
- Organization Discounts – Joining qualifying clubs or civic groups may earn a discount on your next auto insurance statement.
- Active Military Service – Having an actively deployed family member could mean lower rates.
- Driving Data Discount – Seattle drivers who agree to allow their auto insurance company to look at driving patterns remotely like Drivewise from Allstate or In-Drive from State Farm may see discounts if they have good driving habits.
- Accident Forgiveness – This isn’t a discount exactly, but a few companies such as Progressive, Allstate, and Liberty Mutual allow you one accident before hitting you with a surcharge as long as you don’t have any claims for a set time period.
As a footnote on discounts, some of the credits will not apply to the entire cost. A few only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. Despite the fact that it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, it’s just not the way it works. Any amount of discount will positively reduce the amount you have to pay.
The best auto insurance companies and a selection of discounts are shown below.
- GEICO policyholders can earn discounts including driver training, multi-policy, federal employee, defensive driver, and multi-vehicle.
- MetLife has discounts for good driver, good student, defensive driver, multi-policy, accident-free, claim-free
- State Farm offers discounts including passive restraint, Drive Safe & Save, multiple autos, Steer Clear safe driver discount, student away at school, and anti-theft.
- Progressive has savings for online quote discount, multi-vehicle, good student, continuous coverage, homeowner, multi-policy, and online signing.
- Mercury Insurance offers discounts for anti-theft, annual mileage, accident-free, type of vehicle, and good driver.
- 21st Century may have discounts that include theft prevention, homeowners, defensive driver, driver training, good student, teen driver, and student driver.
- Allstate discounts include good student, EZ pay plan discount, early signing, teenSMART discount, and anti-lock brakes.
Double check with every prospective company which discounts can lower your rates. All car insurance discounts may not apply to policies in your state. If you would like to see a list of insurance companies that offer discounts in Washington, follow this link.
Get rate quotes but still have a neighborhood Seattle auto insurance agent
Many people still prefer to visit with an insurance agent and that is just fine! Professional insurance agents will help you protect your assets and will help you if you have claims. One of the benefits of comparing insurance prices online is that you can find lower prices and still buy from a local agent.
Once you complete this form (opens in new window), your information is instantly submitted to participating agents in Seattle that can give you free Seattle auto insurance quotes for your insurance coverage. You won’t even need to leave your computer as quotes are delivered straight to your inbox. If you have a need to get a comparison quote for a specific company, don’t hesitate to go to their quote page and fill out their quote form.
Finding the right insurance company shouldn’t rely on just a cheap quote. You should also get answers to these questions.
- What companies can they write with?
- Can you contact them at any time?
- Do they regularly work with personal auto policies in Seattle?
- Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
- Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
- Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
- Do they get extra compensation for selling add-on coverages?
You may need specialized auto insurance coverage
Always remember that when buying coverage online or from an agent, there really isn’t a “best” method to buy coverage. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs and your policy should reflect that.
For instance, these questions may help you determine if your situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.
- Do I have coverage if my license is suspended?
- How can I get my company to pay me more for my totalled car?
- Can my teen drive my company car?
- When would I need additional glass coverage?
- What is covered by UM/UIM coverage?
- Are my custom wheels covered?
- Does having multiple vehicles earn me a discount?
- Can I use my car for my catering business?
- Does coverage extend to Mexico or Canada?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It is quick, free and you can get the answers you need.
More effort can pay off
We just showed you a lot of ways to reduce Kia Optima insurance premium rates online in Seattle. It’s most important to understand that the more providers you compare, the better chance you’ll have of finding inexpensive Seattle auto insurance quotes. Consumers could even find that the best price on car insurance is with a lesser-known regional company. These smaller insurers may often insure only within specific states and give better rates as compared to the big name companies such as Progressive or GEICO.
As you shop your coverage around, it’s very important that you do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. In many instances, drivers have reduced full coverage and learned later that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your aim should be to find the BEST coverage at a price you can afford and still be able to protect your assets.
Some insurance providers don’t offer rates over the internet and these regional carriers provide coverage only through independent agencies. Affordable Kia Optima insurance in Seattle can be sourced online and with local Seattle insurance agents, and you should be comparing both to have the best selection.
More information can be read at the links below
- Vehicle Insurance (Wikipedia)
- How Much are Seattle Car Insurance Rates for State Employees? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Seattle Auto Insurance Quotes for Drivers Requiring a SR22? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Seattle Car Insurance for a Nissan Versa? (FAQ)
- State Car Insurance Guides (GEICO)
- Anti-Lock Brake FAQ (iihs.org)
- Airbag FAQ (iihs.org)