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Is car insurance expensive in Seattle? Drivers in Seattle do pay among the highest rates for Washington car insurance, but you can still save a lot of money by comparison shopping. Here we help you decide how much car insurance to buy for your particular situation, allow you to compare rates by ZIP code, coverage level and company, as well as explain why the best Seattle car insurance is not always the cheapest.
Seattle ZIP code 98144 has the highest average car insurance rate in the city, $1,579 a year for full coverage, according to a survey of rates from six major carriers. But the difference between the highest rate ($1,823) for that ZIP and the lowest ($1,325) is $500. You can still save a lot on car insurance even if you live in an area with high rates. You just need to compare car insurance quotes to find the best price.
CarInsurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to provide a report of average auto insurance rates for a 2016 Honda Accord for nearly every ZIP code in the United States. We calculated rates using data for up to six large carriers (Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, Nationwide, Progressive and State Farm).
Averages for the default result are based on insurance for a married 40-year-old male who commutes 12 miles to work each day, with policy limits of 100/300/100 ($100,000 for injury liability for one person, $300,000 for all injuries and $100,000 for property damage in an accident) and a $500 deductible on collision and comprehensive coverage. The rate includes uninsured motorist coverage.
Averages for customized rates are based on drivers ages 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 for the following coverage levels: state minimum liability, liability of 50/100/50 and 100/300/100 with $500 deductible on comprehensive and collision. These hypothetical drivers have clean records and good credit. Average rates are for comparative purposes.
Your own rate will depend on your personal factors and vehicle.
State Minimum:
Required liability coverage to drive legally in your state; some states mandate additional coverage, such as personal injury protection, uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist.
Liability Only 50/100/50:
$50,000 per person/$100,000 maximum per accident for bodily injury; $50,000 for property damage. Liability pays for injuries/damage you cause others.
Full Coverage 100/300/100:
$100,000 per person/$300,000 maximum per accident for bodily injury; $100,000 for property damage; comprehensive and collision coverage with $500 deductible. Liability pays for injuries/damage you cause others. Comprehensive and collision pay for damage to your car.
98404- MIDLAND: $1,58998421- FIFE: $1,58398108- RIVERTON-BOULEVARD P: $1,58298144- SEATTLE: $1,57999136- HAY: $98799125- ENDICOTT: $99299111- COLFAX: $99499163- ALBION: $997Many factors go into setting car insurance rates, and your location is chief among them. Car insurance companies look at how many claims there are in your area and what the cost is when deciding what you pay. In addition, each insurer calculates rates in its own way, so that’s why the same policy can have many different price tags. If you don't shop around to compare prices, you can't save. To see how other Seattle car insurance rates compare, use our average rates tool above. Enter a ZIP code, select an age group and coverage level, and it will show the average rate, as well as the highest and lowest, for your location.
Here's how Seattle’s highest average rate ($1,579) compares to others:
You’ll see in the chart below how Seattle neighborhoods compare on car insurance costs. You'll see that you can save up to $600 or so by shopping around.
| ZIP code | Average annual rate | Highes rate | Lowest rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 98144 | $1,579 | $1,823 | $1,325 |
| 98118 | $1,572 | $1,808 | $1,325 |
| 98126 | $1,548 | $1,865 | $1,260 |
| 98106 | $1,543 | $1,792 | $1,260 |
| 98136 | $1,502 | $1,865 | $1,278 |
| 98131 | $1,477 | $1,786 | $1,047 |
| 98132 | $1,477 | $1,786 | $1,047 |
| 98134 | $1,474 | $1,852 | $1,047 |
| 98116 | $1,464 | $1,865 | $1,216 |
| 98174 | $1,432 | $1,759 | $1,047 |
| 98154 | $1,417 | $1,759 | $1,047 |
| 98115 | $1,417 | $1,774 | $1,179 |
| 98161 | $1,414 | $1,759 | $1,047 |
| 98164 | $1,408 | $1,759 | $1,047 |
| 98119 | $1,396 | $1,768 | $1,047 |
| 98105 | $1,391 | $1,772 | $1,061 |
| 98122 | $1,389 | $1,774 | $1,047 |
| 98104 | $1,387 | $1,768 | $1,047 |
| 98102 | $1,384 | $1,802 | $1,047 |
| 98199 | $1,382 | $1,778 | $1,047 |
| 98112 | $1,381 | $1,796 | $1,047 |
| 98109 | $1,380 | $1,768 | $1,047 |
| 98121 | $1,379 | $1,768 | $1,047 |
| 98107 | $1,374 | $1,786 | $1,061 |
| 98103 | $1,369 | $1,706 | $1,061 |
| 98117 | $1,361 | $1,774 | $1,061 |
| 98101 | $1,342 | $1,768 | $1,047 |
*Methodology for rates by ZIP code: CarInsurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to run auto insurance rates for a 2016 Honda Accord for more than 30,000 ZIP codes in the United States using six large carriers -- Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, Nationwide, Progressive and State Farm. (In cases where an insurer’s rate wasn’t available, another major carrier's rate was substituted.) Averages are based on insurance for a single 40-year-old male who commutes 12 miles to work each day, with policy limits of 100/300/100 ($100,000 for injury liability for one person, $300,000 for all injuries and $100,000 for property damage in an accident) and a $500 deductible on collision and comprehensive coverage. This hypothetical driver has a clean record and good credit. The rate includes uninsured motorist coverage. Average rates are for comparative purposes. Your own rate will depend on your personal factors and vehicle.
Seattle car insurance requirements | |
|---|---|
| Washington state law requires the following minimum car insurance coverage: | |
| Minimum bodily injury liability | $25,000/$50,000 |
| Minimum property damage liability | $10,000 |
The lowest liability car insurance limits your insurer offers is the cheapest policy you can buy. This will be the state minimum required to drive legally. In Washington (written as 25/15/10), that means your liability car insurance would pay up to:
The best car insurance coverage usually isn’t the cheapest. You may be sued if you’re in an accident and your insurance doesn’t cover all of the damages. That means your home or savings could be in jeopardy. To protect your assets, you should buy liability insurance in the following amounts:
You should also consider buying these optional coverages:
Comprehensive insurance and collision coverage typically won’t add a lot to your car insurance bill. Comprehensive costs $101 and collision costs $244, on average per year, for drivers in Washington, according to the Insurance Information Institute. These two coverages, unlike liability insurance, come with a deductible. That’s the amount you pay before your insurance kicks in. Insurers usually offer deductibles of $1,000, $500 and $250. The higher the deductible is, the lower your rate will be.
The average annual cost for just the state minimum level of coverage for Seattle drivers is $592, according to our rate analysis. If you bumped your liability up to 50/100/50, it would cost just $50 more a year, or $4 a month. If you jump from state minimum levels to full coverage, your extra cost is $839, or about $70 monthly.
| Coverage limits | Average annual rate |
|---|---|
| Liability Only – state minimum | $592 |
| Liability Only - 50/100/50 BI/PD | $642 |
| Full Coverage - 100/300/100 BI/PD | $1,431 |
| with $500 Comp/Collision deductible |
Below you'll see how insurers compare on price for three different coverage levels.
| Company | State minimum |
|---|---|
| Geico | $382 |
| State Farm | $470 |
| Progressive | $608 |
| Nationwide | $621 |
| Farmers | $651 |
| Allstate | $822 |
| Company | 50/100/50 |
| Geico | $430 |
| State Farm | $557 |
| Nationwide | $648 |
| Progressive | $654 |
| Farmers | $724 |
| Allstate | $840 |
| Company | 100/300/100 |
| Geico | $1,113 |
| Nationwide | $1,245 |
| Progressive | $1,301 |
| State Farm | $1,435 |
| Farmers | $1,730 |
| Allstate | $1,763 |
CarInsurance.com’s rate analysis shows that drivers in Seattle can expect to pay, on average, up to about $262 more a year for car insurance after minor violations such as speeding.More serious infractions, such as DUI can hike rates as much as $876. Minor traffic violations typically stay on your record for about three years, and you can expect to see the rate increase upon your policy renewal date.
| Violation | Average rate | Rate after violation | Dollar increase | Percentage increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DUI/DWI first offense | $1,532 | 2,409 | $876 | 57% |
| Reckless driving | $1,532 | 2,396 | $864 | 56% |
| Operating a vehicle in a race (highway racing) | $1,532 | 2,203 | $671 | 44% |
| Careless driving | $1,532 | 2,191 | $659 | 43% |
| Failure to stop | $1,532 | 2,062 | $530 | 35% |
| Failure to yield | $1,532 | 2,062 | $530 | 35% |
| Following too closely | $1,532 | 2,062 | $530 | 35% |
| Improper turn | $1,532 | 2,062 | $530 | 35% |
| Improper/illegal pass | $1,532 | 2,062 | $530 | 35% |
| 2 speeding tickets 11 mph or over | $1,532 | 1,957 | $424 | 28% |
| Driving without a license or permit | $1,532 | 1,876 | $343 | 22% |
| Driving without insurance | $1,532 | 1,876 | $343 | 22% |
| Speeding 30+ over limit | $1,532 | 1,794 | $262 | 17% |
| Speeding ticket 1-5 MPH over limit | $1,532 | 1,794 | $262 | 17% |
| Speeding ticket 11-15 MPH over limit | $1,532 | 1,794 | $262 | 17% |
| Speeding ticket 16-29 MPH over limit | $1,532 | 1,794 | $262 | 17% |
| Lapse of coverage for 60 days | $1,532 | 1,693 | $161 | 10% |
| Lapse of coverage for 7 days | $1,532 | 1,643 | $110 | 7% |
| Lapse of coverage for 15 days | $1,532 | 1,643 | $110 | 7% |
| Lapse of coverage for 30 days | $1,532 | 1,643 | $110 | 7% |
| Seatbelt infraction | $1,532 | 1,547 | $15 | 1% |
*Methodology: CarInsurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services in 2019 to field rates from up to six major insurers for 10 ZIP codes in the city for the following driver profile: male, age 40, good credit, clean driver record, driving 2017 Honda accord. We compared the clean record driver rate to the rate for various tickets and accident claims to get the average percentage and dollar increase, for the coverage level of 100/300/50; with comprehensive and collision and $500 deductible. These are estimates; your actual rate will depend on your personal rating factors.
When you file a claim for an accident that's your fault, typically your car insurance rates will increase. The table below shows how much for drivers in Seattle can expect to pay for common car insurance claims.
| Claim | Average rate | Rate after claim | Dollar increase | Percentage increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 At-fault property damage accident over $2k | $1,532 | $3,133 | $1,601 | 104% |
| Hit and run - injury | $1,532 | $2,510 | $978 | 64% |
| Hit and run property damage | $1,532 | $2,510 | $978 | 64% |
| 1 At-fault property damage accident over $2K | $1,532 | $2,126 | $594 | 39% |
| At-fault bodily injury accident | $1,532 | $2,126 | $594 | 39% |
| 1 At-fault property damage accident under $2K | $1,532 | $2,035 | $503 | 33% |
| 2 comprehensive claims for over $2k | $1,532 | $1,602 | $70 | 5% |
| 1 comprehensive claim for over $2k | $1,532 | $1,572 | $40 | 3% |
| 1 comprehensive claim for under $2k | $1,532 | $1,572 | $40 | 3% |
Teen drivers are inexperienced, and are involved in more accidents than older drivers, so they cost more to insure. In Seattle, adding a 16-year-old daughter to your policy will hike your rates by $1,983 annually, or 130 percent.It's more for boys. Insuring your 16-year-old son will increase your yearly rate by $2,470, or 161 percent, according to CarInsurance.com rate data. If you're insuring a teen driver of any age, you can get expert tips, more rate data by age and details from our "Parents guide to insuring a teen driver."
Having a low credit score and poor credit history significantly increases how much you pay for car insurance, unless you live in Hawaii, California or Massachusetts where the practice is banned. Washington ranks thirty sixth among the worst states for drivers with bad credit. Seattle drivers with bad credit can expect rates to go up by $983, or 64 percent, on average, yearly. Even with bad credit, you can still save money on car insurance, as some insurance companies will increase rates higher than others for those with less than perfect credit. That's why it's always prudent to compare car insurance quotes at least once a year.
If you're convicted of a serious offense, such as DUI or reckless driving, you may be required to have your insurance company file an SR-22 form on your behalf. An SR-22 is a car insurance company’s guarantee to the state that you are carrying the legally mandated coverage. If you are required to have an SR-22 filed, your car insurance rates will increase. CarInsurance.com data show that for drivers in Seattle, your rate will go up by an average of $1,029 , or 67 percent.
Traffic in Seattle: The city and nearby areas came in seventh for the worst traffic in the nation in a recent report by USA Today, which noted that drivers spend about 63 hours a year stuck in traffic.
Car crashes: Major accidents have resulted in an average of nearly 30 deaths a year in recent years (2012-2014).
Commuting: The average commute in Seattle is 27.6 minutes.
High Occupancy Vehicle rules: The HOV lane, also known as the carpool or diamond lane, is designed to reduce traffic congestion and promote ride-sharing on freeways. In the Seattle area, only vehicles with at least two people, mass transit vehicles like buses and motorcycles are allowed to use the lanes. Use may be restricted during specified hours.
Public transportation: The U.S. Census Bureau says that the majority of riders in Seattle who commute to work by public transportation are white (about 64 percent), Hispanic (about 7 percent) and black (about 6 percent). The bureau notes that commuting is the main reason people turn to mass transit.
Smog rules: In Seattle you must have a vehicle tested for emissions before registering and every two years after that. After moving to Washington, you have 30 days to have a vehicle tested. Vehicles models from 2009 and newer and those 20 years old or older are exempt.
Bad intersection: The intersection at Denny Way and Terry Avenue was recently named Seattle's worst intersection in a survey of both motorists and pedestrians.
The information was gathered from various sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, state transportation departments and city police departments.
