Best, Cheapest Car Insurance in Seattle
With many things to enjoy in the Emerald City and great sightseeing in the wilds surrounding it, Seattle drivers frequently get out in their cars. Drivers there pay $100 a month for minimum-coverage car insurance, which is higher than average. We found that State Farm, USAA and Geico offered the cheapest rates, while Mutual of Enumclaw is a strong local provider, even with their average rates.
We can help you find high quality and affordable car insurance in Seattle:
How much is car insurance in Seattle?
The average cost of minimum-coverage auto insurance in Seattle is $1,205 a year, or $100 a month. This is 15% higher than the national average auto insurance rate of $1,044 a year, or $87 a month.
High rates in Seattle are in part due to driving trends, weather and car theft. The following table shows the average annual and monthly breakdowns of both minimum-coverage and full coverage auto insurance rates:
| Policy | Annual | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum coverage | $1,205 | $100 |
| Full coverage | $1,809 | $151 |
| Average rates are based on non-binding estimates provided by Quadrant Information Services. Your rates may vary. | ||
Cheapest car insurance companies in Seattle
We found that USAA and State Farm have the cheapest minimum car insurance in Seattle, at $56 and $57 a month. Farmers, on the other hand, has the most expensive car insurance at $166 a month.
| Company | Annual | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| USAA | $669 | $56 |
| State Farm | $680 | $57 |
| Geico | $751 | $63 |
| Mutual of Enumclaw | $1,192 | $99 |
| Progressive | $1,205 | $100 |
| Allstate | $1,461 | $122 |
| American Family | $1,692 | $141 |
| Farmers | $1,991 | $166 |
| Average rates are based on non-binding estimates provided by Quadrant Information Services. Your rates may vary. | ||
If you're looking to get full-coverage car insurance, we found that State Farm had the cheapest rates for full coverage at $90 a month. Farmers had the most expensive full coverage at $229 a month.
| Company | Annual | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $1,083 | $90 |
| USAA | $1,088 | $91 |
| Geico | $1,118 | $93 |
| Mutual of Enumclaw | $1,586 | $132 |
| Progressive | $2,117 | $176 |
| Allstate | $2,187 | $182 |
| American Family | $2,547 | $212 |
| Farmers | $2,749 | $229 |
| Average rates are based on non-binding estimates provided by Quadrant Information Services. Your rates may vary. | ||
Cheapest car insurance rates in Seattle by neighborhood
Your car insurance rate depends in part on which area of the city you live in. Based on our research, of the most popular neighborhoods in Seattle, Belltown has the cheapest car insurance rates at $111 a month. Several neighborhoods were close, with average rates ranging from $111 to $119 in large swaths of Seattle. However, Rainier Valley has the most expensive car insurance rates at $133 a month.
| Neighborhood | Annual average | Monthly average |
|---|---|---|
| Belltown | $1,326 | $111 |
| Ballard | $1,352 | $113 |
| Queen Anne | $1,354 | $113 |
| Westlake Park | $1,357 | $113 |
| Loyal Heights | $1,357 | $113 |
| Westlake | $1,372 | $114 |
| University District | $1,399 | $117 |
| Eastlake | $1,404 | $117 |
| Mann | $1,405 | $117 |
| Minor | $1,414 | $118 |
| Bryant | $1,422 | $119 |
| Riverton Heights | $1,423 | $119 |
| View Ridge | $1,423 | $119 |
| Shoreline | $1,428 | $119 |
| Victory Heights | $1,432 | $119 |
| Richmond Highlands | $1,432 | $119 |
| Downtown | $1,449 | $121 |
| North Admiral | $1,458 | $122 |
| Industrial District | $1,461 | $122 |
| Delridge | $1,470 | $123 |
| Seaview | $1,470 | $123 |
| Magnolia | $1,509 | $126 |
| Atlantic | $1,512 | $126 |
| Skyway | $1,540 | $128 |
| Georgetown | $1,550 | $129 |
| Rainier Valley | $1,594 | $133 |
| Average rates are based on non-binding estimates provided by Quadrant Information Services. Your rates may vary. | ||
Best car insurance companies in Seattle
Finding your best auto insurance provider depends on your personal needs. Budget oriented drivers may be looking for the cheapest premium, while others want to work with a local company or seek a strong customer service track record. We examined auto insurance companies operating in Seattle and found these stand-outs:
- State Farm: cheapest rates
- Geico: best combination of premium and customer satisfaction
- Mutual of Enumclaw: best local insurer
State Farm: cheapest car insurance in Seattle
State Farm has the overall cheapest car insurance available to all drivers in Seattle. The insurer's average rate for minimum insurance is $57 a month, and full coverage costs an average $90 a month.
USAA has a cheaper rate for minimum coverage, at $56 a month, but the company only sells insurance to military members, veterans and some of their family members.
In addition to having the lowest rates in Seattle, State Farm is known for a wide array of discounts that can save you even more. These include:
- If you take an approved defensive driving course, you can save 10% to 15% on your auto insurance premium.
- Do you or someone else in your household have another car that needs insurance? If you use State Farm to insure additional vehicles, you can save another 20%.
- If you bundle your auto insurance with a State Farm life, home or renters insurance policy, you can get up to a 17% discount on both policies.
Geico: best overall value
If you're looking for a solid combination of a low-cost premium and strong customer satisfaction, consider Geico. The company has an average minimum car insurance premium of $63 a month, and full coverage is an average $93 a month — both well under the city's average rates for both types of coverage.
Geico also comes out on top in terms of customer satisfaction in Seattle. In J.D. Power's 2020 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, Geico had a customer satisfaction rating of 834 out of 1,000. This is the highest rating J.D. Power gave to any insurance provider operating in the Northwest, outside of USAA which is only available to military members and their families.
Mutual of Enumclaw: best local auto insurer
Washington-based Mutual of Enumclaw has been providing insurance in Washington since the 1940s. Both its average minimum car insurance rate of $99 a month and its average monthly full-coverage rate of $132 are below the average rates for both types of coverage in Seattle.
Furthermore, A.M. Best gave the company an A- "Excellent" rating for financial stability. The ability to financially back claims can be a concern when dealing with a small insurer, but Mutual of Enumclaw has consistently maintained its financial strength for many years. If you want a local connection for your auto insurance needs, as well as an insurer that is owned by policyholders, we strongly recommend Mutual of Enumclaw.
Why is car insurance so expensive in Seattle?
When auto insurers calculate your premium, many factors can affect your rate. Here are some risk factors specific to Seattle that may hike your premium above the national average.
Weather
In 2020, Washington had 41 inches of rain. This is well above the national average of 30 inches that year. Heavy rain can make driving in Seattle hazardous, causing more crashes. Auto insurers take note of this and increase rates to cover the higher chance of accidents.
Uninsured drivers
According to the Insurance Information Institute, nearly 22% of Washington drivers are uninsured. This gives Washington the fifth-highest number of uninsured drivers in the country. In order to offset the costs of covering claims involving uninsured drivers, insurers charge all drivers in Washington, including Seattle, higher premiums.
Seattle drivers
According to our research, Seattle drivers are the eighth-worst drivers in the country.
More speeding tickets, DUIs and citations mean increased auto insurance rates. Driving responsibly is the best thing you can do on your end to keep your car insurance rates down.
Car theft
According to Seattle.gov data, the city had 4,931 vehicle thefts in 2020. That's a 23% increase from the 3,991 vehicle thefts in Seattle in 2019. Neighborhoods with high car theft rates usually see increased car insurance premiums overall. Parking your car in a garage if possible and investing in an auto security system can not only give you peace of mind, but can also work towards keeping your auto insurance rates low.
Methodology
We used Quadrant Information Services to generate thousands of car insurance quotes from every ZIP code in Seattle from the following providers:
- Allstate
- American Family
- Farmers
- Geico
- Mutual of Enumclaw
- Progressive
- USAA
The sample car used to generate quotes was a 2012 Honda Accord LX with annual mileage of 13,500 miles and a 35-year-old driver with a clean driving record.
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