What car insurance costs in Washington

Washington's bill beside the national one

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) reports what insurers took in across each state. In its 2023 figures, the newest it has released by state, Washington's average expenditure was $1,153 per insured car, up 10% from $1,048 in 2022, a smaller rise than the 14% national increase. Because that average includes liability-only cars, the figure for a car with all three main coverages, $1,235, is the better guide if you carry full coverage.

Liability is close to the national average, at about 4% below. The savings sit in physical damage: collision is about 20% cheaper than the U.S. figure and comprehensive about 35% cheaper. So a driver who carries only liability sees less of Washington's advantage than one who insures a newer car in full. Within the state, your ZIP code can move the price a good deal; see how location sets a price.

Coverage you must buy or refuse in writing

Liability insurance is mandatory for every motor vehicle and motorcycle in Washington. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) lists the minimums as $25,000 for injuries or death to another person, $50,000 for injuries or death to all other people and $10,000 for damage to someone else's property. If you can't show proof of insurance when stopped, you get a traffic ticket.

• Personal injury protection (PIP) must be offered with every new or renewed policy. It is optional: you can reject it, but only in writing, and a rejection carries over to later renewals unless you ask for it back in writing.
• Underinsured motorist coverage is included by default in the same amount as your liability coverage. A named insured or spouse can reject all or part of it in writing.
• About 19.1% of Washington drivers were uninsured in 2023, by the Insurance Research Council's estimate, well above the 15.4% national figure.

With nearly one driver in five uninsured, the underinsured motorist line is often the part of the bill that protects you most directly. Before you reject it or PIP to save money, see our page on which optional coverages are worth cutting.

How Washington reviews rates and credit

Insurers must file auto rate changes with the OIC, which doesn't set rates but reviews filings and either approves or denies them. State law requires rates to be reasonable, and not excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory. The filings are public: you can read them through SERFF Filing Access, linked from the OIC's site.

The OIC says there is currently no ban on insurers using credit information to set premiums. An insurer can't use your credit history by itself to deny coverage or cancel a policy. It may not count the number of credit inquiries, medical collection accounts, a new loan for your first car or home, the type of card you use or your total available credit. If credit keeps you out of the insurer's most favorable rate, the insurer must tell you in writing and give up to four reasons, and you can get a free report from the credit bureau it used. See credit-based insurance scores.

When no company will write a policy

If your driving record keeps agents from offering you coverage, Washington's Automobile Insurance Plan must offer a policy to hard-to-insure drivers. You can contact the plan yourself or have an agent do it. It works best as a temporary step, as our guide to assigned risk plans explains.

Ways to lower a Washington premium

1. 1 Compare at least three insurers. Quote the same liability, underinsured motorist and PIP choices so the prices line up.
2. 2 Check a proposed increase. If your renewal jumps, look up your insurer's rate filing in SERFF Filing Access to see what it asked the OIC to approve.
3. 3 Rethink the deductible. A higher collision and comprehensive deductible lowers the premium; the deductible break-even calculator shows how long the saving takes to cover the risk.
4. 4 Ask the OIC for help. File a complaint online, or call the Consumer Advocacy line at 800-562-6900, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Questions drivers ask