Best car insurance in Washington for 2024

Our 2024 Bankrate Score considers variables our insurance editorial team determined impacts policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These rating factors include a robust assessment of each company’s product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. Each factor was added to a category, and these categories were weighted in a tiered approach to analyze how companies perform in key customer-impacting categories. 

Each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. Our scoring model provides a comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and highlighting where they fall short.

• Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto and home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, average quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services (if available), as well as any of the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best, Demotech and the NAIC, were analyzed.
• Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated each company’s discount options listed on its website.
• Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways an auto and home insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from S&P and Moody’s and factored a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.

Tier scores are unweighted to show the company's true score in each category out of a possible five points.

Washington state laws require drivers to carry minimum levels of bodily injury and property damage liability coverage. Insurers are also required by law to offer uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection, but these optional coverage types can be declined in writing. Although minimum-only coverage is cheaper, it leaves you exposed to greater financial risk. Liability only covers accident-related costs for the other driver, their vehicle, their passengers and pedestrians if you are found at fault. You will not have financial protection for your vehicle, yourself and your passengers without adding collision and comprehensive coverage — colloquially referred to as full coverage.

Washington state laws are not the only authority that has a say in how much coverage you need to carry. If you’ve financed your vehicle with a loan or a lease, your financial lender will likely require you to carry higher liability limits than what state laws require. Depending on your lender, you may need to carry a full coverage car insurance policy and gap insurance. A lender has made a financial investment in your vehicle, and its more robust insurance requirements are a way for it to protect that investment.

Drivers may also evaluate their car insurance needs based on their individual circumstances. Understanding what you need from your policy could help you choose a company and coverage options. For example, if you have a teen driver to insure, you might want to look for a company that offers several young driver discounts that could help lower your policy costs. If you’re a high-risk driver who has accidents, tickets or a DUI conviction on your record, you might need to research nonstandard car insurance options. Getting a sense of what your specific situation calls for could help you narrow down your options when shopping for coverage.

Yes, car insurance companies can use credit-based insurance scores when determining how much to charge you for auto insurance in Washington. That means that drivers with strong credit will tend to pay less for auto insurance than people with poor credit. While the state suspended this practice for a brief period in 2022, a court ruling on August 29, 2022, allowed insurers to once again use credit history when calculating premiums. If you’re looking to reduce your insurance premiums, consider boosting your credit score.

Yes, drivers in Washington state are required to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance. Drivers must be offered underinsured motorist coverage, which includes uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, as well as personal injury protection, but it can be declined in writing. Depending on a driver’s situation, they may be able to use self-insurance, certificates of deposit or liability bonds to satisfy the insurance requirement.