How does Seattle compare to the surrounding area and the rest of Washington? What can Seattle residents expect to pay for their car insurance? You can see the cost breakdowns and contributing factors in the charts and writeups below:
In This Article:
- Average Car Insurance Rates in Seattle
- Average Rates by Age
- Average Rates for Men vs. Women
- How Your Driving Record Affects Rates
- Recent Rate Trends
- Frequently Asked Questions
How much is car insurance in Seattle?
| Area | Average Monthly Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| Seattle | $79 |
| WA | $76 |
| United States | $81 |
Looking at the chart above, you can see that the average monthly price is about the same in Seattle as it is in the rest of Washington.
Compared to the rest of the country, auto insurance in Seattle is more affordable. It's about $2 cheaper than the national average to insure your vehicle in Seattle.
While these are the average monthly costs for auto insurance coverage in Seattle, you could end up paying something different. Insurance companies take an array of factors into consideration when determining how much to charge you to insure your vehicle. Things like age, gender, vehicle make and model, driving record and, in some areas, credit score can all play a part in the bill you'll see each month.
Don't worry, we've done the work for you and broken down the average rates for Seattle to help you understand what your monthly premium might be. If you think you might be overpaying for insurance in your area, enter your ZIP Code below and find out!
Find your best rate in just a few minutes
Average Car Insurance Rates by Age
| Age Range | Average Premium |
|---|---|
| Under 18 | Not Enough Data |
| 18-24 | $118 |
| 25-34 | $72 |
| 35-44 | $71 |
| 45-54 | Not Enough Data |
| 55-64 | $66 |
| 65+ | $70 |
The older you are, the more experience you're likely to have behind the wheel, right? It also makes sense that the more experienced of a driver you are, the safer you are. According to the table above, you can see that 18-24-year-olds pay significantly more than someone who is at retirement age.
You can expect to see your monthly premium drop about once a decade or so. Drivers in Seattle may see their rates climb back up a bit once they hit retirement age.
Average Car Insurance Rates by Gender
| Gender | Average |
|---|---|
| Male | $81 |
| Female | $75 |
Car insurance rates for women are generally cheaper than they are for men. The difference in average rates in Seattle totals about $6 per month. Looking at the table above, you can see that female drivers pay around $75 on average, while male drivers typically pay $81 each month.
Average Auto Insurance Rates by Driving Record
| Infractions | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| 1 Accident | $106 |
| Multiple Accidents | $146 |
| 1 Ticket | $100 |
| Multiple Tickets | $135 |
Your driving record can have a tremendous impact on your car insurance rates. Drivers who avoid accidents and tickets will pay much lower rates than those with infractions. Drivers in Seattle with one accident will pay around $106 a month. Likewise, drivers with one ticket will be looking at a rate of around $100 a month on average.
When it comes to your monthly bill, accidents, tickets, and other driving infractions can really take a toll. That's why it's important to drive safely and keep your record clean so you can keep your rates as low as possible.
Average Insurance Rates by Vehicle
| Vehicle Age | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Less Than 1 Year | $78 |
| 2-3 Years | $74 |
| 4-5 Years | $78 |
| 6-7 Years | $81 |
| 8-10 Years | $77 |
| 11-14 Years | $82 |
| 15 Years or Older | $78 |
According to the first table above, SUVs are usually the cheapest vehicles to insure in Seattle, with drivers paying around $75 per month for auto insurance.
Car owners can expect to pay an average of around $80 a month for their policy, while truck and van drivers are usually around $77 to insure each month.
In addition to vehicle type, you can also expect to see slightly different rates based on the age of your vehicle. Generally, the most expensive vehicles to insure are going to be newer ones. However, once your car is a few years old, you might start to see your rates slide back down slightly. In Seattle, the most expensive vehicles to insure are vehicles eleven-to-fourteen years old.
Average Car Insurance Rates by Relationship Status
| Relationship | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Single (never married) | $82 |
| Married | $66 |
| Divorced | $70 |
| Widowed | $68 |
On average, married policyholders will pay slightly less for auto insurance. This occurs because insurance companies commonly offer special discounts to policyholders with multiple vehicles that are on the same policy.
At a national level, married drivers usually pay less than single drivers for auto insurance. This holds true for Seattle as well, where the difference is around $16 a month.
Average Car Insurance Rates by Housing Situation
| Housing Status | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Own | $70 |
| Rent | $87 |
| Live with parents | $109 |
Your living situation is another component of how insurance companies calculate your monthly rate. If you rent your home or apartment, expect to pay around $17 a month more than if you own your own home in Seattle. Those who live with their parents, however, can expect to pay a good deal more than their counterparts who rent or own.
Bundling your home or rental insurance with your auto insurance can oftentimes reduce your average costs, depending on your insurance company.
Car Insurance Companies in Seattle, WA
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Recent trends in car insurance for Seattle drivers
Average rates are constantly changing, so it's a good idea to know the direction your area is trending when choosing when and where to shop.
Auto insurance rates in Seattle have been mixed as of late, they declined in 2017, rose in 2019, and dropped again in 2021, before finishing at $89 in 2022.
How does Seattle compare to neighboring areas?
Why are car insurance rates in Seattle different from other areas?
Car insurance companies will take into account several factors when deciding how much to charge for a policy. The price of your insurance policy will depend largely on your home address and will be influenced by things such as:
- Number of drivers in the community
- Rate of crime
- Regional regulations
- Off-street parking accessibility
- Rate of car accidents
While you won't have the ability to change these factors yourself, they can be handy to keep in mind when seeking a new policy or considering a move. Different cities and towns will each have different rates, so guides like these are a handy way to learn more.
How can I find the cheapest car insurance in Seattle?
Equipping yourself with information about the average costs for drivers in your area will better prepare you for the real deal. The only way to know for sure what your rate will be is by asking for a quote from car insurance companies.
Luckily, Compare.com does all of that work for you. Just enter your ZIP below, answer a few questions regarding the factors mentioned above, and you'll be comparing the cheapest quotes from several of the car insurance companies providing plans in Seattle.
Find your best rate in just a few minutes
Seattle Insurance FAQs
What factors affect car insurance quotes in Seattle?
Auto insurance companies take a wide array of factors into consideration when calculating your monthly payment. These include things like your vehicle's year, make and model, your gender and age, as well as your credit score, address, marital status and driving record.
Why is the cost of car insurance in Seattle different from other neighboring cities?
Your address and the city you live in have a significant impact on how much a car insurance company might charge for your policy. Companies take into consideration things like parking situations, local laws, and crime rates when calculating your quote -- all of which can change from city to city.
Which car insurance company will offer me the cheapest rate in Seattle?
Since the factors that car insurance companies take into consideration when calculating the rate you might pay differ from person to person, there is no one insurance company that will offer the cheapest rate to everybody. Things like your driving record, the number of drivers on the policy, and vehicle make and model, plus a number of others, are all taken into account. Because of this, it's a good idea to use sites like Compare.com to compare multiple quotes at once.
Do I need to change my insurance if I move to Seattle?
Any major life event, whether it be moving to a new area, finding a new job, getting married, or any other notable event always presents a good opportunity to re-evaluate your current insurance policy. Regardless of your previous rate, there may be cheaper options in your new location, so it's a good idea to use services like Compare.com to compare quotes from dozens of companies side-by-side.
Do I need to wait for my policy to expire to switch to a different car insurance company?
No. You can switch companies at any time, regardless of how long is left on your current policy. So, if you've recently moved to Seattle or it's been a while since you last compared car insurance rates, you may want to take 10 minutes and see if Compare.com can save you money.
