Seattle, WA Car Insurance

What's the average car insurance rate in Seattle?

The average cost of car insurance in Seattle, Washington, is $1,665 per year. That's more expensive than the average in Washington ($1,368) and more expensive than the national average of $1,548. Our guide to car insurance in Seattle — researched and written by The Zebra's team of licensed insurance experts — includes average premiums based on age, credit score, driving history, and marital status. Read on for more information.

CAR INSURANCE: SEATTLE RATES VS. STATE + NATIONAL AVERAGES

Seattle Average (per year)	Washington Average	National Average
$1,665	$1,368	$1,548

Jump to:

• Insurance company
• Age group
• Gender
• Driving history
• Credit score

Seattle auto insurance rates by insurer

One of the best ways to save on auto insurance is to compare rates from multiple companies and to choose the insurer that best fits your coverage needs. For a typical driver, USAA offers Seattle's most affordable premiums. We've listed the best cheap car insurance companies in Seattle below. Use this information as a starting point and be sure to compare car insurance quotes specific to your unique driving profile.

SEATTLE AUTO INSURANCE RATES BY COMPANY

Company	Average Rate (annual)
USAA	$1,036
PEMCO Insurance	$1,154
State Farm	$1,465
Progressive	$1,519
Allstate	$2,149

Consult our expert guide to finding the best cheap car insurance.

Seattle car insurance premiums by age

Seattle drivers in their 50s enjoy relatively affordable auto insurance rates, paying just $1,467per year, on average. Those in their 60s don't pay significantly more ($1,530).

Teenage drivers pay Seattle's most expensive auto insurance rates. When drivers hit their 20s in Seattle and move out of the teenage age bracket, they reduce their premiums substantially. In Seattle, teenage drivers pay $7,460 — a full $5,931 more than the second-most expensive rate paid by an age group.

SEATTLE AUTO INSURANCE COSTS BY AGE

Age tier	Average Annual Rate
Teenagers	$7,460
20s	$2,250
30s	$1,628
40s	$1,537
50s	$1,467
60s	$1,530
70s	$1,964

Learn more about the impact of age on car insurance premiums.

Seattle car insurance rates by gender and marital status

Marital status and gender can be contributors to car insurance rates, in some cases. Married drivers in Seattle pay $78 less than single drivers for car insurance. Married drivers pay less for car insurance than do single drivers in many locations. Rates for those who are widowed are also much cheaper than rates for those who are single. Interestingly enough, in Seattle, single drivers pay more than those who are widowed.

Gender is another factor that can affect auto insurance rates. In Seattle, female drivers pay $44 per year more than do male drivers.

SEATTLE AUTO INSURANCE RATES: BY MARITAL STATUS AND GENDER

Marital Status/Gender	Average Annual Rate
Female	$1,709
Male	$1,665
Single	$1,587
Married	$1,587
Divorced	$1,665
Widowed	$1,639

Learn more about how gender and marital status have on insurance rates.

Seattle car insurance rates by accident and citation history

Maintaining a clean driving record is an effective way to minimize your insurance rates. Speeding citations, reckless driving charges, DUIs and DWIs, and at-fault accidents all tend to bring about rate increases.

Seattle drivers found guilty of reckless driving pay a steep price when it comes to auto insurance, facing a rate increase of $717 per year versus the city average. A ticket for speeding results in a $371 rate hike while a DWI or DUI violation costs $751per year in extra insurance expenditures.

SEATTLE CAR INSURANCE RATES AFTER A VIOLATION OR ACCIDENT

Incident/Violation	Average Yearly Rate
DWI/DUI	$2,416
Reckless Driving	$2,383
At-fault Accident (damages less than $1,000)	$2,278
At-fault Accident (damages > $2,000)	$2,472
Speeding Ticket (16-20 mph over speed limit)	$2,036

Learn more about the impact of driving violations on car insurance rates.

Seattle car insurance rates by credit level

It's no secret credit score is closely correlated with auto insurance rates. In fact, Seattle drivers who build their credit score from the "Very Poor" tier (300-579) to the "Exceptional" tier (800-850) earn a 60% decrease in car insurance rates. Moving into the "Fair" credit tier from the "Very Poor" level is one of the most impactful steps a driver can take in pursuit of better car insurance rates. In Seattle, improving your credit to "Fair" corresponds with a $1,316 decrease in annual car insurance rates.

SEATTLE AUTO INSURANCE RATES BY CREDIT TIER

Credit Score	Average Annual Rate
Very Poor	$3,353
Fair	$2,038
Good	$1,665
Very Good	$1,495
Exceptional	$1,325

Get additional information on how credit impacts car insurance costs.

What drives up car insurance rates in Seattle?

Where you live in Seattle affects your car insurance rates. Besides your driving history and credit score, where you live is one of the biggest contributing factors to the car insurance rates you'll pay. The reason? Crime, theft and uninsured motorists vary by ZIP code. So if you find yourself in a neighborhood that doesn't play well with others, car insurance companies may consider you a high risk to insure, meaning: your rates could be higher than those of a pal who lives just around the block. And, unfortunately Seattle is no exception to the rule. From ZIP code 98110 to 98118, premiums rise by 39 percent—that's $410.

Expensive Seattle ZIP codes: 98126, 98106, 98144, 98108, 98118

Cheap Seattle ZIP codes: 98110, 98117, 98107, 98199, 98155