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Car insurance in Seattle costs $2,803 per year for full coverage – $234 per month. GEICO offers the cheapest car insurance policies at an average of $185 per month.

If you are shopping for coverage in Seattle, it helps to compare multiple companies and understand how local prices stack up. Below, you will find the cheapest insurers, required coverage levels and how car insurance rates in Seattle, WA, compared to other large U.S. cities.

Key Takeaways

  • Full coverage car insurance in Seattle costs $2,803 per year, which is $225 more than the nationwide average of $2,578.
  • The cheapest car insurance company for a full-coverage policy in Seattle is GEICO.
  • Car insurance in Seattle is $414, more than the Washington statewide average of $2,389 for a full-coverage policy.

Cheapest car insurance company in Seattle

GEICO offers the cheapest insurance coverage in Seattle, Washington, with an annual average rate of $2,224 for full coverage. The next cheapest company is Travelers at $2,576 per year.

See other cheap car insurance rates in Seattle in the table below.

Average annual rates from insurers in Seattle

Company Average annual rates for state minimumAverage annual rates for full coverage
GEICO$536$2,224
Travelers$628$2,576
Farmers$628$2,726
PEMCO$448$2,767
Progressive$570$2,875
Nationwide$789$2,994
State Farm$810$3,119
Allstate$939$3,142
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How much is car insurance in Seattle per month?

Car insurance in Seattle costs $56 per month for a state minimum policy and $234 per month for a full coverage car insurance policy, on average, according to our most recent data. See monthly rates from Washington insurers in the table below.

Monthly rates for car insurance in Seattle, Washington

Company Average monthly rates for state minimum Average monthly rates for full coverage
Allstate$78$262
Farmers$52$227
GEICO$45$185
Nationwide$66$250
PEMCO$37$231
Progressive$48$240
State Farm$68$260
Travelers$52$215
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How do car insurance rates in Seattle compare to other large U.S. cities?

Full coverage in Seattle averages $234 per month. Rates vary across the country, and some cities pay noticeably more or less. For context, the national average for full coverage is $2,578 per month.

While that provides a national benchmark, insurance costs can vary widely from one metro area to another and even cities within the same state may see meaningful differences in premiums.

Areas with higher traffic density, accident frequency and vehicle theft rates all see higher insurance premiums because insurers base pricing on the level of risk in a given metropolitan area,

“Large cities tend to present more risk to the insurance companies than rural areas. Large cities have more people, more cars and higher chances of getting in wrecks or having other damage done to vehicles,” says James Brau, professor of finance at Brigham Young University.

“As such, insurance firms must charge higher premiums in cities.”

See how much you can expect to pay for car insurance in several major U.S. cities in the table below.

Monthly full-coverage car insurance costs in major U.S. metropolitan areas

StateCityFull-coverage cost
ArizonaMesa$2,629
ArizonaTucson$2,447
CaliforniaBakersfield$3,572
CaliforniaFresno$3,440
CaliforniaLong Beach$3,821
CaliforniaLos Angeles$4,383
CaliforniaOakland$4,026
CaliforniaSacramento$3,826
CaliforniaSan Francisco$3,976
CaliforniaSan Jose$3,416
ColoradoDenver$3,411
Washington, D.C.Washington$3,465
FloridaJacksonville$3,932
FloridaMiami$4,672
FloridaTampa$5,034
GeorgiaAtlanta$2,908
IllinoisChicago$2,373
IndianaIndianapolis$2,113
KansasWichita$2,544
KentuckyLouisville$2,839
MassachusettsBoston$3,016
MarylandBaltimore$2,684
MichiganDetroit$4,928
MinnesotaMinneapolis$2,937
MissouriKansas City$2,349
North CarolinaCharlotte$2,833
North CarolinaRaleigh$2,578
NebraskaOmaha$2,140
New MexicoAlbuquerque$2,901
NevadaLas Vegas$5,196
OhioColumbus$2,012
OklahomaOklahoma City$3,154
OklahomaTulsa$3,071
OregonPortland$2,378
TennesseeMemphis$2,671
TennesseeNashville$2,337
TexasAustin$3,088
TexasEl Paso$3,191
TexasFort Worth$3,049
VirginiaVirginia Beach$1,833
WashingtonSeattle$2,803
WisconsinMilwaukee$2,921
New YorkNew York$3,785
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How much car insurance do I need in Seattle?

Because Seattle follows Washington’s insurance laws, the required minimum coverage amounts are:

  • $25,000 bodily injury per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury per accident
  • $10,000 property damage per accident

Minimum liability insurance helps cover injuries and property damage you cause to others in an accident. It does not pay for repairs to your own vehicle or your medical expenses after a crash — which is why many drivers choose higher limits or additional coverage for broader protection.

These limits keep you legally compliant, but increasing them offers greater financial security if you’re involved in a serious accident.

💡Don’t just aim for legal – aim for protected

State minimum coverage keeps you compliant, but it may not be enough after a serious accident. Choosing higher liability limits can better protect your savings, home and future income if damages exceed the minimum requirements.

What is the average annual cost of car insurance in Seattle?

Drivers in Seattle pay an average of $2,803 per year for full coverage car insurance. That’s $414 more than the Washington statewide average of $2,389. For added context, the national average for full coverage is $2,578.

Your actual rate will depend on factors like your driving history, age, vehicle and coverage choices. But these averages give you a helpful benchmark to see how Seattle stacks up.

Here’s a breakdown of the average annual cost for both state minimum and full coverage car insurance in Seattle:

Coverage levelAverage annual rates
State Minimum BI/PD$668
Liability Only – 50/100/50 BI/PD$729
Full Coverage – 100/300/100 BI/PD – 500 Comp/Coll$2,803
Full Coverage – 100/300/100 BI/PD – 250 Comp/Coll$3,036
Full Coverage – 100/300/100 BI/PD – 1000 Comp/Coll$2,574
Non-Owners$600
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How much does car insurance cost after a ticket or accident in Seattle?

Car insurance rates in Seattle generally go up after a violation, especially if it’s serious. On average, an at-fault accident increases premiums by 53%, while a speeding ticket raises rates by 40%.

A DUI leads to the biggest jump, with average increases of 48%.

How much your rate increases depends on your insurer and driving history, but violations can affect your premium for several years.

See the table below for a breakdown of rate increases in Seattle by violation type.

Violation% increase
At-Fault Accident53%
DUI48%
Speeding40%
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How does age affect car insurance rates in Seattle?

Insurance companies see teen drivers as higher risk — which is why their premiums are often significantly higher than those of older, more experienced motorists.

In Seattle, an 18-year-old pays an average of $10,284 per year for full coverage. Teens face steeper rates because they’re new behind the wheel, have limited driving history and are statistically more likely to be involved in accidents. Even a minor incident can affect pricing at that age.

The upside is that rates typically begin to decrease as drivers gain experience, maintain a clean record and demonstrate safe driving habits over time.

See how car insurance rates in Seattle vary by age and coverage level in the table below.

AgeState minimum coverageFull coverage
16$3,717$14,475
17$3,011$11,938
18$2,535$10,284
19$1,741$7,292
20$1,413$6,366
21$1,145$4,754
22$1,038$4,328
23$947$3,969
24$875$3,692
25$784$3,284
30$707$2,973
35$686$2,882
40$668$2,803
45$658$2,766
50$647$2,694
55$631$2,618
60$641$2,619
65$679$2,741
70$733$2,897
75$835$3,203
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Which ZIP codes in Seattle have the cheapest car insurance?

Where you live also plays a role in how much car insurance costs. In Seattle, the cheapest ZIP codes for car insurance are 98107, 98101 and 98121. The most expensive are 98108, 98118, and 98144.

The tables below show the cheapest and most expensive ZIP codes for car insurance in Seattle.

Cheapest car insurance rates in Seattle, by ZIP code

ZIP codeAverage annual rate for full coverage
98107$2,629
98101$2,640
98121$2,650
98117$2,671
98103$2,674
98102$2,674
98109$2,679
98199$2,681
98119$2,681
98161$2,698
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Most expensive car insurance rates in Seattle, by ZIP code

ZIP codeAverage annual rate for full coverage
98108$3,149
98118$3,140
98144$3,095
98158$2,998
98106$2,997
98126$2,975
98132$2,887
98131$2,886
98136$2,879
98195$2,876
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How to choose the right car insurance in Seattle

Seattle drivers often find the cheapest car insurance with GEICO, but that doesn’t automatically make it the best fit for everyone. Rates vary based on your age, driving history, vehicle, credit profile (in most states) and even your ZIP code. That’s why shopping around and comparing multiple quotes can help you lock in the most competitive rate for your specific situation.

As you review your options, take a close look at what each policy actually includes. Check liability limits, deductibles, optional coverages and available discounts. A lower premium can be appealing, but it may also mean higher out-of-pocket costs after an accident. The goal isn’t just to pay less — it’s to make sure you’re properly protected while still getting good value for your money.

Methodology

In 2026, Insure.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to pull rates for a 40-year-old male and female driver who has a 12-mile commute and drives a Honda Accord LX 10,000 miles annually. The hypothetical driver has full coverage, carrying policy limits of 100/300/100 with $500 deductibles for collision and comprehensive coverages and a good insurance score with no violations.

We analyzed 65,756,440 insurance quotes from 195 companies grouped into 73 company groups across 34,595 ZIP codes in 29,159 cities in 51 states and jurisdictions nationwide. The national average premium for full coverage in this study was $2,578 per year.

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Alisha Ambre

 
  

Alisha Ambre holds a Bachelor of Arts with honours in English Literature and Media Studies. She focuses on crafting clear, engaging content that makes complex information feel practical and approachable for everyday readers. When she’s not writing, she’s likely on the volleyball court or immersed in a good video game.

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