Car Insurance in Seattle
Known as the birthplace of the grunge music movement, Seattle has also produced popular jazz musicians, hip hop artists, and alternative rock bands.
Quick Facts
- The average cost of car insurance in Seattle is $1,665 per year.
- Seattle had 24 fatal car accidents in 2020, which was the most since 2013.
How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in Seattle?
The average cost of car insurance in Seattle is $1,665 per year, which is 21% higher than the state average of $1,368. Seattle car insurance rates are also almost 8% higher than the national average of $1,548
Rates for car insurance premiums fluctuate for the different cities in Washington state.
| City | Average Cost Per Year |
|---|---|
| Tacoma | $1,692 |
| Bellevue | $1,493 |
| Spokane | $1,320 |
| Bellingham | $1,186 |
| Seattle | $1,665 |
Seattle Car Insurance Rates by Zip Code
Seattle is the largest city in Washington and has 34 different zip codes. The cost you’ll pay for car insurance can differ depending on which zip code you live in. For example, zip codes with a history of accidents or auto thefts will have higher insurance rates.
The average monthly rates for car insurance in the different Seattle zip codes are:
| Zipcode | Average Cost Per Year |
|---|---|
| 98103 | $98.29 |
| 98133 | $94.00 |
| 98198 | $101.87 |
| 98119 | $115.38 |
| 98115 | $93.53 |
| 98122 | $110.31 |
| 98126 | $87.94 |
| 98104 | $124.09 |
Seattle Car Insurance Rates by Age
Your age heavily impacts the price you’re charged for car insurance premiums because of the risk factors in different age brackets. In Seattle, drivers in their 50s will pay the lowest rates of about $1,467 per year. Meanwhile, teenagers who are often higher-risk drivers will pay $7,460, which is well over three times as much for car insurance as drivers in their 20s.
| Age | Average Cost Per Year |
|---|---|
| Teenagers | $7,460 |
| 20s | $2,250 |
| 30s | $1,628 |
| 40s | $1,537 |
| 50s | $1,467 |
| 60s | $1,530 |
| 70s | $1,964 |
Driving Conditions in Seattle
How Many Fatal Accidents Happen in Seattle?
In 2020, Seattle saw the highest number of fatalities from motor vehicle accidents since 2013. Of the 144 serious injury accidents in the city that year, 24 involved fatalities.
Seattle adopted the nationwide initiative, Vision Zero, to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injury collisions on city streets by 2030.
How Are the Road Infrastructure and Bridges in Seattle?
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has a long-term Paving Program to repair city streets in poor condition between 2016-2024.
The SDOT operates and maintains about 280 bridges. Four of those bridges are moveable bridges over water.
The state of Washington gets a C- on its road infrastructure, with about 92% of the state’s pavements in fair or better condition. Ongoing maintenance on the roads is needed as the number of vehicles on Washington highways continues to increase.
The state gets a C+ when it comes to its bridges. Of the 7,410 vehicle bridges in the state, 321 are in poor condition. There were a total of 4,979 bridges in Washington state in need of repair in 2017.
Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Seattle
Drivers in Washington state are required to have a minimum 25/50/10 liability coverage. That is:
- $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $10,000 property damage liability per accident
Factors Allowed in Seattle Car Insurance Rates
When looking for cheap car insurance in Seattle and the state of Washington, it’s important to know what factors insurance companies look at to determine the rate you will pay. Things you don’t have control over, such as your age and gender, can impact your car insurance rates just as much as things you can control, like your driving record and credit score.
In Seattle, the factors car insurance companies can look at when determining your rates are:
- Age
- Gender
- Marital status
- Credit score
- Vehicle type
- Driving record
- Education
- Occupation
Discounts for Car Insurance in Seattle
To ensure you get the cheapest car insurance rates you can get, you should look into different discounts available to help bring the cost of your premiums down. For example, a Good Driver Discount rewards drivers with lower premiums if they haven’t had any moving violations or at-fault accidents within the last three years.
Washington state law prohibits insurance companies from offering customer loyalty discounts, which reward customers for not switching companies.
Other discounts that could be available to Bellevue residents include:
- Good Student Discounts. These discounts are given to young drivers who maintain a “B” average or higher in school
- Continuously Insured Discount. If you’ve been insured for six months or more and haven’t let your policy lapse, then you may be eligible for this discount.
- Driver Education. Drivers over age 50 qualify for a discount on their car insurance if they complete a defensive driving course.
- Vehicle Safety Discount. You could be eligible for a discount if your car has certain vehicle safety equipment such as anti-lock brakes, airbags, and anti-theft devices.
What Are the Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Seattle?
Drivers in the state of Washington should be prepared at all times to show proof of insurance if they get pulled over by law enforcement. You could face a fine if you don’t have proof of insurance on you, even if you have coverage.
Drivers without at least the minimum 25/25/10 liability insurance coverage can face stiffer penalties, including suspension of their driver’s license and misdemeanor charges. If you’re driving without insurance and get involved in an injury accident or one that causes more than $1,000 in damage, your driver’s license could be suspended for up to three years.
Get a Quote for Car Insurance in Seattle Today!
The cost of getting car insurance could be considerably less than the fines and penalties you will face if you don’t have insurance, and that doesn’t include the costs you could be faced with if you or one of your passengers are injured in an accident.
Contact Freeway Insurance today. Get started with a quote online, visit us at a Seattle office near you, or call us at (800) 777-5620 for a quote.