Cheap Auto Insurance in Seattle, WA
In the market for cheap auto insurance in Seattle, WA? At CheapCarInsuranceinc.com, you could get the best insurance rates within your town. In order to obtain free car insurance rates from the best providers immediately, enter your postal code in the quote box in this article.
Called “The Emerald City” by some, Seattle began as a quaint little lumber town just over a hundred years ago. But the Alaska Gold rush of the late 19th century changed all that, triggering a massive migration of prospectors into the Pacific Northwest. Today, Seattle serves as the main commercial, manufacturing, and transportation hub for the entire region, and is one of the largest US cities west of the Rocky Mountains.
- Fun fact: it sure is crowded out here! Because Seattle is #27 on the list of “Top 100 biggest cities”. Read up on Seattle by visiting here.
Coverage Requirements - Auto Insurance in Washington
Driving legally in Seattle requires:
| Coverage | Requirements | Most Common |
| Liability Bodily Injury | 30,000/55,000 | 100,000/300,000 |
| Liability Property Damage | 10,000 | 50,000 |
| Bodily Injury - Motorist Uninsured | Not required | 100,000/300,000 |
| Medical Payments | Not required | 10,000 |
| Collision | Not required | 500 deductible |
| Comprehensive | Not required | 100 deductible |
Why is Liability coverage legally mandated in most states, Washington included? Because if you are found responsible for causing damage to others or their property with your driving, then you should be held financially responsible for the damages you cause. That’s the philosophy behind the law, anyway.
Most drivers could be forking out a nightmarish $125 each month or more for their Washington car insurance. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. Seattle drivers can lower their costs by more than half – down to $42/mo* or less!
Nationwide and Farmers are offering the best deals in the Seattle area for the average driver right now. But if you happen to have multiple accidents on your record, or you are under the age of 25, their advertised average prices may not apply to you.
Those who provide you with auto insurance plans contemplate various variables while calculating insurance rates, such as driving experience, driving violations, your credit rating, miles driven each year, and current insurance coverage and limits. Also take into account that premiums could differ from business to business. To find out if that you are still forking out the lowest-cost cost, evaluate cheap Seattle auto insurance quotes on the internet.
Most Auto Insurance Facts to know in Seattle
At the time your automobile insurance company prepares to come up with your insurance policy, they take multiple parameters into account. Many of these, just like credit history or your specific location, tend to be extremely hard to vary. Here are various additional examples:
- Your Zip Code
The spot where you park your automobile each night will likely have a significant impact on your car insurance rate. Usually, car insurance is less expensive in outlying areas mainly because a lesser number of cars indicates a smaller chance that you’ll get into an accident with some other vehicle. The populace of Seattle is 652,405 plus the normal family earnings are $70,172.
- Automobile Accidents
Yes, there are more than half a million people living in Seattle, but the overall rate of significant accidents is still very high (especially when you look at the drunk driving statistics). Because of this, rates in your area are likely higher. But you might be eligible for safe driver or similar such discounts if you ask your insurance agent about their availability.
- Car Thieving in Seattle
Acquiring low-cost auto insurance can be challenging if you’re at risk for auto theft. Some trendy car or truck models are alluring to thieves, as well as cars or trucks which might be parked frequently in large cities. The full quantity of stolen cars in Seattle jumped up to 4,310 during the year 2013. This is a high number both in general and per capita, so it’s essential that you have some amount of Comprehensive coverage on your policy.
- Your Credit Score
In some states, there are dramatic differences between the monthly rates of drivers with poor credit, and the monthly rates of drivers with excellent credit. In other states, there’s only a small difference (or none at all). In Washington, that difference in price, as you can see, depends mostly on your insurance provider.
- Your Age
If you are under the age of 25, or you are trying to help someone of that age get Automobile insurance, the bad news that it’s going to be expensive. There are discounts which could help (such as Good Student and Driver’s Education), but gaining driving experience with age is really the only way to make your rates drop immensely.
- Your Driving Record
Obviously, having a perfectly clean record will get you the lowest rate. But life happens sometimes, and not all drivers have that perfect record which providers love to reward with discounts. In such situations, if your past violations are minor, you may be eligible for Accident Forgiveness discounts (your agent will have more information.
- Your Vehicle
Are you thinking about purchasing a luxury vehicle? Well, just remember that expensive vehicles require expensive insurance policies. In most circumstances, such as financing a new vehicle, you won’t be allowed to purchase less than adequate coverage. But even if you could insure a Porsche with Liability only coverage, you’d probably end up forking out more out-of-pocket in unpaid claims.
Minor Car Insurance elements in Seattle
Not all of the elements below will apply to everyone. But for those that apply to you, they could help lower your monthly premium:
- Your Marital Status
Married couples should take advantage of bundling discounts in order to lower their monthly payments on the many different insurance products they require. And the more insurance policies you have under a single company, the more discounts you can get.
- Your Gender
Despite whatever corny sitcom joke you’ve heard about “bad [insert your gender here] drivers” recycled over and over, the truth is that there’s no scientific basis for such superstitions. That’s why most insurance companies, if they still alter rates based on gender, barely charge more than a 1-3% difference.
- Your Driving Distance to Work
Commuting around Seattle can be hit or miss. If you’re lucky, you may only be spending between 15 to 25 minutes behind the wheel each way (with 20 minutes being the average). If you are not, your trip could end up lasting up to 35 minutes. Seattle is also a popular place for alternative means of transportation; only about 55% of workers commute alone each day using their own truck or car, while an impressive 20% rely on bus travel. Around 9% carpool and 4% walk.
It may seem like your providers is very enthusiastic about giving you discounts based on driving fewer miles, but that enthusiasm doesn’t exactly translate into numbers. Even driving 5,000 fewer miles or more each year will barely net you a 3% discount in most situations.
- Your Coverage and Deductibles
Raising your deductible can lower your monthly premium, but it can also leave you with a huge bill if you do get into an accident. Lowering your deductible can make a confusing situation less financially stresssome, but you will be forking out more in monthly premiums.
- Education in Seattle, WA
Seattle is a highly educated city. Nearly one-third of its entire population (30%) has a bachelor’s degree hanging on their wall, and a lower rate on auto insurance to go with it. This is because providers tend to offer lower pricing or special discounts for drivers who have taken their education to the next level. Additionally, 15% of the Seattle population has successfully completed all four years of their high school education.
Three major four-year schools dominate the higher education landscape in Seattle: the University of Washington, Seattle Pacific University, and Seattle University. “UDub” is by far the largest, with an average student body totaling over 40,000 each term. SU and SPU are about one-tenth the size and were originally founded by private religious organizations. And for the working adult who wants a functional degree at a fraction of the price, there are dozens of vocational schools and community colleges which service the immediate Seattle area.
Car insurance is among the most important financial investments you can possibly make as an individual. You have to be sure you discover a reputable, accountable company who can follow through on their offers. A number of car insurance agencies happen to be better at this than others, and conducting a conscientious internet search may help you differentiate the favorable from the inadequate.
How We Conducted Our Car Insurance Analysis
Sources:
Office of the Insurance Commissioner – Washington State
Washington State Department of Financial Institutions
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles