Drivers in the Evergreen State pay higher than the national average for their automobile insurance and are facing rates that are climbing higher. With prices rising, finding cheap car insurance in Washington State (WA) can be a challenge, but it is possible if you know where to look.
Washington State requires that all drivers maintain minimum levels of insurance. To operate a vehicle in the state you must keep Bodily Injury Liability coverage of at least $25,000 per injured person with a total of $50,000 per accident. Drivers must also maintain at least $10,000 in Property Damage Liability coverage, which protects you when your car damages someone else’s property.
You may also want to opt for Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury coverage which protects you in the case of injury caused by an uninsured and/or underinsured driver. The state does not require you to maintain this level of coverage and it will make it harder to obtain cheap car insurance in Washington State, but the extra protection could be worth it, especially if you have sizable assets to protect.
Washington residents pay about $100 more than the national average for car insurance. Washington State has an average auto premium of $1,842 whereas the national average is $1,735. To make matters worse, rates in the state are going up. Auto premiums were 13% higher in 2009 than they were in 2008. In contrast, 2008 rates were 7% lower than the previous year’s. With rates on the rise, it is important to lock in cheap car insurance in Washington State as soon as possible. Waiting to shop around for coverage will likely only mean you will pay more later.
It is an unfortunate fact that where you live in the state has a big impact on how much your car insurance costs. Drivers in rural areas and small towns like Hartline, Almira, and Wilbur will find their rates are lower than those living in more urbanized areas of the state like Seattle. Cities mean more drivers on the road which in turn leads to more accidents and more expensive claims filed. As a result, city drivers invariably pay higher rates.
While you can’t change where you live, there are some strategies to finding cheap car insurance in Washington State, no matter where you reside. Insurers look at your personal profile first: whether you are married, what your job is, and what your credit report says. Drivers with better credit scores also get better rates because they are seen to be lower risks. So clean up your credit report before shopping for insurance.
Another way to reduce costs is to increase your deductible as much as you are comfortable doing. Boosting your deductible can save you hundreds of dollars per year, but in the event of an accident you will pay more out of your pocket. Some consumers are comfortable with this higher risk while others don’t mind paying more for more protection.
Probably the single best way to get inexpensive auto insurance in Washington is to shop around among various carriers. Each insurer has different rules and will view your profile differently, so you are likely to get widely varying rates. You can compare rates quickly and easily using this website. Simply enter your zip code in the form above and you will be instantly connected to the best discount insurers in your area. There’s no better time to start saving on your Washington State car insurance than right now.