The best car insurance companies are financially strong and have a wide range of coverage options and discounts. NerdWallet's editorial team evaluated 24 insurers to find the highest-rated ones in Washington. We also keep an eye out for details or perks that make one insurer stand out from the rest, such as a great in-app experience or uncommon discounts.
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Best car insurance companies in Washington state
Here’s our list of the best auto insurance companies in Washington, plus what makes them stand out from the competition.
Average rates are specific to Washington and based on NerdWallet’s June 2025 analysis. Read our methodology.
Best overall pick
Travelers
Travelers offers a broad range of coverage options and discounts to help you customize your car insurance policy.- Received fewer customer complaints than expected for auto insurance.
- Lots of coverage options for auto insurance.
- One of the largest insurance providers in the nation.
- Rideshare insurance is not available in all states.
$106 per month on average for full coverage
$38 per month on average for liability coverage
Why Travelers is the best overall pick in Washington
Travelers earned the highest score out of 24 eligible insurers in Washington, based on NerdWallet’s evaluations of each insurer’s coverage options, discounts and financial strength.
Pros
- Two accident forgiveness plans available for eligible drivers.
- Offers non-standard options like gap insurance and new car replacement coverage.
Cons
- Does not offer rideshare insurance in Washington state.
» Read the full review: Travelers auto insurance review
Best for customer satisfaction
American Family
American Family offers a wide range of coverage, including rideshare and gap insurance, but doesn’t sell policies in all states.- Fewer customer complaints than expected for a company its size for auto and life insurance.
- Many coverage types offered.
- Wide range of discounts.
- Not available in all states.
$130 per month on average for full coverage
$56 per month on average for liability coverage
Why American Family is the top pick for customer satisfaction in Washington
American Family had the fewest customer complaints to state regulators compared to other insurers of its size. The company also ranked third overall in J.D. Power’s 2024 auto insurance shopping study, which measures customer satisfaction with shopping for and buying coverage from insurance companies. For claims, customer satisfaction was about average, according to J.D. Power.
Pros
- Offers rideshare insurance, gap insurance and original equipment manufacturer coverage.
- Accident forgiveness available for eligible drivers.
- More discounts than many other companies.
Cons
- Estimated rates for many driver profiles are higher than the national average.
» Read the full review: American Family auto insurance review
Best for discounts
Farmers
One of the country's largest insurers, Farmers offers a long list of discounts and plenty of ways to customize your coverage.- Fewer complaints than expected for a company of its size.
- Lots of discounts available.
- Doesn’t offer car insurance in all states.
$294 per month on average for full coverage
$92 per month on average for liability coverage
Why Farmers is the top pick for discounts in Washington
Our comparison showed that Farmers offers the largest number of discounts among top-rated insurance companies in Washington. And that number doesn’t include additional ways to save, such as lower deductibles for safe drivers.
Pros
- Accident forgiveness for every 3 years drivers are accident-free.
- Offers custom parts and equipment coverage for drivers with full coverage.
- Eligible safe drivers can benefit from a diminishing deductible program.
Cons
- May be more expensive than other companies for some drivers.
» Read the full review: Farmers auto insurance review
Best for mobile app users
State Farm
With generous coverage and discounts for good driving habits, State Farm is a popular insurer with fewer complaints compared to other large competitors.- Numerous discounts offered, including two programs — one for safe driving and the other for young drivers.
- Generous rental car and travel expenses coverage.
- Above average customer satisfaction rating for buying auto insurance among large insurers, according to J.D. Power.
- Doesn't offer gap insurance.
$166 per month on average for full coverage
$34 per month on average for liability coverage
Why State Farm has the best mobile apps for Washington drivers
Unlike some top insurers, State Farm lets drivers make payments, start claims and manage policies online or in the State Farm app, which is rated highly by drivers on both Apple and Android devices.
Pros
- Rental car coverage pays for meals, lodging and transportation if drivers are stranded 50+ miles from home.
- Steer Clear Driver program provides training for drivers under age 25, and may include a discount.
- Offers rideshare insurance.
Cons
- Doesn’t offer gap insurance.
- May be more expensive than other companies for some drivers.
» Read the full review: State Farm auto insurance review
Best for military drivers
USAA
USAA offers insurance to active military, veterans and their families only.- High customer satisfaction ratings.
- One-stop shop for insurance as well as banking and investing products.
- Policies available in all states and Washington, D.C.
- Available to active military, veterans and their families only.
$106 per month on average for full coverage
$28 per month on average for liability coverage
Why USAA is the best for Washington drivers with military connections
USAA consistently scores among the top insurance companies in the nation, according to NerdWallet’s reviews. It’s only available to military members, veterans and their families.
Pros
- Accident forgiveness available after 5 years of accident-free driving.
- Offers military-minded discounts for things like storing your car on base.
- Consistently one of the most affordable insurers across the country.
Cons
- Not available to most drivers.
» Read the full review: USAA auto insurance review
Best regional pick: Pemco
NerdWallet rating: Not rated.
$210 per month on average for full coverage
$36 per month on average for liability coverage
Why Pemco is the best regional pick for drivers in Washington
Smaller or regional insurers can be a great fit, particularly if you want to work directly with a local agent. Pemco has the best customer satisfaction scores for car insurance companies in the Northwest, according to a 2024 survey by J.D. Power.
Pros
- Specializes in coverage for the Pacific Northwest region.
- Allows drivers to get a quote, file a claim, and manage a policy online or with Pemco’s mobile app.
- Offers a wide variety of discounts.
Cons
- May be more expensive than other companies for some drivers.
Looking for the lowest auto insurance rates in your state? Kemper has the cheapest average full coverage rate in Washington. To find other low-cost options, check out NerdWallet’s list of the cheapest car insurance in Washington.
Best auto insurance companies in Washington state: Honorable mentions
If you’re looking for even more options, here’s a list of other top car insurance companies that earned a NerdWallet star rating of 4.5 or higher. Each of these companies could be a solid choice, depending on your driving history and insurance needs.
Company | Star rating |
|---|---|
Looking for the best budget pick? We also came up with a list of the cheapest car insurance in Washington so you can compare budget-friendly rates available in your area.
Minimum auto insurance limits required in Washington
Washington drivers are required to purchase liability insurance. If you’re ever found at fault in a car accident, liability coverage pays for others’ property damage and injury expenses so you don’t have to cover these bills out of your own pocket.
The minimum auto liability limits in Washington are:
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person.
$50,000 bodily injury liability per crash.
$10,000 property damage liability per crash.
Liability car insurance covers the cost of any damage, injuries or deaths you cause in a car accident, up to your policy’s predefined limits.
While this will be enough to drive legally, it’s usually wise to select more than the bare minimum, because a serious crash could easily leave you owing more than, say, $10,000 in property damage. You might also want common optional coverages such as collision, comprehensive and uninsured motorist protection.
Check out NerdWallet’s guide to car insurance requirements by state to learn more about how the parts of your Washington auto policy work.
Article sources
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines.
- 1.J.D. Power. 2024 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study. Accessed May 22, 2025.
- 2.J.D. Power. 2024 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Survey. Accessed May 22, 2025.
- 3.J.D. Power. 2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Study. Accessed May 22, 2025.
Methodology
NerdWallet averaged rates based on public filings obtained by pricing analytics company Quadrant Information Services. We examined rates for 35-year-old men and women for all ZIP codes in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Unless otherwise stated, our analysis was based on our base driver profile, which has the following characteristics and coverage levels:
35 years old
Single. Male or female.
2022 Toyota Camry LE
12,000 annual miles driven.
Good driving record and credit
No moving violations.
"Good driving" discount applied.
Good credit-based insurance score.
Bodily injury liability coverage
$100,000 per person. $300,000 per crash.
Property damage liability coverage
$50,000 per crash.
Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage
$100,000 per person. $300,000 per crash.
Collision coverage
With a $1,000 deductible.
Comprehensive coverage
With a $1,000 deductible.
- See characteristics for other driver profiles
For all other driver profiles, we used the same assumptions, with the following exceptions:
We changed the credit tier from “good” to “poor,” as reported to the insurer, to see rates for drivers with poor credit. These rates are based on credit score approximations and do not account for proprietary scoring criteria used by insurance providers.
For drivers with one at-fault crash, we added a single at-fault crash that happened six months ago, resulting in $10,000 in property damage and no bodily injury claim.
For drivers with a DUI, we added a single drunken driving violation that happened six months ago.
For drivers with a ticket, we added a single speeding violation for driving 16 mph over the speed limit.
For young drivers, we considered 20-year-olds with good credit and no driving violations.
For millennial drivers, we considered 40-year-olds with good credit and no driving violations.
For senior drivers, we considered 70-year-olds with good credit and no driving violations.
These are median rates, and your rate will vary based on your personal details, state and insurance provider. Sample drivers had the minimum required coverage by law in each state. Some policies include additional coverage at the insurer’s discretion.
Although it’s one of the largest insurers in the country, Liberty Mutual is not included in our rates analysis due to a lack of publicly available information.
