Cost of Car Insurance in Seattle, WA – 2023 Rates + Comparisons

• Average car insurance cost in Seattle is $1,832 per year, or $153 per month, for a full-coverage policy.
• Small crossovers like the Subaru Crosstrek, Chevrolet Trailblazer, and Nissan Rogue Sport are the top picks for cheap car insurance in Seattle.
• Vehicles with the cheapest car insurance in their segment include the Nissan Titan ($1,814 per year), Ford Maverick ($1,522 per year), Chevrolet Tahoe ($1,718 per year), and Acura Integra ($1,646 per year).

How much does car insurance cost in Seattle?

Average car insurance rates in Seattle cost $1,832 per year, or approximately $153 per month. When compared to the U.S. average rate, Seattle car insurance cost is 5.8% more expensive per year.

In the state of Washington, average auto insurance cost is $1,630 per year, so the average cost in Seattle is $202 more per year. When rates are compared to other larger cities in Washington, the cost of auto insurance in Seattle is around $170 per year more expensive than in Bellevue, $8 per year cheaper than in Kent, and $338 per year more than in Spokane.

The next chart shows average Seattle car insurance rates for 2023 model year vehicles not only by driver age, but also by policy deductibles.

The average cost of auto insurance per month in Seattle is $153, with policy premium ranging from $116 to $353 for drivers age 20 to 60 and policy deductibles of $250, $500 and $1,000.

The age of the driver has the single biggest impact on the price you pay for car insurance, so the list below illustrates these differences by breaking out average car insurance rates depending on driver age.

Average cost of car insurance in Seattle by driver age

• 16 year old – $6,568 per year or $547 per month
• 17 year old – $6,140 per year or $512 per month
• 18 year old – $5,736 per year or $478 per month
• 19 year old – $5,192 per year or $433 per month
• 20 year old – $3,648 per year or $304 per month
• 30 year old – $1,932 per year or $161 per month
• 40 year old – $1,832 per year or $153 per month
• 50 year old – $1,668 per year or $139 per month
• 60 year old – $1,638 per year or $137 per month

The rates listed above for drivers age 16 to 19 used a male as the rated driver. The next chart goes into more detail for teenage car insurance rates and illustrates car insurance cost for teens by gender. In general, female drivers tend to have cheaper car insurance, especially as teenagers.

Auto insurance for a 16-year-old female in Seattle costs an average of $788 less per year than the cost for a 16-year-old male, while at age 19, the cost difference is less but females still cost $574 less per year.

What are the cheapest vehicles to insure in Seattle?

The models with the cheapest average insurance quotes in Seattle tend to be crossovers and small SUVs like the Subaru Crosstrek, Chevrolet Trailblazer, and Mazda CX-5.

Average car insurance prices for those small SUVs cost $1,720 or less per year ($143 per month) to get full coverage.

Some additional vehicles that rank in the top 20 in the cost comparison table below are the Ford Maverick, Hyundai Kona, Honda HR-V, and Subaru Ascent.

The average rates are slightly more for those models than the small SUVs at the top of the list, but they still have an average insurance cost of $1,844 or less per year.

The following table ranks the vehicles with the cheapest overall insurance rates in Seattle, ordered by annual cost.

A table showing 20 vehicle models with cheap Seattle car insurance is probably not the best way to present a complete summary of Seattle insurance rates. Considering we track over 700 vehicles, that’s a lot of vehicles that get omitted from the list. So let’s dig deeper and break out the cheapest models a different way:.

This next article section goes into detail about the average cost of auto insurance by vehicle segment. The average rates shown should give you a good understanding of which segments have the overall least expensive average car insurance rates. Then the six sections following the chart rank the vehicles with the cheapest insurance rates in each automotive segment.

Seattle car insurance rates by automotive segment

If you’re considering buying a new car, it’s a good idea to have a basic understanding of which categories of vehicles have cheaper insurance rates. For example, you may be curious if compact cars are more affordable to insure than midsize cars or if luxury models are more expensive to insure than regular vehicles.

The chart below shows average auto insurance rates by segment in Seattle. When looking at rates from a segment perspective, small SUVs and midsize pickups tend to have the most affordable average rates, while large luxury, performance, and sports cars have the most expensive insurance.

Average rates by automotive segment are accurate enough to form a general comparison, but the insurance cost for specific vehicles ranges greatly within each segment listed in the above chart.

For example, in the small SUV segment, car insurance rates in Seattle range from the Chevrolet Trailblazer at $1,386 per year to the Ford Mustang Mach-E costing $2,072 per year.

As another example, in the midsize truck segment, the average insurance cost ranges from the Ford Maverick costing $1,522 per year up to the Rivian R1T costing $2,280 per year.

In the next sections of the article, we eliminate this variability by looking at auto insurance cost in Seattle on a model level rather than a segment level.

Cheapest cars to insure in Seattle

The lowest-cost 2-door and 4-door sedans and hatchbacks to insure in Seattle are the Subaru Impreza at $1,516 per year, the Volkswagen Jetta at $1,676 per year, and the Subaru Legacy at $1,688 per year.

Rounding out the top 10 are cars like the Kia K5, Mazda 3, Toyota Camry, and Toyota Prius, with an average car insurance cost of $1,768 per year or less.

Additional models on the list include the Chevrolet Malibu, Honda Civic, Honda Accord, and Nissan Leaf, which cost between $1,768 and $1,924 per year for full-coverage insurance.

On a monthly basis, full-coverage car insurance in this segment for a safe driver starts at an average of $126 per month, depending on the company and your location.

The comparison table below ranks the cars with the cheapest auto insurance rates in Seattle, starting with the Subaru Impreza at $1,516 per year ($126 per month) and ending with the Volkswagen Arteon at $1,924 per year ($160 per month).

See our comprehensive guides for compact car insurance, midsize car insurance, and full-size car insurance to view data for vehicles not featured in the table.

Need rates for a different vehicle? No problem! Enter your zip code at the bottom of the table and click the orange ‘GO’ button to get cheap Seattle car insurance quotes from top companies in Washington.

Cheapest SUVs to insure in Seattle

Ranking at the top of the list for the lowest-cost Seattle auto insurance rates in the SUV segment (excluding luxury models) are the Nissan Rogue Sport, Chevrolet Trailblazer, Nissan Kicks, Subaru Crosstrek, and Honda Passport. Auto insurance prices for these vehicles average $1,430 or less per year.

Also ranking in the top 10 are models like the Buick Encore, Subaru Ascent, Mazda CX-5, and Kia Seltos, with an average car insurance cost of $1,490 per year or less.

On a monthly basis, full-coverage auto insurance on this segment in Seattle will start around $116 per month, depending on the company. The table below ranks the twenty SUVs with the most affordable car insurance rates in Seattle, starting with the Chevrolet Trailblazer at $1,386 per year and ending with the Chevrolet Trax at $1,576 per year.

For all vehicle comparisons, see our guides for compact SUV insurance, midsize SUV insurance, and full-size SUV insurance.

Don’t see insurance rates for your SUV? No problem! Enter your zip code at the bottom of the above table and click the orange ‘GO’ button to get free car insurance quotes from top-rated companies in Washington.

Cheapest sports cars to insure in Seattle

Ranking #1 in Seattle for cheapest auto insurance in the sports car segment is the Mazda MX-5 Miata, at $1,694 per year. Second place is the Audi TT costing $1,898 per year, coming in third is the Ford Mustang, costing an average of $1,988 per year, and coming in fourth is the BMW Z4, at an average of $2,002 per year.

Also ranking well are models like the BMW M2, Toyota GR86, Subaru BRZ, and Toyota GR Supra, with average insurance cost of $2,210 per year or less.

Ranking between positions 10 and 20, models like the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT53, BMW M4, BMW M3, Chevrolet Camaro, and Jaguar F-Type cost between $2,210 and $2,756 per year for insurance.

From a monthly standpoint, full-coverage car insurance in Seattle on this segment for a middle-age safe driver starts at around $141 per month, depending on the company and your location. The rate comparison table below ranks the twenty sports cars with the lowest-cost insurance in Seattle, starting with the Mazda MX-5 Miata at $141 per month and ending with the Lexus LC 500 at $230 per month.

Looking for a different vehicle? Enter your zip code at the bottom of the table above and click the orange ‘GO’ button to get free car insurance quotes from top-rated car insurance companies in Washington.

Cheapest pickup trucks to insure in Seattle

Ranked at #1 in Seattle for the most affordable average insurance rates in the pickup truck segment is the Ford Maverick, at an average of $1,522 per year. Second place is the Chevrolet Colorado at $1,526 per year, and the third cheapest is the Nissan Frontier, costing an average of $1,582 per year.

Not the cheapest pickups to insure, but still very reasonable, are models like the Toyota Tacoma, Ford F150, Hyundai Santa Cruz, and Nissan Titan, with average insurance cost of $1,866 per year or less.

Car insurance rates in this segment for the average driver will start around $127 per month, depending on your location and insurance company.

The next table ranks the twenty pickups with the lowest-cost car insurance rates in Seattle, starting with the Ford Maverick at $1,522 per year ($127 per month) and ending with the Nissan Titan XD at $2,046 per year ($171 per month).

See our guides for midsize pickup insurance and large pickup insurance to view any trucks not shown in the table.

Looking for insurance rates for a different truck? Enter your zip code at the bottom of the above table and click the orange ‘GO’ button to get free car insurance quotes from top companies in Washington.

Cheapest luxury car insurance rates in Seattle

The four cheapest luxury car models to insure in Seattle are the Acura Integra at $1,646 per year, BMW 330i at $1,860 per year, Acura TLX at $1,890 per year, and Cadillac CT4 at $1,914 per year.

Some other luxury cars that are affordable to insure are the Lexus ES 350, BMW 330e, Cadillac CT5, and BMW 228i, with an average cost of $1,992 per year or less.

Full-coverage car insurance in Seattle for this segment starts at around $137 per month, depending on the company and where you live.

The rate comparison table below ranks the cars with the most affordable insurance rates in Seattle, starting with the Acura Integra at $1,646 per year ($137 per month) and ending with the Volvo S60 at $2,048 per year ($171 per month).

For all luxury car insurance comparisons, see our full luxury car insurance guide.

Don’t see insurance cost for your luxury car? No problem! Enter your zip code at the bottom of the above table and click the orange ‘GO’ button to get free Seattle car insurance quotes from top-rated car insurance companies in Washington.

Cheapest luxury SUVs to insure in Seattle

Sitting at number one in Seattle for the lowest-cost average insurance in the luxury SUV segment is the Acura RDX, costing $1,530 per year. Second place is the Lexus RX 350 costing $1,642 per year, ranking third is the Cadillac XT4, at an average of $1,652 per year, and coming in fourth is the Volvo XC40, costing an average of $1,686 per year.

Not the cheapest luxury SUVs to insure, but still affordable, are luxury SUVs like the Mercedes-Benz GLA250, Lexus UX 250h, Cadillac XT6, and Cadillac XT5, with average insurance cost of $1,784 per year or less.

As a cost per month, car insurance rates in this segment for a safe driver can cost as low as $128 per month, depending on your location and insurance company.

When vehicle size is considered, the cheapest compact luxury SUV to insure in Seattle is the Acura RDX at $1,530 per year, or $128 per month. For midsize 2023 models, the Lexus RX 350 is cheapest to insure at $1,642 per year, or $137 per month. And for full-size luxury SUV models, the Volvo XC90 is cheapest to insure at $1,892 per year, or $158 per month.

The next table ranks the SUVs with the cheapest car insurance in Seattle, starting with the Acura RDX at $128 per month and ending with the Mercedes-Benz GLC300 at $156 per month.

For more car insurance comparisons, see our guide for luxury SUV insurance.

Don’t see rates for your luxury SUV? Enter your zip code at the bottom of the above table and click the orange ‘GO’ button to get free Seattle car insurance quotes from top-rated companies in Washington.

Seattle auto insurance cost examples

In an effort to show how much auto insurance cost can change from one driver to the next (and also emphasize the importance of accurate rate quotes), the examples below have multiple rates for four popular vehicles in Seattle: the Ram Truck, Nissan Sentra, Toyota Highlander, and Honda Accord.

Each chart shows average rates for a range of driver profiles to show how rates can be very different with only minor risk factor changes.

Ram Truck insurance rates

In Seattle, the lowest-cost auto insurance rates for a 2023 Ram 1500 pickup are on the Tradesman Quad Cab 4WD model, costing an average of $1,778 per year, or around $148 per month. This model has a MSRP of $41,210.

The most expensive 2022 Ram Truck to insure in Seattle is the Limited Crew Cab 2WD model, costing an average of $2,192 per year, or about $183 per month. The sticker price for this trim is $64,000, before documentation and destination fees.

From a cost per month standpoint, car insurance quotes on the Ram Truck can range from $148 to $183 per month, depending on the company and your Zip Code in Seattle.

The bar chart below should help you understand how the prices of car insurance for a Ram Truck can range significantly based on a number of different driver ages and risk profiles.

The Ram Truck is considered a full-size truck, and additional similar models include the Nissan Titan, Toyota Tundra, and Chevrolet Silverado.

Nissan Sentra insurance rates

With a sticker price ranging from $19,950 to $23,395, average Seattle car insurance quotes for a Nissan Sentra cost from $1,650 per year for the Sentra S model up to $1,746 per year on the Sentra SR Midnight Edition model.

For our example drivers in the chart below, cost ranges from $1,412 to $3,800 per year, which is a difference of $2,388 per year for insurance on the same vehicle.

The Nissan Sentra is classified as a compact car, and additional similar models from the same segment include the Volkswagen Jetta, Hyundai Elantra, Chevrolet Cruze, and Honda Civic.

Toyota Highlander insurance rates

Average Toyota Highlander insurance cost in Seattle ranges from $1,602 up to $2,058 per year. The cheapest insurance is on the $36,420 Highlander L 2WD trim, while the highest-cost model is the $52,425 Highlander Hybrid Platinum AWD.

When Seattle car insurance quotes for a Toyota Highlander are compared to the average cost for the entire U.S. for the same vehicle, the cost is anywhere from $20 to $24 less per year in Seattle, depending on the exact trim being insured.

As a cost per month, auto insurance rates on the Toyota Highlander can range from $134 to $172 per month, depending on your insurance company and exact Zip Code in Seattle.

The next rate chart may help illustrate how the prices of car insurance on a Toyota Highlander can range considerably for different driver ages and policy risk profiles. In this example, prices range from $1,518 to $4,182 per year, which is a cost difference of $2,664.

The Toyota Highlander is classified as a midsize SUV, and other models in that segment include the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Kia Telluride, and Ford Edge.

Honda Accord insurance rates

Honda Accord insurance in Seattle averages $1,852 per year, ranging from $1,716 per year on the Accord Hybrid trim level (MSRP of $27,720) up to $2,012 per year on the Accord Touring trim (MSRP of $38,450).

From a monthly standpoint, auto insurance quotes for the Honda Accord for a good driver can range from $143 to $168 per month, but your final cost can vary considerably based on your Seattle Zip Code.

The chart below demonstrates how the prices of car insurance for a Honda Accord can change based on different driver ages, physical damage coverage deductibles, and driver risk profiles.

The Honda Accord belongs to the midsize car segment, and additional similar models include the Chevrolet Malibu, Toyota Camry, Kia K5, and Nissan Altima.

How to save on auto insurance in Seattle

Drivers are always looking to reduce the monthly expense for car insurance So take a minute or two to look through the money-saving ideas in the list below to see if you can save a little dough on your next auto insurance policy.

• Obey the law to get lower insurance cost. In order to get cheap auto insurance in Seattle, it’s necessary to follow traffic laws. Just one or two minor traffic violations could result in spiking policy cost as much as $482 per year. Serious violations like DUI/DWI and leaving the scene of an accident could raise rates by an additional $1,688 or more.
• Improve your credit for cheaper car insurance. Having an excellent credit rating above 800 may save $288 per year over a lower credit rating of 670-739. Conversely, a weaker credit score could cost up to $333 more per year. Not all states use credit score as a rating factor, so check with your agent or company.
• Choose a vehicle that is more affordable to insure. The vehicle you choose to drive is a big factor in the price you pay for car insurance in Seattle. As an example, a Kia Soul costs $1,764 less per year to insure in Seattle than a Acura NSX. Lower performance vehicles save money.
• Remove unneeded coverage on older vehicles. Dropping full coverage from vehicles that are older will cut the cost of car insurance substantially.
• Increasing deductibles makes car insurance cheaper. Raising your policy deductibles from $500 to $1,000 could save around $284 per year for a 40-year-old driver and $552 per year for a 20-year-old driver.
• Your employment could save you money. Many auto insurance companies offer discounts for certain occupations like college professors, dentists, emergency medical technicians, police officers and law enforcement, doctors, and others. If your profession qualifies you for this discount, you could potentially save between $55 and $185 on your yearly car insurance bill, depending on the age of the rated driver.
• Compare insurance rates before buying a car. Different vehicles, and even different trims of the same vehicle, can have significantly different car insurance premiums, and companies can sell policies with a wide range of costs. Get plenty of car insurance quotes before you buy a new car so you can avoid price shock when you receive your bill.