Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Rates for Drivers Under 21 in Seattle?

For minors, one of the more important components that are used to help calculate car insurance rates is your address. More densely populated places will most likely pay more, whereas less populated areas have the gratification of cheaper auto insurance rates.

The following table rates the highest-priced areas in Washington for drivers under 21 to purchase a policy in. Seattle is listed at #3 with the annual price of $1,391 for the average insured, which is approximately $116 each month.

How much is car insurance in Seattle?
Rank City Annual Premium
1 Tacoma $1,441
2 Federal Way $1,421
3 Seattle $1,391
4 Auburn $1,380
5 Lakewood $1,378
6 Renton $1,361
7 Kent $1,350
8 South Hill $1,340
9 Shoreline $1,326
10 Everett $1,288
11 Marysville $1,258
12 Bellevue $1,256
13 Redmond $1,251
14 Sammamish $1,220
15 Kirkland $1,207
16 Vancouver $1,181
17 Lacey $1,122
18 Spokane Valley $1,098
19 Olympia $1,072
20 Yakima $1,068
Find the Best Rates Go

Prices are estimated as specific location information can influence prices noticeably.

The vehicle you are seeking coverage for is one of the main factors that determines whether or not you can buy economical insurance for drivers under 21. Vehicles with reasonable performance levels, modern passenger safety features, or a low likelihood of having liability claims will cost substantially less to insure than adrenaline junky models. The next table showcases auto insurance prices for a handful of the cheapest automobiles to buy coverage for.

Cheapest Vehicles to Insure in Seattle, WA
Vehicle Make and Model Estimated Cost for Full Coverage
Honda Accord LX 4-Dr Sedan $3,490
Ford Escape XLT 4WD $3,542
Honda CR-V EX 4WD $3,549
Toyota Prius $3,816
Honda Odyssey LX $3,865
Ford Edge SE 2WD $3,872
Toyota Tacoma 4WD $3,916
Volkswagen Jetta 2.0T Station Wagon $4,039
Ford Focus S 4-Dr Sedan $4,088
Toyota Camry LE $4,139
Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid $4,149
Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 2WD $4,139
Toyota RAV4 4WD $4,146
Chevrolet Equinox LT 2WD $4,139
Dodge Grand Caravan Hero $4,149
Ford Explorer Limited 4WD $4,191
Honda Civic LX 4-Dr Sedan $4,311
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport Islander Package 4WD 4-Dr $4,321
Hyundai Elantra Blue 4-Dr Sedan $4,311
Nissan Altima 2.5 S 4-Dr Sedan $4,362
Start Your Quote Go

Data variables include single female driver age 20, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Washington minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, and claim-free. Price estimates do not factor in specific location information which can increase or decrease premiums considerably.

Looking at the rates, you can see that vehicles like the Honda Accord, Ford Escape, and Honda CR-V are most likely to be a few of the more affordable vehicles to insure for minors. Rates will be more costly just because there is more liability risk for drivers under 21, but in general those vehicles will probably have the least expensive rates compared to other types of vehicles.

Trying to buy cheap insurance is not the easiest thing to do, and figuring out which company has the cheapest auto insurance rates for drivers under 21 will require additional perseverance. Each auto insurance company has their own guidelines to determine premium rates, so we’ll take a look at the overall cheapest auto insurance companies in Washington.

It’s important that readers know that Seattle auto insurance rates are impacted by many factors which can substantially change the cost of a policy. Simply having another birthday, buying a different vehicle, or getting a driving violation may cause policy rate changes resulting in some companies being more expensive than competitors.

Cheap Insurance Rates for Minors

Get a Free Quote and Save

Rankings for the cheapest car insurance companies in Washington
Rank Company Cost Per Year
1 Capital $777
2 Grange $822
3 Nationwide $961
4 PEMCO $974
5 Travelers $1,028
6 Mutual Enumclaw $1,054
7 The Hartford $1,058
8 California Casualty $1,072
9 USAA $1,092
10 Allied $1,109
11 Chubb $1,116
12 State Farm $1,130
13 Safeco $1,180
14 American Family $1,208
15 Amica $1,219
16 Liberty Mutual $1,257
17 Farmers $1,329
18 National General $1,495
19 Progressive $1,525
20 GEICO $1,656
Find Your Rate Go

Capital has some of the lowest car insurance rates in Seattle at around $777 annually. Grange, Nationwide, PEMCO, and Travelers also qualify as some of the cheapest Seattle, WA insurance companies.

As depicted above, if you are currently insured with Grange and switched to Capital, you could earn yearly savings of approximately $45. Washington drivers with Nationwide may save as much as $184 a year, and PEMCO customers might realize rate reductions of up to $197 a year.

Remember that these policy prices are averaged for all insureds and vehicles and do not take into consideration an exact zip code location for drivers under 21. So the car insurance company that is best suited for you may not even be in the top 25 companies in the list above. That is why you need to get rate quotes using your own driver information and specific vehicle type.

The example below illustrates how choosing a deductible can affect premium costs when trying to find cheap insurance for drivers under 21. The premium estimates are based on a single male driver, comp and collision included, and no policy discounts are applied.

As shown above, a 30-year-old driver could save $270 a year by switching the physical damage coverage from a $100 deductible to a $500 deductible, or save $410 by choosing a $1,000 deductible. Young drivers, like the Age 20 category, could possibly save up to $796 every year by choosing larger deductibles on their policy. If you do decide to increase your deductibles, it will now be necessary to have additional savings on hand to offset the extra out-of-pocket expense, which is the one shortcoming of high deductibles.

Buying coverage from a highly-rated insurer can be difficult considering how many choices drivers have in Seattle. The ranking data in the lists below may help you analyze which providers you want to consider when trying to find cheaper insurance for drivers under 21. These rankings are for companies that write coverage in many states, so companies that focus mainly on Washington business are not factored into the list.

Top 10 Major Auto Insurers in Seattle Ranked by Customer Service

  1. GEICO
  2. State Farm
  3. The Hartford
  4. The General
  5. Progressive
  6. Allstate
  7. AAA Insurance
  8. American Family
  9. Nationwide
  10. Liberty Mutual

Why you are probably overpaying for car insurance

Seattle, WA auto insurance rates are determined by lots of factors that can increase the price you pay. Turning one year older, moving to a different location, or getting a reckless driving citation may cause policy rate changes that can now make some companies more affordable than the competition. In addition to those changes, companies change their prices as needed to adjust for gains or losses. Heavier than normal losses can result in higher priced premiums, while lower claims may cause lower-cost Seattle car insurance rates.

For instance, the data below shows the cheapest car insurance in Seattle, WA for a 35-year-old female driver with a clean driving record, no accidents, and good credit. If we estimate rates based on her current rating profile, Capital has the best car insurance rates in Seattle at $1,110 annually. This is $302 less than the average rate paid by Washington drivers of $1,412. Grange, PEMCO, Nationwide, and Travelers are also included in the most affordable Seattle, WA auto insurance companies.

The next chart shows rates after we give the driver in the first chart a chargeable accident, poor credit, and a speeding citation. Because every insurance company has a different formula to set premium rates, comparing rates may result in a significantly different list of the cheapest Seattle car insurance companies as shown below.

USAA now has the best price on car insurance in Seattle, WA with Mutual Enumclaw, California Casualty, Allied, and Chubb completing the list. This example shows why it is critical to shop around with many companies when trying to get affordable auto insurance rates for drivers under 21.

Insurance prices are made up of many factors and change frequently, so the cheapest rate six months ago may now cost much more than other companies.

How to find budget-friendly auto insurance for drivers under 21

The list below summarizes many penny-pinching suggestions that can help Seattle drivers find cheap car insurance.

The last item on the list is particularly vital, as was discussed in this piece. Insurance prices fluctuate constantly, so don’t be afraid to change insurance companies if a better deal can be had. Many drivers have brand loyalty and that’s fine, but is isn’t recommended if that loyalty results in overpaying several hundred dollars every year. In less than five minutes you could compare prices to find cheaper insurance for drivers under 21 in Seattle.

If you aren’t sure which coverage to buy and prefer to have professional advice when buying car insurance for drivers under 21, the agents below can help you make a decision which auto insurance policy would work best for you.

To locate an agency in your neighborhood, click the button following the list.

Find a Seattle, WA insurance agent near you