Cheap Auto Insurance for High-Risk Drivers in Washington (Top 10 Companies Ranked for 2024)

State Farm, Progressive, and Liberty Mutual offer the best cheap auto insurance for high-risk drivers in Washington with low monthly rates between $33 and $56.

Insurance companies charge more if they think you’re likely to file a claim because not many insurers can jump at the chance to cover high-risk drivers.

The good news is you have options. Sure, premiums might be higher than the national average, but you can still find a decent auto insurance deal for high-risk drivers in Washington state.

Our Top 10 Company Picks: Cheap Auto Insurance for High-Risk Drivers in Washington

See how much you could save on coverage by entering your ZIP code into our free quote comparison tool above.

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#1 – State Farm: Top Pick Overall

Pros 

• Broad Coverage for High-Risk Drivers: State Farm offers comprehensive coverage options tailored to high-risk drivers in Washington, ensuring robust protection.
• Numerous Discounts for High-Risk Drivers: State Farm provides various discounts specifically designed for high-risk drivers in Washington. Learn more here: State Farm Auto Insurance Review
• Highly-Rated Mobile App: State Farm’s mobile app is highly rated, offering hands-on policy management and convenience for high-risk drivers on the go.

Cons

• No Accident Forgiveness: State Farm does not offer accident forgiveness to high-risk drivers in Washington.
• No Gap Insurance: High-risk drivers in Washington cannot access gap insurance through State Farm.

#2 – Progressive: Cheapest With Snapshot Program

Pros

• Snapshot Program for High-Risk Drivers: Progressive Snapshot allows high-risk drivers in Washington to save based on their driving habits. Our Progressive Snapshot review goes over this in more detail.
• Wide Range of Discounts: High-risk drivers in Washington can benefit from various discounts offered by Progressive.
• Automatic Small Accident Forgiveness: Progressive provides small accident forgiveness automatically for high-risk drivers, with additional forgiveness available through its loyalty program.

Cons

• Low Renewal Likelihood: Progressive ranks last in the “most likely to be renewed” category by Washington high-risk drivers.
• Below Average Claims Experience: High-risk drivers rate Progressive below average for auto insurance claims.

#3 – Liberty Mutual: Cheapest With RightTrack Program 

Pros

• RightTrack Program: Liberty Mutual offers the RightTrack program for high-risk drivers in Washington, allowing them to earn discounts based on safe driving habits. Learn more in our RightTrack review.
• Extensive Add-On Options: High-risk drivers in Washington can choose from several add-on insurance options with Liberty Mutual, providing tailored coverage.
• Exclusive Educator Discounts: Liberty Mutual offers unique discounts and coverage options for Washington teachers who are high-risk drivers.

Cons

• Below-Average J.D. Power Scores: Liberty Mutual received below-average scores in certain regions of the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Insurance Study.
• Low BBB Customer Ratings: Liberty Mutual has low customer ratings with the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

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#4 – Allstate: Best for Accident Forgiveness

Pros

• Accident Forgiveness: Allstate offers accident forgiveness for high-risk drivers in Washington, helping to prevent rate increases after your first accident.
• Usage-Based and Pay-Per-Mile Options: Allstate provides both usage-based and pay-per-mile insurance for high-risk drivers in Washington. Read more: Allstate Auto Insurance Company Review
• Wide Array of Discounts: Allstate offers a broad range of discounts tailored to high-risk drivers in Washington.

Cons

• Higher Rates for High-Risk Drivers: Allstate car insurance rates tend to be higher than other NC high-risk auto insurance companies
• Premium Increases After First Term: High-risk drivers may experience an increase in their Washington car insurance premiums after the initial policy term with Allstate.

#5 – Nationwide: Best Vanishing Deductible

Pros

• Vanishing Deductible: High-risk drivers in Washington can reduce their deductible for each year of safe driving up to $250. Learn more in our Nationwide company review.
• Optional Accident Forgiveness: High-risk drivers can opt for accident forgiveness, helping them avoid rate increases after their first at-fault accident.
• New Car Replacement: Nationwide provides optional new car replacement coverage for high-risk drivers in Washington.

Cons

• Higher Costs for High-Risk Drivers: Nationwide’s premiums for high-risk drivers, such as those with a DUI, are higher compared to some competitors.
• Limited Discounts for High-Risk Drivers: Nationwide offers fewer discounts for high-risk drivers in Washington.

#6 – Farmers: Cheapest With Signal App

Pros

• Signal App for High-Risk Drivers: Farmers offers the Signal app, providing usage-based insights and discounts for high-risk drivers in Washington. Read our Farmers Signal review.
• Online Policy Management: High-risk drivers in Washington can conveniently buy policies and file claims online with Farmers.
• Numerous Discounts Available: Farmers provides a variety of high-risk auto insurance discounts to help drivers reduce Washington premiums.

Cons

• Higher Rates for High-Risk Drivers: Farmers charges higher-than-average rates for high-risk drivers in Washington.
• No Gap Insurance: Farmers does not offer gap insurance for high-risk drivers in Washington.

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#7 – Travelers: Cheapest With IntelliDrive Program

Pros

• IntelliDrive Program: IntelliDrive UBI can help high-risk drivers in Washington save by monitoring and rewarding safe driving habits. Learn how in our Travelers IntelliDrive review.
• Comprehensive Coverage Options: Travelers provides several standard and add-on insurance options tailored for high-risk drivers in Washington.
• New Car Replacement: Travelers offers new car replacement insurance for high-risk drivers. Read more in our detailed Travelers review.

Cons

• Higher Costs for High-Risk Drivers: Travelers may not be as affordable for high-risk drivers as other competitors.
• Location-Based Discounts: The discounts available with Travelers can vary significantly based on your location.

#8 – American Family: Cheapest for Safe Drivers

Pros

• Safe Driver Discounts: American Family offers valuable, safe driver discounts that are particularly beneficial for high-risk drivers in Washington.
• Wide Range of Discounts: High-risk drivers can take advantage of a wide range of discounts, which can help lower their insurance costs. Discover more: AmFam Insurance Review
• Competitive Rates for At-Fault Drivers: Even for drivers with at-fault accidents or speeding tickets, American Family’s average rates are lower than those offered by some competitors.

Cons

• Limited Digital Experience: American Family’s digital tools and online services may not be as advanced as those offered by other insurers.
• Fewer Additional Coverage Options: High-risk drivers may find fewer supplemental coverage choices compared to other insurance providers.

#9 – Geico: Cheapest With Special Discounts

Pros

• Special Discounts: Geico offers tailored discounts for high-risk drivers in Washington. Read more here: Geico Auto Insurance Review
• High Policy Limits: Geico provides substantial coverage limits, which are ideal for high-risk drivers needing extensive protection.
• Accident Forgiveness: High-risk drivers with Geico can benefit from accident forgiveness.

Cons

• Not Always Cheapest: Geico may not offer the lowest rates for high-risk drivers with poor credit or recent accidents.
• No Gap Insurance: High-risk drivers with Geico don’t have the option to add gap insurance to their policies.

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#10 – Safeco: Cheapest With Rewind Program

Pros

• Rewind Program: Safeco offers the Rewind program, which allows high-risk drivers in Washington to reset their driving record after a minor violation.
• Flexible Coverage Add-ons: High-risk drivers can customize their policies with various flexible coverage options tailored to their needs.
• Unique Discounts: Safeco provides exclusive discounts for high-risk drivers, including Claims for Free Cash Back, rewarding safe driving. Check out our Safeco Auto Insurance Review for more details.

Cons

• Below-Average Customer Satisfaction: J.D. Power has rated Safeco below average for customer satisfaction.
• No Online Insurance Quotes: Safeco requires customers to obtain quotes through local agents, which can be less convenient than online quote options.

Cheapest Washington Auto Insurance Companies for High-Risk Drivers

If you’re a high-risk driver in Washington, you’ll want to shop around for the best rates. The average auto insurance cost per month in Washington state will vary based on individual factors. However, you can expect to pay an average of $1,570 yearly or $131 monthly for full coverage in Washington. Minimum full coverage in Washington will cost you around $539 annually or $45 monthly.

Washington High-Risk Auto Insurance Monthly Rates by Provider & Coverage Level

For high-risk drivers in Washington, you can pay a minimum coverage of around $1,000 or $83 to $1,800 or $150 per month. These insurance companies offer better rates to high-risk drivers in Washington for these five reasons:

• Specialization: Because they focus on high-risk drivers, these WA insurance companies understand these drivers better than those who don’t.
• Data Analysis: The insurers collect and analyze large amounts of data on Washington high-risk drivers to help understand patterns in claims and accidents for different high-risk drivers.
• Competitive Strategy: These auto insurance companies offer cheap insurance to attract high-risk drivers in Washington who find it hard to find affordable insurance elsewhere.
• Efficiency: The companies have developed an efficient process for managing Washington high-risk insurance policies over time, which allows them to offer more competitive rates.
• Risk Assessment Models: These cheap WA auto insurers use specialized data to develop advanced risk assessment models, which help them accurately predict which high-risk drivers are likely to file a claim.

Here’s a rundown of the top insurance companies that will keep you from going bankrupt with their cheap Washington high-risk auto insurance rates.

State Farm

State Farm is one of the cheapest auto insurance companies for high-risk drivers in Washington. After an at-fault accident, State Farm increases its rates by about $254, 13% less than the average among other insurance companies. Read more in our full review of State Farm’s auto insurance.

Progressive

Do you have a DUI or DWI in Washington? Progressive Insurance offers reasonable rates for drivers with DUI or DWI offenses on their record. When DUI rates rise by 45% in Washington, full coverage from Progressive costs around $212 per month, which is 30% cheaper than average.

DUI offenses lead to higher premiums, but Progressive provides more affordable options compared to other insurers for DUI drivers. Our complete Progressive review goes over this in more detail.

Liberty Mutual

Liberty Mutual offers competitive rates, even if you have less-than-perfect driving records. If you’re a high-risk driver in Washington looking for affordable car insurance, you can expect to pay rates from $150 to $300 monthly or $1,800 to 3,600 yearly with Liberty Mutual.

If you’re at fault for an accident, expect to pay around $200 and $250 for DUI offenses. A speeding ticket will increase your auto insurance by about 25% with Liberty Mutual, which means you can pay $175 to $225 monthly. You can learn more about Liberty Mutual’s insurance options in our complete guide: Liberty Mutual Auto Insurance Review.

Reasons Why Washington Insurance Companies Charge More for High-Risk Drivers

Insurance companies base rates on the likelihood that you’ll file a claim as a policyholder. So when you’re a risky driver, they think you’re more likely to get involved in an accident and charge you higher premiums.

Young drivers, especially male drivers under 25, are considered the riskiest in Washington from recent data. Many drive under the influence or lack experience or propensity to drive in high-risk situations. Other groups of high-risk drivers are those with one or more of the following on their driving record:

• Previous at-fault accident
• Poor credit score
• A speeding ticket
• A DUI or DWI

These group of high-risk drivers also exhibit behaviors that are most likely to be considered high-risk in Washington, including:

• Racing, which is illegal in Washington
• Reckless driving
• Distracted driving
• Speeding
• Driving under influence

Insurance companies assess risk using factors like your driving history, credit score, and location.  Here are other factors that can put you in the high-risk auto insurance category.

Driving History

Your driving history is a crucial factor in determining your risk level. Every ticket, accident, or violation is a red flag to the insurer. Why? Because your past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior. They’re likely to look at the past 3-5 years of your driving history when assessing risk.

So, if you have had multiple incidents in the past, insurance companies figure you’re more likely to have them in the future. So they’ll charge you more to offset that unforeseen risk. This is how auto insurance companies check your driving records.

Credit Score

How does credit score affect your auto insurance rates? In Washington, insurers can use your credit score to determine your insurance rates. Studies show a correlation between credit score and the likelihood of filing claims.

This is how your insurer thinks: if you’re having trouble managing finances, you’re likely to file small claims or engage in risky behavior.

Location 

Why did my insurance rate increase when I moved? Where you live or drive in Washington affects your auto insurance rates. If you are in urban areas with more traffic and higher crime rates, you’re more likely to get into an accident or have your car stolen.

These are things your insurers consider and adjust premiums accordingly, which may see you pay more if you live in these kinds of areas, even if you’re a careful driver.

DUI Offenses

Driving under the influence is a serious offense in Washington. Insurers will see your DUI conviction as a likelihood of getting into accidents in the future.

Multiple Traffic Violation

If you frequently get speeding tickets or are involved in other moving violations, you will see your Washington auto insurance rates increase.

your insurers will consider this pattern of risky behavior when selling you auto insurance coverage. But how long does a speeding ticket affect your auto insurance rates? It will affect your insurance rate for about three to five years.

At-Fault Accidents

If you cause one or more at-fault accidents, you show a higher chance of causing more accidents in the future, which your insurers will consider.

Age and Experience

As mentioned, young drivers (under 25) and newly licensed drivers lack driving experience. If you fall under this category, statistics have shown you’ll be more likely to get into accidents. If you want to know how much you will pay, here is the auto insurance rate by age.

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Taking Control of Washington High-Risk Insurance Costs: Final Thoughts

Being a high-risk driver in Washington doesn’t mean you can’t find affordable auto insurance. Insurance companies such as State Farm, Erie, USAA, Progressive, and Geico offer cheap auto insurance for high-risk drivers in Washington.

However, they might come with higher premiums compared to an average driver. Since different insurance companies might see your risk differently, shop around for the best rates and auto insurance discounts from different Washington insurers.

Being a high-risk driver in Washington can be costly, but there are steps you can take to lower your premiums. Work on your driving habits, take a defensive driving course, and keep your credit in check to potentially lower your insurance costs over time.

Don’t let expensive insurance rates hold you back. Enter your ZIP code below and shop for affordable premiums from the top companies.

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