Washington car insurance rates depend heavily on your driving profile and coverage preferences, and it is wise to shop around among different providers in order to find the most economical rate possible. Many factors could affect your policy premium such as:
Age: Teen drivers tend to pay significantly more than older drivers for car insurance due to having less driving experience and being more likely to get into an accident. Your rate will depend on any additional drivers added onto the policy – adding one could increase it by as much as three-fold!
Location: Population density, crime rate and accident statistics all play a part in determining car insurance premiums. Urban areas often experience more traffic and accidents which will push up premium costs further.
Credit Score: Poor credit histories can raise your premium as insurers perceive them as greater risks for at-fault claims. To improve your score and lower rates in Washington state, pay your bills on time and try to limit debt by keeping bills paid on time – doing this may enable you to qualify for discounts with leading car insurers like Nationwide, Progressive or USAA.
Driving Record: When setting your rate, insurers consider your past driving history when setting it. Achieving and maintaining a clean driving record is key to keeping rates at an acceptable level, so do everything possible to avoid traffic tickets or accidents that might increase it. If an at-fault accident has already taken place on your record, consider insurance providers offering accident forgiveness as this may help bring your rates down further.
Other Factors: In addition to your driving record and credit score, other factors which could influence your car insurance rate include:
Your Vehicle of Choice: If you own a sporty, performance or luxury car you are likely to pay more for car insurance because such vehicles are more likely to be stolen or involved in accidents than family sedans or minivans.
Your driving habits: The more reckless or careless you are while behind the wheel, the higher your premium will be. Conviction for DUI/DWI could raise it even further; however, companies like GEICO offer special rates for high-risk drivers like this one.
Insurance complaints: Filing complaints against an insurer can have an effect on your rates; some carriers have higher complaint ratios than others. While Washington no longer publishes these ratios, you can use ValChoice’s complaint database to see which companies have received more and less complaints in your area.
Washington requires minimum liability auto insurance policies to cover injuries and damages you cause others in an accident, while full coverage with collision and comprehensive protection will safeguard against costly repairs or out-of-pocket expenses, as well as costly losses.