Best car insurance in Bellevue, WA (2024)

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Gianetta PalmerContributing WriterGianetta Palmer is a contributing writer at Policygenius, where she covers life insurance, home insurance, and auto insurance. Her writing has also appeared in TIME, Readers Digest, Healthline, and elsewhere.&Rachael BrennanSenior Editor & Licensed Auto Insurance ExpertRachael Brennan is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.

Edited by

Anna SwartzAnna SwartzSenior Managing EditorAnna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.
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Ian Bloom, CFP®, RLP®Ian Bloom, CFP®, RLP®Certified Financial PlannerIan Bloom, CFP®, RLP®, is a certified financial planner and a member of the Financial Review Council at Policygenius. Previously, he was a financial advisor at MetLife and MassMutual.

Updated|3 min read

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The average cost of a full coverage insurance policy in Bellevue is $1,988 per year. Compared to the Washington state average of $1,730, Bellevue residents pay nearly $258 more for the same coverage.

Ready to shop car insurance?

However, car insurance rates are different and very from driver to driver and company to company. Policygenius can help you compare quotes from top car insurance companies so you can be sure you’re finding the best coverage for you and your budget.

Key Takeaways

  • PEMCO Insurance has the cheapest average rates in Bellevue at $1,007 per year for full coverage

  • The ZIP code in Bellevue with the cheapest average cost of car insurance is 98005, where rates are $1,948 per year

  • The minimum car insurance requirements in Washington are $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability and $10,000 in property damage liability

Methodology & why you can trust our rates

Policygenius has analyzed car insurance rates provided by Quadrant Information Services for every ZIP code in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. For full coverage policies, the following coverage limits were used:

  • Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident

  • Property damage liability: $50,000

  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident

  • Comprehensive: $500 deductible

  • Collision: $500 deductible

In some cases, additional coverages were added where required by state or insurer.

Rates for overall average rate, rates by ZIP code, and cheapest companies determined using averages for single drivers ages 30, 35, and 45. Our sample vehicle was a 2017 Toyota Camry LE driven 10,000 miles/year.

Rates for driving violations and “Poor” credit determined using average rates for a single male 30-year-old driver with a credit score under 578.

Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.

Cheapest car insurance companies in Bellevue, WA

Insurance companies use the same information to establish insurance rates, but each company differs in how it applies your data, which is why rates can vary so much from one company to another. Here are the cheapest car insurance companies in Bellevue:

Company

Average cost

JD Power Rating

PEMCO Insurance

$1,007

--

USAA

$1,100

890

State Farm

$1,252

882

GEICO

$1,339

874

Nationwide

$1,591

868

Cheapest car insurance rates by ZIP code in Bellevue, WA

If you live in a neighborhood with a higher crime rate or busy streets, you’ll probably pay more for car insurance. Insurers look at the number of accidents, reports of stolen vehicles, even whether or not there’s available parking in a given neighborhood.

ZIP code

Average cost

98005

$1,948

98004

$1,963

98006

$1,988

98008

$2,012

98007

$2,027

Choosing the right car insurance company in Bellevue, WA

Shopping for car insurance doesn’t need to be complicated — you’ll want to consider cost, but make sure you’re also getting enough coverage to be fully protected in case of an accident. You should also consider things like claims satisfaction ratings and coverage options — if you’re planning on bundling your home, auto and boat policies, make sure you’re choosing a company that offers all three types of insurance.

Policygenius can help you see options from top insurance companies, so you can be sure you’re choosing the best option.

Car insurance rates for drivers with driving violations in Bellevue, WA

A single speeding ticket can raise your car insurance rates by hundreds of dollars depending on your insurer. For drivers caught driving under the influence, insurance rates can double or even triple.

Violation

PEMCO Insurance

USAA

State Farm

GEICO

Nationwide

At-fault accident

$1,266

$1,591

$1,533

$2,227

$2,902

DUI

$1,466

$2,405

$1,405

$2,197

$3,689

Suspended license

$1,373

$2,266

$1,405

$2,453

$3,689

Open container

$1,373

$1,699

$1,405

$2,197

$2,523

Expired registration

$1,171

$1,354

$1,405

$1,819

$2,523

Driving without lights

$1,171

$1,149

$1,405

$1,819

$3,689

Running a red light

$1,171

$1,354

$1,405

$1,819

$2,523

Following too closely

$1,373

$1,354

$1,405

$1,819

$2,523

Hit and run

$1,466

$2,496

$1,405

$2,197

$3,689

Not-at-fault accident

$1,003

$1,149

$1,278

$1,227

$1,650

Passing a school bus

$1,373

$1,699

$1,405

$1,819

$2,523

Reckless driving

$1,373

$1,513

$1,405

$2,197

$3,689

Speeding

$1,171

$1,354

$1,405

$2,197

$2,523

Collapse table

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI in Bellevue, WA

Company

Rates for drivers with DUIs

State Farm

$1,405

PEMCO Insurance

$1,466

GEICO

$2,197

USAA

$2,405

Nationwide

$3,689

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket in Bellevue, WA

Company

Rates for drivers with speeding tickets

PEMCO Insurance

$1,171

USAA

$1,354

State Farm

$1,405

GEICO

$2,197

Nationwide

$2,523

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with bad credit in Bellevue, WA

Until recently, Washington allowed insurers to use your credit score to determine your car insurance rates. However, the state issued an emergency rule in 2021 to ban the use of credit scores to set rates for home, auto, and renters insurance policies, so drivers with poor credit may see changes to their rates when their policy renews under the new guidelines.

Ready to shop car insurance?

Buying car insurance in Bellevue, WA

Washington state requires all drivers to have a minimum amount of car insurance. The Washington state minimum insurance requirements are:

  • Bodily Injury Liability Coverage per person: $25,000

  • Bodily Injury Liability Coverage per accident: $50,000 

  • Property Damage Liability Coverage: $10,000

  • Have a liability bond of at least $60,000

  • Apply for a certificate of deposit to guarantee financial responsibility for an accident with the state’s Department of Licensing

The minimum insurance requirements in Washington are low and won’t be enough protection for most drivers. Generally, it’s best to set your liability limits as high as you can reasonably afford, to make sure you’re protected in case the worst happens.

Washington is an at-fault state when it comes to car accidents. That means that the insurance company of the at-fault driver is responsible for paying for the other driver’s medical expenses and repair bills after an accident.

The state also follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which means if more than one driver is responsible for an accident, their claims will be reduced accordingly.

How to get cheap car insurance in Bellevue, WA

Insurance companies offer customers discounts that can help you save money on car insurance. Here are some of the most common:

  • Bundling discount: For combining policies such as home, car, and renters insurance with the same company.

  • Low mileage discount: For drivers who commute fewer than 7,500 miles annually.

  • Military discount: A discount for active-duty military personnel and their families

  • Safe-driver discount: For drivers without any accident claims during a given timeframe 

Not everyone will qualify for these discounts, so comparing quotes is another way to save on car insurance.

Frequently asked questions

What car insurance do I need in Washington state?

The minimum coverage requirements in Washington State are 25/50/10. This breaks down into bodily injury liability coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident with property damage liability coverage of $10,000.

Is full coverage car insurance required in Washington?

Full coverage isn't required in Washington by law, but drivers who have a lease or a car loan may be required to have comprehensive and collision insurance as part of the terms of their financial agreement.

Is Washington an at-fault state or a no-fault state?

Washington is an at-fault state, which means that the driver who is deemed at-fault for an accident is responsible for all of the bodily injury and property damage expenses associated with the accident. Drivers who don't have enough liability insurance to cover those expenses will be expected to pay them out of pocket.

How much is car insurance per month in Washington?

The average cost of car insurance in Washington is $144 per month, or $1,730 per year.

Authors

Gianetta Palmer is a contributing writer at Policygenius, where she covers life insurance, home insurance, and auto insurance. Her writing has also appeared in TIME, Readers Digest, Healthline, and elsewhere.

Rachael Brennan is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.

Editor

Anna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.

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