What Used Cars Are the Cheapest to Insure in Washington?
Want to know the cheapest pre-owned vehicle to insure in Washington? We researched insurance quotes in the state to save you the effort!
This article covers insurance basics for the state of Washington and tips to save money on premiums. We also found the best insurance companies and answered frequently asked questions!
Washington Cheapest Used Cars to Insure
We selected 45 vehicles from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) 2021 Top Safety Pick+ list and ran each model through an auto-insurance quote generator to determine which cars are the cheapest to insure in Washington.
Using an in-state address and a basic driver profile, we retrieved both full-coverage and liability-only insurance quotes for vehicles from the 2021 model year. The following vehicles listed are the cheapest to insure in Washington:
1. 2021 XC40 by Volvo
The cheapest used car to insure in Washington is the 2021 Volvo XC40. This four-door SUV costs $430 monthly for full coverage, above the state average of $109.42 per month. A liability-only policy costs $206 per month.
The Volvo XC40 the highest possible scores on its crash avoidance and mitigation tests. Standard safety features including blind-spot detection and lane departure prevention also add to the XC40’s value. It gets 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.
2. 2021 XC60 by Volvo
The 2021 Volvo XC60 is the second cheapest used car to insure in Washington. A full-coverage policy for this four-door compact SUV costs $430 per month, which is higher than the state average cost of $109.42 per month. Liability-only coverage for the XC60 costs $206 per month.
The Volvo XC60 features three engine options. Its standard safety features include blind-spot detection, lane-departure prevention, and lane-departure warning. The XC60 gets great mileage, with an EPA-estimated 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway for its standard front-wheel-drive model.
3. 2021 XC90 by Volvo
The third cheapest used car to insure in Washington is the 2021 Volvo XC90. This midsize four-door SUV costs $442 per month for a full-coverage policy, which is higher than the state average cost of $109.42 per month. You can expect to pay $206 per month for a liability-only insurance policy.
The Volvo XC90 achieved the IIHS’s highest score of “Good” on all of its crash worthiness tests and the highest score of “Superior” on its vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention test. The XC90 achieves 21 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.
The 45 Cheapest Used Vehicles to Insure in Washington
Using vehicles on the IIHS 2021 Top Safety Pick+ list, we found policy estimates for both full coverage and liability-only coverage in Washington.
We selected 45 Top Safety Pick+ award-winning vehicles and ran each one through an insurance quote generator. We used an in-state address and a basic driver profile to gather both full-coverage and liability-only quotes, and ranked our findings by full-coverage cost in ascending order.
| Year | Make | Model | Full Coverage | Liability Only |
| 2021 | Volvo | XC40 | $430 | $206 |
| 2021 | Volvo | XC60 | $430 | $206 |
| 2021 | Volvo | XC90 | $442 | $206 |
| 2021 | Ford | Bronco Sport | $465 | $206 |
| 2021 | Lexus | NX | $465 | $206 |
| 2022 | Ford | Bronco Sport | $469 | $204 |
| 2022 | Mazda | CX-5 | $469 | $236 |
| 2021 | Acura | RDX | $476 | $229 |
| 2021 | Mazda | CX-3 | $476 | $229 |
| 2021 | Subaru | Forester | $476 | $206 |
| 2021 | Honda | Odyssey | $487 | $251 |
| 2021 | Mazda | CX-30 | $488 | $229 |
| 2021 | Mazda | CX-9 | $499 | $229 |
| 2021 | Nissan | Rogue | $511 | $274 |
| 2021 | Mazda | CX-5 | $513 | $284 |
| 2021 | Toyota | Highlander | $516 | $270 |
| 2021 | Subaru | Outback | $519 | $272 |
| 2021 | Subaru | Ascent | $522 | $229 |
| 2021 | Honda | Accord | $531 | $295 |
| 2021 | Nissan | Murano | $538 | $286 |
| 2022 | Honda | Civic | $540 | $311 |
| 2021 | Cadillac | XT6 | $554 | $272 |
| 2022 | Cadillac | XT6 | $556 | $268 |
| 2022 | Mitsubishi | Outlander | $568 | $293 |
| 2021 | Subaru | Legacy | $571 | $272 |
| 2022 | Mazda | CX-30 | $585 | $291 |
| 2021 | Honda | Insight | $589 | $300 |
| 2022 | Acura | TLX | $593 | $311 |
| 2021 | Volvo | V60 | $594 | $272 |
| 2021 | Ford | Explorer | $601 | $318 |
| 2021 | Chevrolet | Trailblazer | $614 | $315 |
| 2021 | Chrysler | Pacifica | $614 | $315 |
| 2021 | Volkswagen | ID.4 | $617 | $295 |
| 2021 | Nissan | Altima | $622 | $321 |
| 2021 | Toyota | Sienna | $626 | $315 |
| 2021 | Acura | TLX | $643 | $315 |
| 2021 | Volvo | S60 | $646 | $295 |
| 2021 | Mazda | 6 | $647 | $306 |
| 2021 | Mazda | 3 | $653 | $287 |
| 2021 | Toyota | Camry | $671 | $329 |
| 2021 | Lexus | ES 350 | $787 | $309 |
| 2022 | Lexus | ES 350 | $791 | $305 |
| 2021 | Volvo | S90 | $797 | $295 |
| 2021 | Volvo | V90 | $849 | $295 |
| 2021 | Nissan | Maxima | $857 | $345 |
Full Coverage vs. Liability Insurance Costs
Liability-only insurance is cheaper than full-coverage insurance. This is because liability-only premiums provide drivers with less financial protection in the event of an accident or breakdown. The following table presents the average monthly cost of both policy types in Washington:
|
Full-coverage policy |
Liability-only policy |
| $109.42 per month |
$45.42 per month |
The Best Washington Car Insurance Companies
The three best automobile insurance companies in Washington are Progressive, PEMCO Mutual Insurance Co., and American Family Insurance.
We used Everquote to find the market share for each insurance company listed below. We also researched the complaint index of each insurer. The average complaint index is 1.0; any company with a score below 1.0 received below-average complaints, signifying higher customer satisfaction.
|
Insurance Company |
Market Share |
Percent of Total Complaints |
Complaint Index |
| Progressive | 9.74 | N/A | 0.32 |
| PEMCO Mutual Insurance Co. | 5.37 | N/A | 0.32 |
| American Family Insurance | 4.7 | N/A | 0.43 |
| Farmers Insurance | 6.94 | N/A | 1.09 |
| State Farm | 16.05 | N/A | 1.18 |
| USAA | 8.25 | N/A | 2.27 |
| Allstate Corp. | 9.22 | N/A | 2.70 |
Disclaimer: The figures presented in the “Complaint Index” column are National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) ratings that we collected individually via multiple sources.
Tips to Lower Insurance Premiums in Washington
Drivers in Washington can follow these tips to maximize discounts and minimize insurance premiums:
- Reduce your mileage
- Boost your credit score
- Maintain a clean driving record
- Find out which discounts you qualify for
- Compare insurance quotes from different providers
Research Methodology
We used an in-state address to identify the cheapest used vehicles to insure, as this would provide the most relevant and accurate data for drivers in Washington. We applied this address and a basic driver profile to input the 45 models mentioned earlier through an insurance quote generator.
The credentials we used are as follows:
Basic Driver Profile:
- 35-year-old male with a bachelor’s degree
- Single and employed full time
- Homeowner but did not bundle policies
- Owns the vehicle rather than leases or finances it
- Has been with the current insurance carrier for five or more years
We used vehicles on the IIHS 2021 Top Safety Pick+ 2021 list. The IIHS is an independent, nonprofit organization that collects safety data for cars on the market.
We used the following limits for liability-only quotes:
- $100,000/$300,000 liability limits
- $100,000 property damage limits
- $10,000 personal injury protection
For the full-coverage quotes, we included the following coverages with the liability selections:
- $1,000 deductible on collision coverage
- $1,000 deductible for comprehensive coverage
- $50/$1,500 rental reimbursement
- $100 roadside assistance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest SUV to insure in Washington?
The 2021 Volvo XC40 is the cheapest used SUV to insure in Washington at $430 per month for a full-coverage policy.
Are older cars cheaper to insure?
Yes, older cars generally cost less to insure. This is because they cost less to replace and repair, presenting less financial liability.
How much liability insurance is required in Washington?
According to the Washington State Department of Licensing, in-state drivers are legally required to have no less than the following auto insurance:
- $25,000 bodily injury limit per person
- $50,000 bodily injury limit per accident
- $10,000 property damage limit per accident
What is the penalty for driving without insurance in Washington?
Washington law enforcement will charge uninsured offenders a $15 community restitution penalty and a minimum fine of $450. Driving without insurance in the event of an accident carries the penalty of a license suspension.
In most cases, a suspension can last up to three years and costs $75 to reinstate your license. Repeat offenders can be fined up to $287.
What is the basic insurance for a car?
Liability-only insurance is the most basic coverage a driver can purchase for a vehicle. It financially covers property damage and injuries caused by an at-fault accident. Lenders may require drivers to purchase full-coverage insurance, including comprehensive and collision coverage.
What car has the highest insurance rates?
Luxury vehicles, such as sports cars, vintage models, and rare collectibles, have the highest insurance rates. These cars have higher rates because they present more of a financial risk in the event of an accident. For instance, they often have higher replacement and repair costs.
References
- (2021.) 2021 TOP SAFETY PICKs. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Retrieved April 20, 2023, from https://www.iihs.org/ratings/top-safety-picks/2021
- (2023.) Average cost of car insurance in Washington in 2023. Bankrate. Retrieved April 20, 2023, from https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/car/average-cost-of-car-insurance-in-washington/
- (2019.) Largest Auto Insurance Companies in Washington. Everquote. Retrieved April 20, 2023, from https://www.everquote.com/blog/car-insurance/largest-companies-washington/
- (2023.) State Farm Insurance Review. WalletHub. Retrieved April 20, 2023, from https://wallethub.com/profile/ci/statefarm-13017237i
- (2023.) Progressive Insurance Review. ValuePenguin. Retrieved April 20, 2023, from https://www.valuepenguin.com/progressive-insurance-review
- (2023.) Allstate Insurance Review. WalletHub. Retrieved April 20, 2023, from https://wallethub.com/profile/ci/allstate-13012586i
- (2023.) USAA Insurance Review. WalletHub. Retrieved April 20, 2023, from https://wallethub.com/profile/ci/usaa-insurance-13303847i
- (2023.) Farmers Insurance Review. ValuePenguin. Retrieved April 20, 2023, from https://www.valuepenguin.com/farmers-insurance-review
- (2023.) PEMCO Mutual Insurance Review. WalletHub. Retrieved April 20, 2023, from https://wallethub.com/profile/ci/pemco-insurance-13016360i
- (2023.) American Family Insurance Review. WalletHub. Retrieved April 20, 2023, from https://wallethub.com/profile/ci/american-family-insurance-13012661i
- (nd.) Getting a driver license: Mandatory insurance. Washington State Department of Licensing. Retrieved April 20, 2023, from https://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/insurance.html
- (2022.) Penalties for Driving without Insurance in Washington. ValuePenguin. Retrieved April 20, 2023, from https://www.valuepenguin.com/auto-insurance/washington/penalties-driving-without-insurance#penalties
- (n.d.) 2021 Volvo XC40. Car and Driver. Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://www.caranddriver.com/volvo/xc40-2021.
- (2023.) 2021 Volvo XC40. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/volvo/xc40-4-door-suv/2021.
- (n.d.) 2021 Volvo XC60. Car and Driver. Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://www.caranddriver.com/volvo/xc60-2021.
- (2023.) 2021 Volvo XC60. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/volvo/xc60-4-door-suv/2021..
- (n.d.) 2021 Volvo XC90. Car and Driver. Retrieved April 26, 2023, from https://www.caranddriver.com/volvo/xc90-2021.
- (2023.) 2021 Volvo XC90. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Retrieved April 26, 2023, from https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/volvo/xc90-4-door-suv/2021.
At FIXD, our mission is to make car ownership as simple, easy, and affordable as possible. Our research team utilizes the latest automotive data and insights to create tools and resources that help drivers get peace of mind and save money over the life of their car.
