Washington Car Insurance Rates: What the Regulator Data Shows
Washington drivers spent an average of $1,416.32 per insured vehicle on auto insurance in 2024, up 23.1% in one year. The national average rose 11.7%, to $1,431.63. Those are the newest state figures from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), released October 1, 2026.
That one year erased most of Washington's discount. In 2023 the state sat at 89.8% of the U.S. average. In 2024 it was 98.9%. The big rate increases the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) approved in 2023 and 2024 now show up in the national data. Below is what that means, and a rule change that expands your right to ask your insurer why your premium went up.
What the NAIC average actually measures
NAIC's "average expenditure" is total written premium for liability, collision and comprehensive, divided by liability car years. A car year is one vehicle insured for a year. Every insured vehicle is assumed to carry liability, but not every one carries collision or comprehensive, so the figure is what people actually spent per insured vehicle. It isn't the price of a full-coverage policy, and it isn't a quote.
NAIC is careful about comparisons. Its figures don't adjust for who is being insured, the vehicles, state auto and tort laws, rate filing laws, traffic or demographics, and the report says direct comparisons between state results should be treated with a high degree of caution.
Use it as a yardstick over time and between states, not as a guide to what your own policy should cost.
Washington vs. the U.S., 2020 to 2024
- Washington
- United States
Source: NAIC, 2024 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement (Table 4). Prior years as revised in that edition
Show the numbers
| Washington | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $1,035 | $1,048 |
| 2021 | $1,030 | $1,061 |
| 2022 | $1,048 | $1,125 |
| 2023 | $1,150 | $1,282 |
| 2024 | $1,416 | $1,432 |
For a long stretch Washington tracked the country closely. In NAIC's older editions, as reprinted by Triple-I, Washington was $872.91 in 2014 against $869.47 nationally. Then the lines split: from 2021 through 2023 national spending climbed faster, and by 2023 Washington was $131.25 below the U.S. average.
2024 closed most of that. Washington jumped 23.1% while the country rose 11.7%. Over the full four years from 2020 to 2024 the two ended up with almost the same increase: 36.8% for Washington, 36.64% nationally. Washington just took its increase later, mostly in one year.
- Up
- Down
Source: NAIC, 2024 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement (Table 4). Prior years as revised in that edition
Show the numbers
| Year | WA minus U.S. |
|---|---|
| 2020 | −$12.50 |
| 2021 | −$31.32 |
| 2022 | −$76.29 |
| 2023 | −$131.25 |
| 2024 | −$15.31 |
A note on the numbers: NAIC revises earlier years in each edition, so 2020 to 2023 figures here differ by a few dollars from older reports. Every NAIC figure in the charts comes from the same 2024 edition, so they're consistent with each other.
Where the jump came from: 2023 and 2024 rate filings
OIC's communications manager, Aaron VanTuyl, has given reporters the average approved auto rate change by year. KUOW reported in February 2024 a 3% decrease in 2020, no increase in 2021 and a 2.8% increase in 2022. The Center Square reported in June 2025 averages of 24.7% in 2023, 17.5% in 2024 and 1.8% for the first six months of 2025.
- Up
- Down
Source: OIC figures as stated by OIC communications manager Aaron VanTuyl, reported by KUOW (Feb 2024) for 2020-2022 and The Center Square (June 2025) for 2023-2025
Show the numbers
| Year | Average approved change |
|---|---|
| 2020 | −3.0% |
| 2021 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | +24.7% |
| 2024 | +17.5% |
| 2025 (Jan–Jun) | +1.8% |
These are averages across the rate filings OIC approved, not what any particular driver's bill did. A filing changes an insurer's base rates; your premium also moves with your car, your record and your discounts. They also shouldn't be added together into one "rates are up X% since 2022" figure, because each company's change reaches its own customers as their policies renew.
That renewal timing is likely part of why NAIC shows only a 9.7% rise for Washington in 2023 and then 23.1% in 2024. An increase approved in mid-2023 doesn't touch a driver until their next renewal, which can fall well into 2024.
What about 2025 and 2026? NAIC hasn't published state figures past 2024. The 1.8% first-half 2025 average was far smaller than the two years before it, and VanTuyl told The Center Square it should result in much smaller increases for 2026.
That's OIC's expectation, not a promise about your renewal.
Liability now costs more here than the U.S. average
NAIC also publishes the average premium for each coverage, counting only the vehicles that carry it. The 2024 breakdown changes the story from a year earlier.
| Coverage | WA | U.S. | WA/U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liability | $834.36 | $813.27 | 103% |
| Collision | $469.47 | $516.39 | 91% |
| Comprehensive | $217.80 | $283.15 | 77% |
Source: NAIC, 2024 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement (Tables 1C, 2C, 3C). Each row averages only vehicles carrying that coverage, so the rows don't add up to the average expenditure.
Liability, the coverage every Washington driver has to carry, averaged $834.36 here in 2024 against $813.27 nationally. That's 102.6% of the U.S. figure, up from about 96% in 2023. Washington's average liability premium rose about 18% in a year; the national one about 10%.
My read: until 2023, "Washington is cheaper" was mostly a physical-damage story, the coverages that pay to fix or replace your own car. Collision and comprehensive are still below the national average here, at about 91% and 77% (up from about 80% and 64% in 2023). But on liability, the part that protects other people when you cause a crash, Washington is now above the country. NAIC doesn't break down why, and I won't pretend this data does. So when a renewal jumps, look at the liability line on your declarations page, not only collision and comprehensive.
For what the law requires you to carry, see Washington car insurance requirements.
Washington next to Oregon, Idaho and California
Source: NAIC, 2024 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement (Table 4). Prior years as revised in that edition
Show the numbers
| State | Average expenditure |
|---|---|
| California | $1,454.27 |
| United States | $1,431.63 |
| Washington | $1,416.32 |
| Oregon | $1,269.34 |
| Idaho | $955.98 |
| State | 2023 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $1,150.36 | $1,416.32 | +23.1% |
| California | $1,225.02 | $1,454.27 | +18.7% |
| Idaho | $864.05 | $955.98 | +10.6% |
| Oregon | $1,170.85 | $1,269.34 | +8.4% |
| United States | $1,281.61 | $1,431.63 | +11.7% |
Source: NAIC, 2024 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement (Table 4). Prior years as revised in that edition.
A year ago Oregon was ahead of Washington ($1,170.85 vs. $1,150.36 in 2023). In 2024 Oregon rose 8.4% and Washington 23.1%, so Washington is now the more expensive of the two by about $147. California, at $1,454.27, is still higher, though NAIC flags its recent data as preliminary. Idaho, at $955.98, remains far cheaper than any state on the coast. For scale, Florida ($2,017.97) topped the same table, followed by New York ($1,980.93) and Louisiana ($1,880.42).
Who decides your rate in Washington
Not the state. OIC puts it plainly: The OIC does not set rates; it reviews and either approves or denies rate filings from insurance companies.
Insurers propose and OIC's actuaries review. Rates generally go up when an insurer shows its claims and administrative costs are outpacing the premium it collects.
| Rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| RCW 48.19.020 | Rates shall not be excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory. The legal test every auto rate filing has to pass. |
| RCW 48.19.040 | Insurers file rate manuals, rating plans and rules, with supporting data, before using them; filings are public once in effect, except the usage-based (telematics) part. You can read your insurer's filing, minus any telematics model. |
| RCW 48.19.060 | A filing can't take effect for 30 days (OIC can extend by up to 15); it's deemed to meet the law unless disapproved in that time. OIC has a set window to say no. |
Source: Revised Code of Washington, chapter 48.19 (accessed Oct 14, 2026).
That standard cuts both ways. VanTuyl told The Center Square, We're required to approve rate changes as long as they are adequate and not excessive or unfair.
If an insurer's data shows it needs more premium, "inadequate" is part of the test too.
OIC also separates a rate from a premium. The rate is the base cost an insurer charges for the risk of a loss; your premium is that base after the insurer applies its rating factors to you. So the same approved filing can move one household's premium more than another's. Filings are public through SERFF Filing Access, OIC's search tool.
What goes into your premium, including credit
OIC's list of driving factors: the make, model and year of the car; where you live and keep it; your driving record; annual miles; the number of drivers and their experience; the number of vehicles; and your claims history. Then, in OIC's words: Companies can use your age, credit history, education, gender, marital status, employment status, and occupation as rate factors.
OIC's explanation for rising premiums is cost: repairing and replacing vehicles costs more, newer technology makes repairs pricier and slower, and inflation feeds in.
Credit has its own rules in RCW 48.18.545, which covers personal auto and home insurance:
- An insurer can't cancel or non-renew your policy based in whole or in part on credit history or an insurance score.
- It can use credit to deny coverage only together with other substantive underwriting factors.
- It can't deny coverage based on no credit history (if you gave accurate information), the number of credit inquiries, collection accounts identified with a medical industry code, a new car or home loan, the type of card you use, or your total available credit (though it can look at your debt relative to that credit). These limits are about denying coverage; the statute doesn't bar credit from rating.
- If it takes adverse action based on credit, such as a higher premium, it must tell you in writing the significant factors and that you're entitled to a free copy of your consumer report.
- If disputed credit history was used to decide your eligibility and you were placed with an affiliate company at a higher premium or worse terms, the insurer must re-rate or reissue the policy back to the start of the current term, once you've resolved the dispute under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act and told the insurer in writing.
OIC tried to go further. A 2021 emergency rule barring credit-based insurance scores was struck down in court, and a permanent rule adopted in 2022 was invalidated by Thurston County Superior Court that summer, which found the commissioner had exceeded his authority (AP, via Carrier Management). OIC still lists credit history among the factors companies can use.
The "Did my premium go up?" rule change
The right to ask isn't new. Since June 1, 2024, auto and home insurers have had to print a notice in 12-point bold on the first page of renewal notices and bills saying you can ask in writing why your premium went up, and answer in writing within 20 days. In July 2026, Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer amended that rule (WSR 26-15-007, effective August 2, 2026) for private passenger auto and residential property insurance.
| Date | What changes |
|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2026 through Dec 31, 2028 | New 12-point notice on renewal notices, renewal emails and bills: "Did my premium go up? If your premium increases when your policy renews, you have the right to ask your insurance company why and they must explain the reasons..." Insurer contact details must include an email and a mailing address. |
| Mar 1, 2027 | If you ask in writing, the insurer must give a reasonable explanation and no more than the top three primary factors behind the increase. A dollar or percent figure isn't required yet. |
| Jan 1, 2029 | Automatic notices for renewals going up 10% or more, at least 20 days before renewal, including the percentage or dollar change. Pushed back from June 2027. |
| All phases | Insurers have 20 calendar days to respond to a written request. |
Source: WSR 26-15-007, amending chapter 284-30A WAC (filed July 2, 2026).
The rule lists the "primary factors" an insurer can point to: auto-related ones (where the car is garaged, driving record, miles driven, number of drivers and vehicles), claims history, discounts, fees and surcharges, demographic factors (age, credit history, education, gender, marital status, occupation), property-related factors, premium capping, and rate changes. "Rate changes" means the company's filed rates went up. "Discounts" may mean you lost one. Those lead to different conversations.
My read: the automatic notice is the strongest part, and it's more than two years away. Until then you get an answer only if you ask, so ask.
What to do when your renewal comes in higher
- Put the old and new declarations pages side by side. Same vehicles, drivers, limits and deductibles? Look for a discount that dropped off or a surcharge that appeared.
- Ask in writing why it went up. The insurer has 20 days to answer. From March 1, 2027, the answer has to name up to three primary factors.
- Check the coverage, not just the price. OIC suggests a higher collision and comprehensive deductible if you have savings to cover it, and notes collision may not be worth carrying on a low-value car that's paid off. Liability, UIM and PIP protect you from the big losses; read uninsured motorist coverage in Washington and PIP in Washington before cutting either.
- Look up the filing. Search your insurer on SERFF Filing Access. A statewide rate change tells you the increase is about the company's rates, not just about you.
- Compare. OIC's own advice includes shopping around, asking about discounts, and checking its complaint data on insurers.
- Get help if the answer doesn't add up. OIC's Consumer Advocacy line is 800-562-6900 (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday), or file a complaint online.
Our Washington auto insurance page explains how the coverages fit together, and the Washington insurance FAQ answers the common questions.
FAQ
Is car insurance cheaper in Washington than the national average?
Only slightly now. In 2024, NAIC's latest year, Washington's average expenditure was $1,416.32 per insured vehicle against $1,431.63 nationally, or 98.9% of the U.S. average, up from 89.8% in 2023.
Why did car insurance go up so much in Washington?
OIC approved average auto rate changes of 24.7% in 2023 and 17.5% in 2024, according to its communications manager. OIC says premiums rise when the cost to repair or replace vehicles goes up. NAIC data show Washington's average expenditure rose 23.1% in 2024.
Who approves car insurance rate increases in Washington?
The Office of the Insurance Commissioner reviews rate filings and approves or denies them; it does not set rates. Under RCW 48.19.060 a filing can't take effect for 30 days, and rates must not be excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory (RCW 48.19.020).
Can insurance companies use credit scores in Washington?
Yes, with limits. OIC lists credit history as a factor companies can use. RCW 48.18.545 bars cancelling or non-renewing personal auto or home policies based on credit, and bars denying coverage based on things like a lack of credit history or medical collection accounts.
Your own policy wording and Washington law control what you pay and why. Confirm your situation with a licensed agent or the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner, and for legal questions, talk to an attorney.
Sources
- NAIC: 2024 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement (PDF, September 2026)
- NAIC: NAIC releases 2024 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement (Oct 1, 2026)
- Triple-I table archive: Average expenditures for auto insurance by state (NAIC data, earlier editions, for 2014)
- RCW 48.19.020: Rate standards
- RCW 48.19.040: Rate filings
- RCW 48.19.060: Waiting period, disapproval
- RCW 48.18.545: Use of credit history
- Washington OIC: How we review auto and homeowner rates (accessed Oct 14, 2026)
- Washington OIC: How insurance companies set auto premiums (accessed Oct 14, 2026)
- Washington OIC: Search company filings, SERFF Filing Access
- Washington OIC: File a complaint or check your complaint status
- Washington OIC: New premium change transparency rule starts June 1 (May 24, 2024)
- Washington State Register: WSR 26-15-007, premium change transparency amendments (filed July 2, 2026)
- The Center Square, via Queen Anne & Magnolia News: Auto insurance rate increases are slowing down in 2025 (June 17, 2025)
- KUOW: Both hands on the wheel, Washington drivers. Your insurance rates are about to jump 24% (Feb 8, 2024)
- AP via Carrier Management: Washington judge overturns credit scoring ban (Aug 1, 2022)
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not legal, tax or insurance advice. Coverage depends on the actual policy, its terms, conditions and exclusions, and state law. Maru Insurance · WA License (WAOIC) #1365574 · FL License #G363233 · NPN 22261820.