Melanie is a blogger, author, and speaker specializing in personal finance and debt management. She’s also the author of the blog and book “Dear Debt.”
7+ years in business and financial services content
Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.
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Located just south of Seattle, Tacoma is home to one of the largest ports in the U.S. and a growing population. The average monthly cost of car insurance in Tacoma is $180, according to Insurify data.
The cost of Tacoma car insurance is higher than the national average and also higher than in some other cities in Washington. Fortunately, this article can help you reduce your insurance spending in Tacoma by showing you what’s raising your costs and how you can limit these factors.
Quick Facts
State Farm and USAA offer the lowest liability insurance rates in Tacoma, according to Insurify data.
Factors like your age, credit history, and driving record all affect your premium.
Insurers in Washington are allowed to review your credit history to generate a credit-based insurance score, which is one of several factors that influence your rates.
Cheapest car insurance companies in Tacoma
The best car insurance company for you depends on your unique circumstances. That’s why it’s always important to compare rates from several different insurers before making a decision. The three insurers highlighted below are some of the most popular in Tacoma and make a great place to start with your comparison shopping. You’ll also find their statewide average monthly quotes here.
Insurance Company
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
Full Coverage
Liability Only
Best For
State Farm
4.5
$104
$54
Low rates
GEICO
4.2
$127
$66
Drivers with a DUI
USAA
4.5
$106
$55
Military members
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Insurify uses an in-house, proprietary method to rate and review the best car insurance companies. The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 crucial criteria, including average premiums, customer satisfaction, discounts, third-party ratings, and more, to calculate a final score for a company.
Criteria are weighted by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings. With the IQ Score, Insurify is able to provide quantitative ratings for drivers to better compare car insurance companies and make informed decisions to meet their coverage needs.
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
4.4
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
842
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$64/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$124/mo
State Farm offers drivers in Tacoma the lowest rates for liability-only coverage. The company also offers rideshare insurance, which is a great benefit for the many Tacoma Uber drivers. In Tacoma, the ridesharing platform Uber saw a 54% increase from the previous year.[1]
Pros
Low rates
Bundling discount
Rideshare insurance available
Cons
Low rating on Trustpilot
Complaints about claims process
Doesn’t offer gap insurance
I feel like I am being way overcharged for my insurance since I have had no accidents or tickets in the last 10 years.
Theresa - September 14, 2023
Verified
I really enjoyed working with them, I just couldn't keep up with the expensive rates.
Becki - September 13, 2023
Verified
I was 5 stars until the recent increase, without any explanation.
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
4.3
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
835
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$79/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$151/mo
DUIs are on the rise in Washington.[2] If you have a DUI conviction in Tacoma, GEICO is a top option for coverage. The company can also help drivers who need an SR-22. And while your insurance premiums with a DUI will be higher, GEICO’s starting rates are among the most competitive you’ll find.
Pros
Competitive rates for drivers with a DUI
Many discounts available
A++ financial strength rating from AM Best
Cons
Low rating on Trustpilot
Complaints about communication
No gap or rideshare insurance available
Unwilling to work with clients. Especially senior citizens on a fixed income.
Janina - September 10, 2023
Verified
Awesome customer service, good prices, easy to deal with.
Kathleen - September 9, 2023
Verified
Good treatment in responding to questions and handling of my accident, especially because I was not at fault. No hesitation in paying the repair bill and then collecting from the at-fault insurance company client's policy.
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
4.3
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
880
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$66/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$126/mo
Tacoma is home to a proud military community thanks to the proximity of the U.S. Army Reserve Center and Joint Base Lewis-McChord just a short nine miles away. And if you’re one of those military members, your insurance search should include USAA.
USAA offers various financial products and other types of insurance in addition to car insurance. The company even offers military-specific discounts if your car is garaged in storage or on the base.
Pros
Affordable rates
Multiple discounts
Mobile app
Cons
Only available to military members and their families
No 24/7 customer service
Limited network of agents
They are the best in customer service.
Brenda - September 13, 2023
Verified
Overall poor service, took a safe driving discount away because I wasn’t driving enough.
Car insurance rates differ based on the insurance company, your driving record, ZIP code, and other factors. To get the cheapest car insurance in Tacoma, consider the following tips:
Choose a higher deductible. You typically qualify for a lower premium if you choose a higher deductible, which is your portion paid out of pocket. However, make sure to only choose a deductible you can afford should you need to file a claim.
Bundle policies. Insurance companies typically reward you with a discount if you purchase more than one policy. So, if you needhome insuranceor renters insurance in addition to your auto policy, you may qualify for more savings by buying them together.
Review options. Tacoma drivers have many insurance companies to choose from. Do your research and review all your options, including rates, discounts, and other benefits.
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Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Tacoma: State Farm
Drivers in Tacoma must meet minimum coverage requirements to drive legally, per Washington state law.[3] This is called liability insurance, and it covers any bodily injury and property damage suffered by the other driver in an accident you cause.
The average cost of liability insurance in Tacoma is $122. Below are the insurance companies offering the cheapest liability insurance in the area.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Thursday, November 30 at 11:00 AM PST.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Tacoma: Safeco
Full-coverage car insurance includes liability coverage, collision coverage, and comprehensive coverage.
Full coverage offers reimbursement for you in the event of an accident or damage, whereas liability coverage only reimburses the other driver. As such, full-coverage insurance is more expensive, with an average monthly rate of $237 in Tacoma.
Here, you can see the cheapest full-coverage car insurance options from top insurers.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Thursday, November 30 at 11:00 AM PST.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Car insurance requirements in Washington
Washington state requires drivers to obtain the minimum coverage levels outlined below.[3] Typically referred to as liability coverage, this includes bodily injury and property damage. If you cause an accident, this coverage pays for the other driver’s damages.
It’s also important to note that Washington operates under a tort system, or at-fault system.[4] This means the driver judged to be at fault could be required to cover more of the accident costs or even be sued by the victim of the crash.
Coverage
Minimum Requirements
Bodily injury liability
$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident
Property damage liability
$10,000 per accident
Aside from mandated liability coverage, you can also choose optional coverages for greater benefits, including:
Collision coverage
Collision coverage offers reimbursement to cover damages from a collision.
Comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive coverage offers reimbursement in cases where your vehicle is damaged by weather, theft, or other occurrences.
Uninsured motorist coverage
Uninsured motorist coverage provides protection if you’re involved in an accident and the other driver lacks car insurance.
Automobile Insurance Plan
The state of Washington created the Automobile Insurance Plan to ensure that all drivers can get car insurance coverage. The program is designed to help Washington drivers who can’t get coverage from a conventional insurer due to their driving record. If you fit the bill, check out the Automobile Insurance Plan to review your coverage options.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
Having an incident on your driving record can increase your car insurance rates, sometimes dramatically. This is because insurers view drivers with an incident on their record as being an added risk. Incidents can vary and include moving violations, speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, and the most severe of them all, DUIs.
In Washington, most convictions and court findings stay on your driving record for five years.[5] A speeding ticket alone may lead to you paying $800 more in insurance premiums.[6] In the sections that follow, you’ll see how individual incident types affect the rates you pay for car insurance.
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Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: State Farm
A speeding ticket typically comes with a fine based on how fast you were going over the limit, and the amount you must pay can add up fast.
However, it’s not just the fine you’ll end up paying, as a speeding ticket can also spike your car insurance premiums. The average rate for car insurance for Tacoma drivers with a speeding ticket is $250 per month.
Here, you can see how adding a speeding ticket to your record affects the rates you’re offered by several top insurers.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Thursday, November 30 at 11:00 AM PST.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: State Farm
Having an at-fault accident on your driving record can raise your risk profile and lead to higher insurance rates. Drivers in Tacoma pay an average monthly premium of $258 with an accident on their record.
Here are the cheapest car insurance options for drivers with an at-fault accident.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Thursday, November 30 at 11:00 AM PST.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: State Farm
Getting a DUI in Tacoma can lead to a suspended license, arrest, court conviction, and more. In addition to potential fines, one of the other major costs associated with a DUI is an increase in car insurance rates. In fact, some insurers may drop you altogether. Those that do keep you will likely raise your rates to something near the area average of $294 per month.
If you have a DUI and are looking at higher-than-average rates, here are the top insurance companies with the cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Thursday, November 30 at 11:00 AM PST.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Cheapest car insurance for seniors: State Farm
In the city of Tacoma, 13.8% of residents are 65 or older, according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau estimate in 2022. Seniors may drive less if they’re in retirement and have a limited budget, which makes finding cheap car insurance a must. The good news is that car insurance premiums are typically lower for seniors than for other age groups.
However, beginning at age 70, rates climb upward again, as there may be some additional risk factors associated with reduced faculties and increased medical costs in the event of an accident.
The average car insurance rate for seniors in Tacoma is $126 per month. To get the cheapest car insurance for seniors, check out the options below.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Thursday, November 30 at 11:00 AM PST.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Cheapest car insurance for teens: State Farm
Teens and young adults are just starting to learn the rules of the road and how to navigate driving. This inexperience and lack of a driving history mean that car insurance for teens tends to be the most expensive.
These high rates are also due to the fact that data over time has shown teens also engage in risky driving behaviors, like speeding and distracted driving. All of this causes teens to pay an average of $305 per month for insurance in Tacoma.
To get the cheapest car insurance as a teen, remain on your parents’ insurance policy and see if you qualify for a good student discount.
Here, you can see quotes for Tacoma teens by insurance company and compare liability and full-coverage insurance.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Thursday, November 30 at 11:00 AM PST.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
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Tacoma car insurance quotes by credit tier
The state of Washington uses credit history as a factor that can influence your car insurance rate. Washington Commissioner Mike Kreidler attempted to ban this practice in 2022; however, it was overturned by the court, so for now, credit history is still a viable tool for insurers.
If your credit is considered poor, you’ll pay double what someone with excellent creditpays. Here, you can see the difference in Tacoma car insurance quotes based on credit tier.
Rates by Credit Tier
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Is car insurance more expensive in Tacoma?
Car insurance in Tacoma averages $122 per month for liability coverage and $237 per month for full coverage.
These rates are higher than the national average, which is $103 per month for liability coverage and $207 per month for full coverage, based on Insurify data.
Within the state of Washington, rates for car insurance vary by city. Factors that influence rates include crime, population density, cost of living, and more. For example, car insurance in a major city like Seattle costs 7% more than insurance in Tacoma.
More cities in Washington
Compared to other cities in Washington, Tacoma is fairly average. Certain cities have higher rates, and others are on the lower end.
The table below illustrates the rates you can expect to pay in other major Washington cities.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Tacoma car insurance FAQs
Looking for more information on car insurance rates in Tacoma? Check out the answers below.
How much is car insurance in Tacoma?
The average rate for liability-only coverage in Tacoma is $122 per month. Full-coverage policies average $237 per month.
Who has the cheapest car insurance in Tacoma?
The cheapest car insurance companies in Tacoma are State Farm, USAA, and GEICO, with rates of $64, $66, and $79, respectively.
What are the best car insurance companies in Tacoma?
The top insurers in Tacoma are State Farm, GEICO, and USAA. All three offer competitive rates and have solid financial ratings from AM Best. They also have impressive Insurify Quality Scores of 4.5, 4.2, and 4.5, respectively.
How much is car insurance per month in WA?
The average rate for car insurance in the state of Washington is $151 per month. Washington residents pay a monthly average of $98 for liability coverage and $205 for full coverage.
What is the minimum amount of vehicle insurance required in the state of Washington?
To drive legally in the state of Washington, your auto insurance coverage must comply with the state’s 25/50/10 rule. This means your coverage must include bodily injury liability of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, as well as property damage liability of $10,000 per accident.
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 50+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
No additional coverage
Full-coverage premium averages correspond to the same bodily injury and property damage limits in addition to:
Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
Melanie Lockert is the founder of the blog and author of the book, "Dear Debt." Through her blog, she chronicled her journey out of $81,000 in student loan debt. Her work has appeared on Allure, Business Insider, Credit Karma, Fortune, and more. She is also the co-founder of the Lola Retreat and host of the Mental Health and Wealth show podcast. She lives in Los Angeles and enjoys jazz music, traveling, coffee, and spending time with her two cats and partner.
7+ years in business and financial services content
Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.