Car Insurance in Tacoma
Located on Washington’s Puget Sound, Tacoma is the third-largest city in Washington state with a population of 221,259 in 2021.
Quick Facts
- The average cost of car insurance in Tacoma is $1,692 per year.
- Tacoma has the highest car insurance rates in the state of Washington.
How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in Tacoma?
Car insurance rates in Tacoma are the highest in Washington state. The average cost of car insurance in Tacoma is $1,692 per year, which is 23% higher than the state average of $1,368. Tacoma car insurance rates are also 9% higher than the national average of $1,548.
Rates for car insurance premiums fluctuate for the different cities in Washington state.
| City | Annual Car Insurance Rates |
|---|---|
| Seattle | $1,665 |
| Bellevue | $1,493 |
| Spokane | $1,320 |
| Bellingham | $1,186 |
| Tacoma | $1,692 |
Tacoma Car Insurance Rates by Zip Code
The city of Tacoma is made up of 20 different zip codes, and the cost you’ll pay for car insurance can differ depending on which zip code you live in. For example, zip codes with a history of accidents or auto thefts will have higher insurance rates.
The most expensive zip code for car insurance in Tacoma is 98433. The zip code with the cheapest car insurance in Tacoma is 98446.
The average monthly rates for car insurance in the different Tacoma zip codes are:
| Zipcode | Monthly Car Insurance Rates |
|---|---|
| 98433 | $148.45 |
| 98408 | $124.10 |
| 98444 | $101.14 |
| 98445 | $124.37 |
| 98404 | $113.32 |
| 98466 | $110.24 |
| 98409 | $115.06 |
| 98406 | $95.71 |
| 98446 | $87.47 |
Tacoma Car Insurance Rates by Age
Your age heavily impacts the price you’re charged for car insurance premiums because of the risk factors in different age brackets. In Tacoma, drivers in their 50s will pay the lowest rates of about $1,496 per year. Meanwhile, teenagers who are often higher-risk drivers will pay well over three times as much for car insurance as drivers in their 20s.
| Age | Annual Car Insurance Rates |
|---|---|
| Teenagers | $7,524 |
| 20s | $2,281 |
| 30s | $1,656 |
| 40s | $1,567 |
| 50s | $1,496 |
| 60s | $1,558 |
| 70s | $1,995 |
Driving Conditions in Tacoma
How Many Fatal Accidents Happen in Tacoma?
By May 2021, less than halfway through the year, Pierce County (where Tacoma is located) recorded about 20 fatal crashes. The county usually averages 22 fatalities a year. In 2019, 15 people were killed in traffic accidents in Tacoma. Two of those fatalities were due to drunk driving.
How Are the Road Infrastructure and Bridges in Tacoma?
Seven highways end in or pass through Tacoma, including Interstate 5, which links Tacoma with Seattle to the north and Portland, Oregon, to the south.
In 2015, residents passed the Tacoma Streets Initiative to raise and spend $325 million on the city’s streets until 2025. The initiative includes funds for street maintenance and capital projects on the city’s transportation network.
The state of Washington gets a C- on its road infrastructure, with about 92% of the state’s pavements in fair or better condition. Ongoing maintenance on the roads is needed as the number of vehicles on Washington highways continues to increase.
The state gets a C+ when it comes to its bridges. Of the 7,410 vehicle bridges in the state, 321 are in poor condition. There were a total of 4,979 bridges in Washington state in need of repair in 2017.
Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Tacoma
Drivers in Washington state are required to have a minimum 25/50/10 liability coverage. That is:
- $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $10,000 property damage liability per accident
Factors Allowed in Tacoma Car Insurance Rates
When looking for cheap car insurance in Tacoma and the state of Washington, it’s important to know what factors insurance companies look at to determine the rate you will pay. Things you don’t have control over, such as your age and gender, can impact your car insurance rates just as much as things you can control, like your driving record and credit score.
In Tacoma, the factors car insurance companies can look at when determining your rates are:
- Age
- Gender
- Marital status
- Credit score
- Vehicle type
- Driving record
- Education
- Occupation
Discounts for Car Insurance in Tacoma
To ensure you get the cheapest car insurance rates possible, you should look into different discounts available to help bring the cost of your premiums down. For example, a Good Driver Discount rewards drivers with lower premiums if they haven’t had any moving violations or at-fault accidents within the last three years.
Washington state law prohibits insurance companies from offering customer loyalty discounts which reward customers for not switching companies.
Other discounts that could be available to Tacoma residents include:
- Good Student Discounts. These discounts are given to young drivers who maintain a “B” average or higher in school.
- Continuously Insured Discount. If you’ve been insured for six months or more and haven’t let your policy lapse, then you may be eligible for this discount.
- Driver Education. Drivers over age 50 qualify for a discount on their car insurance if they complete a defensive driving course.
- Vehicle Safety Discount. You could be eligible for a discount if your car has certain vehicle safety equipment such as anti-lock brakes, airbags, and anti-theft devices.
What Are the Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Tacoma?
Drivers in the state of Washington should be prepared at all times to show proof of insurance if they get pulled over by law enforcement. You could face a fine if you don’t have proof of insurance on you, even if you have coverage.
Drivers without at least the minimum 25/25/10 liability insurance coverage can face stiffer penalties, including suspension of their driver’s license and misdemeanor charges. If you’re driving without insurance and get involved in an injury accident or one that causes more than $1,000 in damage, your driver’s license could be suspended for up to three years.
Get a Quote for Car Insurance in Tacoma Today!
The cost of getting car insurance could be considerably less than the fines and penalties you will face if you don’t have insurance, and that doesn’t include the costs you could be faced with if you or one of your passengers are injured in an accident.
Contact Freeway Insurance today. Get started with a quote online, visit us at a Tacoma office near you, or call us at (800) 777-5620 for a quote.