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The Best Homeowners Insurance in Washington
It pays to be a homeowner in Washington. Not only does Washington have lower home insurance rates well under the national average, but it also has some of the most affordable and flexible coverage available in the country.
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To find the best home insurance companies in Washington, we use our SimpleScore methodology to review thousands of real customer reviews, in addition to the latest expert rankings, studies and analysis to find the best home insurance coverage for you and your family.
The 6 best home insurance companies in Washington
- Best for New Homebuyers: Allstate Insurance
- Best for Basic Coverage: Farmers Insurance Group
- Best Mobile Tools: State Farm Insurance Company
- Best Customer Service: PEMCO Mutual Insurance Company
- Best Coverage Options: Safeco Insurance
- Best Bundles: Nationwide
Best for new homebuyers – Allstate
Grab your phone because Allstate has all the mobile tools you need to manage your policy on the go.
Top ratings from A.M. Best means that you can count on Allstate in a pinch for claims processing. Allstate is a solid pick for homeowners insurance, with a variety of resources available to escort newer homeowners through the process. Coverage is not only widespread but also flexible, giving you the opportunity to truly customize your policy. It isn’t the cheapest, but it’s still considerably less than other options.
Best for basic coverage – Farmers
Tighten your purse strings, because Farmers offers a ton of exclusive discounts that can save you a ton of money.
Farmers gives you everything you need for home insurance but with few extras. Farmers is a great pick when you are looking for simplified coverage for your home insurance. You’ll have to pay extra for things like valuable coverage, so if you have extended needs, this isn’t the right choice for you. The online resource center Inner Circle can help you learn more about your options and what kind of coverage you may need.
Best mobile tools – State Farm
If you prefer to live in the Digital Age, State Farm delivers all of the tools and resources to stay plugged in on the go.
This is a national favorite for comprehensive home insurance with superior mobile resources. State Farm covers all the basics with your home insurance coverage, with optional add-on flood protection made available from the National Flood Insurance Program (NCIP). With 24-hour claims reporting, a Contractor Locator tool and efficient claims processing, State Farm is one insurance provider that you can count on in a pinch.
Best customer service – PEMCO Mutual Insurance Company
PEMCO is a great pick for home insurance coverage, but if you live outside of Washington or Oregon, you’re out of luck.
If you have good credit, PEMCO can be an affordable choice for excellent homeowners insurance. Washington residents are lucky enough to benefit from PEMCO’s multifaceted coverage. There are tons of opportunities to benefit from extra discounts, making PEMCO one of the more affordable choices for home insurance. This local provider also has branches available so you can sit down with an agent if you prefer more personalized service.
Best coverage options – Safeco
Believe in the power of Liberty Mutual, because it backs your Safeco policy.
When you need unique coverage for your home, Safeco is your pick. Safeco offers straightforward coverage with a take-it-or-leave-it approach. There is little room for customization, so it’s best when you need basic coverage for your home. There are some discounts available to make this provider one of the most affordable, offering policies at a fraction of the cost of its competitors.
Best bundles – Nationwide
Nationwide is generous with its discounts, so be sure to ask how it is on your side for your personal policy discounts.
Nationwide stays on your side with stellar customer service and all the tools you need for easy claims management. Nationwide is a widely known, well-respected brand for home insurance. The standard policy includes your shed through the additional structures coverage, and you have the chance to further customize your policy with a bunch of optional add-ons.
[ Read: Where to Find Financial Relief During the COVID-19 Pandemic ]
How much does home insurance cost in Washington?
According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average cost of homeowners insurance in Washington is $854 each year. This is a significant decrease from the national average of $1,211 per year. However, the exact cost of your homeowners insurance depends on the specific factors of your home, such as where it is located, how big it is and when it was built.
You will also find that the amount of your insurance will depend on your mortgage provider. Your lender may have specific requirements regarding the minimum amount of insurance that you must carry for your home. If you fail to comply, you could default on your loan and face severe consequences, so you should always check to see what your lender requires before you purchase a new policy.
The cheapest home insurance in Washington
Home Insurance in Washington runs the price gamut, ranging from just above $500 to $1200 and more. Nationwide is the cheapest Washington home insurance company, beating the next cheapest home insurance provider, Mutual of Enumclaw, by more than $250. Allstate, PEMCO and USAA follow, all offering varying rates through $926 a year.
This makes it crucial that you do your homework and shop your options, because certain providers can be far more cost-effective than others, depending on the kind of coverage you need.
| Rank | Company name | Avg. annual premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Nationwide | $511 |
| 2. | Mutual of Enumclaw | $772 |
| 3. | Allstate | $793 |
| 4. | Pemco Insurance | $828 |
| 5. | USAA | $926 |
The cheapest home insurance in Washington, by city
Where you live has an enormous impact on the cost of your Washington home insurance.
A policy is the cheapest in Bainbridge Island and Bremerton, where you can find a policy below $1,000. From there, Oak Harbor, Spokane and Port Angeles offer the cheapest rates, offering pricing through $1,020. This is because some areas carry greater risks than others.
| City | Avg. annual premium |
|---|---|
| Bainbridge Island | $996 |
| Bremerton | $993 |
| Oak Harbor | $1,012 |
| Spokane | $1,014 |
| Port Angeles | $1,020 |
Choosing your provider
With all of the insurance providers out there to choose from, it is important to consider the merits of a local carrier versus a national carrier. You will quickly find that there are pros and cons to both.
Local carrier
Pros
- Better acquainted with local community needs
- Local branches offering in-person customer service
- Can better advise on local risks
Cons
- May offer fewer resources
- Policies can be more expensive
National carrier
Pros
- Greater coverage
- Often offer greater online and mobile resources
- Can be more affordable with greater discounts
Cons
- Less opportunity for in-person support
- Better for those more experienced in home insurance
Things to know about home insurance in Washington
A standard home insurance policy typically includes:
- Dwelling
- Other structures
- Personal property
- Liability for medical expenses and damage
Not all coverage comes standard, however.
Washington has its fair share of weather hazards and particularly suffers from frequent summer wildfires. Fire is a normal part of your standard home insurance policy, so while it’s not hard to find this coverage, you may have some trouble finding someone to insure you if you live in an area that is at high risk for wildfires.
Fire is one element that can cause complete devastation, whether it is from the flames or the smoke, so check to see if your policy has enough coverage to handle these risks. If you have to rebuild your home, you want to know that your home insurance provider will offer everything you need to return your life to normal. Some insurers will offer special options like eco-friendly building materials and guaranteed replacement cost.
Additional home insurance coverage in Washington
There are other hazards to consider, too. Washington is known for earthquakes, which can cause damage to your belongings and even the structure of your home. Even though severe earthquakes are rare, smaller amounts of seismic activity are frequent enough to pose a significant risk to Washington homeowners.
You can protect yourself by adding earthquake coverage to your policy. It is a form of coverage that is not required in the state of Washington, but it’s still worth your consideration. Ask your Washington home insurance company what options they have to protect you from earthquakes, landslides and mudslides. This is typically standalone coverage that you have to purchase as an add-on to your normal policy, but should this kind of event happen, you’ll be thankful you added it because it can save you thousands of dollars in damages.
Flood insurance is another type of home insurance coverage that is recommended for Washington homeowners, especially for those in more coastal areas.
Washington home insurance FAQs
You are not required to carry home insurance in the state of Washington. However, many lenders require that you protect your loan with a minimum amount of home insurance coverage. Regardless, it is always a good idea to protect your home and everything in it with a reliable form of home insurance.
The average Washington home insurance policy costs $854 each year. It is far less than the U.S. average cost of $1,211 per year, saving Washington homeowners well over $350 each year. Still, the cost of your homeowners insurance policy may vary, depending on the kind of coverage you need, where you live and what type of home you own.
Although you are not legally required to carry Washington home insurance, it is always a good idea to protect your family with a policy. If you are having trouble obtaining insurance coverage from one of the typical Washington home insurance providers, you may want to consider the Washington FAIR Plan, which provides basic coverage for those who have a hard time finding coverage elsewhere.
Too long, didn’t read?
Home insurance in the state of Washington is far more affordable than other parts of the nation, but how much you will pay depends on where you live and the provider you choose. Always take the time to shop your options to find the best cheap Washington home insurance coverage for you, but our picks give you a fantastic headstart.
We welcome your feedback on this article and would love to hear about your experience with the home insurance companies we recommend. Contact us at inquiries@thesimpledollar.com with comments or questions.
Keep Reading
Methodology
The SimpleScore is a proprietary scoring metric we use to objectively compare products and services at The Simple Dollar.
For every review, our editorial team:
- Identifies five measurable aspects to compare across each brand
- Determines the rating criteria for each aspect score
- Averages the five aspect scores to produce a single SimpleScore
Here’s a breakdown of the five aspect scores and their rating criteria for our reviews on home insurance.
Why do some brands have different SimpleScores on different pages?
To ensure the SimpleScore is as helpful and accurate as possible, we developed unique criteria for every category we compare at The Simple Dollar. Since most brands offer a variety of financial solutions, their products and services will score differently depending on what we’re scoring on a given page.
However, it’s also possible for the same product from the same brand to have multiple SimpleScores. For instance, if we compare State Farm’s home insurance according to our criteria for the best home insurance, it scores a 3.8 out of 5. But when we compare State Farm according to the criteria for the best auto insurance, it scores higher, since the features the company offers can vary by the type of insurance.
Discounts
We looked at the number of discounts each company offers – more discounts mean a higher score.
Coverage Options
We awarded higher scores to the companies that offer more coverage options.
Support
We awarded higher scores to companies with the most channels for customer support.
Customer Satisfaction
We leveraged the J.D. Power 2019 Home Insurance Satisfaction Study℠ to see how customers rated their experience with each company. (If a company wasn’t included in J.D. Power’s study, we skipped this aspect and averaged the four remaining aspect scores.)
Accessibility
We looked at the level of accessibility of each company – the more resources they have the higher their score
Reviewed by
Nashalie Addarich
Insurance EditorNasha Addarich is an editor at The Simple Dollar and a former attorney who specializes in home insurance, auto insurance, life insurance, and savings. She is a former contributing editor to Reviews.com.
