Find the Best Homeowners Insurance Rates and Companies in Washington
The median home price in Washington is about $562,000. With some of the highest real estate values in the nation, it’s essential for homeowners in Washington to protect their homes from threats like fire, theft, vandalism, and severe weather. If you own a home in Washington, homeowners insurance can provide coverage for property damage and lawsuits.
An independent insurance agent can help you find the best home insurance in Washington. Independent agents can help you get quotes from multiple insurance companies so that you can make the best choice for your needs and budget.
Best Homeowners Insurance Companies in Washington
Many insurance companies in Washington offer home, car, and business insurance. The following are some of the best homeowners insurance companies in Washington. They are highly rated for their mix of valuable coverage offerings and competitive pricing.
- Progressive: Progressive is based in Ohio, but offers homeowners insurance across all 50 states, including Washington. Washington residents can look to Progressive for most of their personal insurance needs.
- Travelers: Travelers offers highly rated homeowners insurance in Washington. It can meet your additional personal insurance needs with a full line of products including auto, boat, identity theft, umbrella, and other coverages.
- Stillwater Insurance Group: Stillwater is a national personal and commercial lines carrier with rock-solid financial stability. The company can help you with your homeowners insurance needs in Washington.
- Safeco: Safeco has been protecting individuals and families since 1923. The company offers homeowners insurance in Washington, as well as a comprehensive range of other personal insurance policies. Working through independent agents, Safeco makes it easy to get the best mix of coverage and pricing.
An independent insurance agent in your area can help you learn more about these and other homeowners insurance companies in WA. A local agent can help you get competitive quotes for the coverage that fits your Washington insurance needs.
What Can Homeowners Insurance in Washington Cover?
Having homeowners insurance in Washington is the smart way to protect yourself from the worst things that can happen.
In Washington, you face potential threats to your property all the time, including a variety of natural disasters. There have been 171 disasters declared in Washington since 1953. And there are a variety of other risks to your home and personal property, too, including:
- Wildfires and residential fires
- Flooding and other water damage
- Severe storms and lightning
- Burglary and other property crimes
- Landslides and mudslides
Homeowners insurance in Washington covers a wide range of perils that could potentially damage your home, your belongings, or certain other structures on your property. And with homeowners insurance in Washington you’ll be prepared to tackle a lawsuit without losing everything.
Technically, if you don’t have a mortgage you can go without homeowners insurance in Washington. But that is not a great idea. If something happened to your home, like a fire, a severe storm, a burst pipe, or a burglary, you’d have to pay for repairs and for replacing lost or damaged belongings on your own.
A homeowners insurance policy typically categorizes coverage and coverage limits as follows. If you don’t have homeowners insurance, you put all of this at risk:
- Dwelling coverage: Covers your house and attached structures. It also covers items like plumbing, heating, and permanently installed air-conditioning systems, and electrical wiring.
- Other structures coverage: Protects other structures on the property such as detached garages, tool sheds, retaining walls, and so on.
- Personal property coverage: Protects the contents of your home and other personal belongings owned by you or family members who live with you.
- Loss of use coverage: Helps you with additional living expenses if your home is damaged by a covered peril (e.g., a fire) and you cannot live in your home while repairs are being made. It typically covers expenses like housing, meals, storage, and more, as long as they are in line with your usual living expenses.
- Personal liability coverage: Provides coverage if you or a resident of your household is responsible for causing property damage or an injury to someone else.
You can also customize your policy to cover other risks. You can add coverage for identity theft, sewer and water backup, scheduled personal property, business property, and more.
A local independent insurance agent can help you find homeowners insurance in Washington.
What Won't Homeowners Insurance in Washington Cover?
Homeowners insurance in Washington excludes coverage for certain losses. It does not cover everything that can go wrong with your home or on your property.
First, the liability coverage in your homeowners insurance policy has certain limitations. If you hurt someone because of an intentional act, your liability coverage will not cover you. You can find all the exclusions to your liability coverage in your policy documents.
Moreover, your property coverage will not cover every type of property damage you might encounter. Almost all homeowners insurance policies in WA exclude coverage for property damage caused by the following:
- Ordinance or law (e.g., demolition or construction required to bring your house up to code)
- Earth movement (e.g., earthquakes, sinkholes, landslides)
- Water damage due to floods, sewer backups, and water that seeps through the foundation
- Power failure
- Neglect
- War
- Nuclear hazard
- Intentional acts
- Governmental action (e.g., destruction, confiscation, or seizure of covered property by any governmental or public authority)
- Loss to property resulting from faulty zoning, bad repair or workmanship, faulty construction materials, and defective maintenance
To avoid any surprises down the road, be sure to understand what your home insurance in Washington does and does not cover when you decide to purchase a policy.
Flood Damage in Washington
If you’re a homeowner in Washington it’s important to understand that your homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. And you may actually reside in an area that is designated as a high-risk flood zone. You need flood insurance to make sure that your home and belongings are covered in the event of a damaging flood.
It’s important to discuss your need for supplemental flood insurance with your independent insurance agent.
If necessary, your agent can help you purchase flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a program established by the federal government to help homeowners recover after a flood event.
Average Cost of Homeowners Insurance in Washington
Washington is the 44th most expensive state for homeowners insurance in the US. The average home insurance cost in Washington is less than the national average.
- National average annual homeowners insurance premium: $1,211
- Washington average annual homeowners insurance premium: $854
Your home insurance rates in WA may be higher or lower than average, depending on your home’s unique characteristics (size, location, age, value, etc.) and other risk factors (crime rate, severe weather risk) in your neighborhood.
Expect to pay more if your property's location has more weather or disaster hazards than most. You will also pay more if your home costs more to repair or rebuild than others, or if you live in a high-crime ZIP code.
A local independent insurance agent can help you get home insurance quotes in Washington.
How does your city measure up to the national average?
National average burglary rate 3.76 per 1,000 people
National average home value $269,000
National average home insurance cost $1,428 year
| City | Avg. home value | Burglaries / 1,000 Residents | Annual insurance cost |
| Auburn | $323,100 | 7.34 | $849 |
| Bellevue | $806,800 | 3.53 | $837 |
| Bellingham | $372,600 | 5.09 | $852 |
| Everett | $325,900 | 5.85 | $918 |
| Federal Way | $340,500 | 6.83 | $908 |
| Kennewick | $200,500 | 3.54 | $998 |
| Kent | $343,700 | 6.58 | $902 |
| Kirkland | $682,300 | 3.21 | $856 |
| Renton | $401,600 | 5.28 | $874 |
| Seattle | $637,100 | 10.75 | $989 |
| Spokane | $190,200 | 9.76 | $877 |
| Spokane Valley | $222,200 | 4.89 | $869 |
| Tacoma | $269,800 | 8.87 | $981 |
| Vancouver | $298,500 | 4.44 | $955 |
| Yakima | $168,700 | 6.65 | $927 |
Popular Questions about Homeowners Insurance in Washington State
Homeowners in Washington state pay about $71 per month, on average, for home insurance. Washington is ranked 44th in the nation for home insurance rates. That means that many WA homeowners will pay less for their home insurance coverage than residents of other states. But most homeowners will pay more or less than average, depending on the specific risk factors for their home and neighborhood.
The main purpose of homeowners insurance is to cover property damage. Home insurance policies in Washington will include dwelling coverage, other structures coverage, personal property coverage, and loss of use/additional living expenses coverage.
Homeowners insurance in Washington also includes homeowners liability coverage. It protects you when someone claims you have caused an injury or property damage. It covers the injured party's expenses (e.g., medical bills, property repairs) and your legal fees if you're sued. After a lawsuit, it can even cover financial settlements or court-ordered judgments.
There is no law that requires you to purchase home insurance in Washington. But it’s important to understand that your mortgage lender will require you to have homeowners insurance and will require proof that you have it. With over $813 million home in insurance claims paid in Washington in one year alone, proper home insurance protection is necessary to avoid major loss.
Washington homeowners insurance rates are not one-size-fits-all. Insurance companies calculate your rates by looking at your home, the risk factors for your neighborhood, and your specific coverage needs.
If you live in a ZIP code with a high crime rate or one that is highly susceptible to natural disasters, you can expect to pay more than someone living in a safer area. If you live in an area of Washington that has a history of wildfires (there are around 171 fires per year in the state), your home insurance costs may be higher than others.
You have a lot of options for your homeowners insurance policy in Washington state. The best homeowners insurance companies in Washington are Travelers, Progressive, Stillwater Insurance Group, and Safeco. These companies are highly rated for their mix of valuable coverage offerings and competitive pricing.
Yes. Washington has 324 independent insurance agencies to choose from when selecting home insurance. Independent agents work for you free of charge, ensuring that you get the best options for an affordable rate.
Searching for the best and most affordable homeowners insurance in Washington can be frustrating and confusing. That’s why it pays to have an experienced insurance professional in your corner.
Instead of getting an online quote, find an independent insurance agent in Washington now, and get one-on-one consultation and affordable options for the best coverage for your unique needs. Your agent will work with you free of charge, offering you a variety of options so you can make the best choice.
Contact an agent today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Do you know what your home insurance covers in Washington?
Average Cost of Home Insurance Near You
The average monthly cost of home insurance in Bellevue, WA is $70.
Home values are high in Bellevue, but the houses are small for their price. This is one of the reasons that homeowners insurance rates in this city are lower than expected. Not all Bellevue homeowners will pay the same average rate for their insurance coverage. Your monthly rate is based on the crime and weather risks in your ZIP code, the size and value of your home, the building materials used in your home’s construction, your claims history, and more.
Severe storms can be a problem in Bellevue. Whether your home is damaged due to a lightning strike, an uprooted tree, or high wind, when you have a solid Bellevue homeowners insurance policy, you can rest assured that your property can be returned to normal without you facing a large personal expense.
The average monthly cost of home insurance in Seattle, WA is $82.
Because your homeowners insurance is completely customized to details about your house and other considerations, such as how many people live in it and the crime rate in your ZIP code, your monthly premiums may be higher or lower than this average. Request quotes from a few competing insurance companies to find out how much a policy will cost you.
Seattle has a very high crime rate when compared to the rest of the state and the nation overall. In fact, this city sees more than 7,000 burglaries a year. It is therefore important that you take precautions like using deadbolt locks to help secure your home. Fortunately, your Seattle homeowners insurance covers you against property loss and damage to your house if you are the victim of a burglary. If you have installed a home security system, you may qualify for a discount on your home insurance premiums.
The average monthly cost of home insurance in Spokane, WA is $73.
Of course, what you will actually be expected to pay may differ from this average amount depending on the specific risks associated with your home. Your rate will be calculated according to factors like the size of your home, the crime rate and weather risks in your ZIP code, the age of your roof, your credit rating, and more.
One of the most devastating things that can happen to a homeowner is a residential fire. In addition to severely damaging your house, a fire can lead to a total loss of your personal belongings including your furniture, electronics, clothing, and precious items. Whether the fire is caused by an accident within your home or an out-of-control wildfire, your homeowners insurance has you covered. This insurance cannot bring back your irreplaceable items, but it can give you peace of mind in knowing you can afford to rebuild and replace as necessary.
The average monthly cost of home insurance in Tacoma, WA is $82.
Your house is not likely to be the same as your neighbor’s. While everyone in your neighborhood may face the same crime and weather risks, there are many more variables in play when it comes to calculating home insurance rates. Your premium will also be based on factors like the size and value of your home, the age of your roof, your claims history, the size of your deductible, and sometimes even your credit score. Your monthly rate for Tacoma homeowners insurance may therefore be higher or lower than this average.
Homeowners in Tacoma have a significant risk of damage caused by severe storms. These storms can form in the Pacific Ocean and often bring damaging wind, rain, and lightning to the area. Fortunately, storm damage is covered by your homeowners insurance. However, if torrential rains cause flash flooding, this damage is not covered by homeowners insurance. For this, you will need supplemental coverage with a flood insurance policy.
The average monthly cost of home insurance in Vancouver, WA is $80.
Homeowners insurance rates in can vary significantly from one homeowner to the next. Your actual rate will be based on factors like the size, value, and location of your home, the age of your roof, the materials used in your home’s construction, your claims history, and in some cases even your credit score.
One of the most expensive hazards faced by homeowners in Vancouver is landslide damage. When heavy rain falls or winter snow melts, mudslides and landslides can plague this state. If your home is damaged due to earth movement, however, your homeowners insurance will not cover the damage. For this, you will need a supplementary landslide insurance policy. Sometimes this is offered as a rider on your home policy, but at other times you will need to buy a stand-alone policy.
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