The Best Homeowners Insurance in Washington for 2023 – NerdWallet

The average cost of homeowners insurance in Washington is $1,215 per year, or about $101 per month, according to a NerdWallet analysis. That’s less than the national average of $1,820 per year.

We’ve analyzed rates and companies across the state to find the best homeowners insurance in Washington. Our sample rates are for a homeowner with good credit and $300,000 of dwelling coverage, $300,000 of liability coverage and a $1,000 deductible. Your rates will be different.

Note: Some insurance companies included in this article may have made changes in their underwriting practices and no longer issue new policies in your state.

If you’re looking to buy homeowners insurance from a well-rated national brand, consider one of these insurers from NerdWallet’s list of the Best Homeowners Insurance Companies.

See more details about each company to help you decide which one is best for you.

State Farm is a great choice for homeowners who like to work directly with a company representative, as the company sells policies through a wide network of agents. And its attention to customer service has paid off; the company has fewer customer complaints to state regulators than expected for a company of its size.

State Farm offers a free Ting device as a perk for home insurance policyholders. Ting is a smart plug that monitors your home’s electrical network to help prevent fires.

Homeowners policies from Farmers may include two valuable types of insurance: extended dwelling and replacement cost coverage. Extended dwelling coverage gives you extra insurance for the structure of your house, while replacement cost coverage offers higher reimbursement for stolen or destroyed belongings.

Some Farmers policies also come with perks that can save you money. For example, with claim forgiveness, Farmers won’t raise your rate for a claim as long as you haven’t filed one within the past five years.

Chubb caters to high-value homes and draws far fewer consumer complaints than expected for a company of its size, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Its home insurance policies come with some great perks, including extended replacement cost in case it costs more than your dwelling limit to rebuild your home after a disaster.

Chubb policyholders may also be able to take advantage of the company’s HomeScan service, which uses infrared cameras to look for problems behind the walls of your home.

We like Nationwide for its wide variety of coverage options. For example, its standard homeowners insurance policy generally includes ordinance or law coverage, which can help pay to bring your home up to current building codes after a covered claim. You can add other coverage for things like identity theft and damage from backed-up sewers and drains.

Depending on how much personal assistance you need, you can get a quote for homeowners insurance on the Nationwide website or work with a local agent instead. You can also use the website to pay bills, file claims or check claim status.

Country Financial has three different levels of homeowners coverage to help you choose the package that’s best for you. You also have the option to add extra coverage for the structure of your home, in case inflation drives up the cost of rebuilding more than you expect.

Country Financial sells homeowners insurance through local representatives. The company has drawn far fewer complaints than expected to state regulators.

USAA sells homeowners insurance to veterans, active military and their families. If you fall into one of those groups, you might want to look into USAA’s offerings. The company’s homeowners policies include some unique perks such as deductible-free coverage for military uniforms and coverage for identity theft.

Homeowners in Washington can take part in the company’s Connected Home program, which gives you a discount on your policy if you buy and install approved smart-home devices. These include water leak sensors, cameras and thermostats.

The average annual cost of home insurance in Washington is $1,215. That’s 33% less than the national average of $1,820.

In most U.S. states, including Washington, many insurers use your credit-based insurance score to help set rates. Your insurance score is similar but not identical to your traditional credit score.

In Washington, those with poor credit pay an average of $1,390 per year for homeowners insurance, according to NerdWallet’s rate analysis. That’s 14% more than those with good credit.

How much you pay for homeowners insurance in Washington depends on where you live. For instance, the average cost of home insurance in Seattle is $1,165 per year, while homeowners in Yakima pay $1,305 per year, on average.

Here are the insurers we found with average annual rates below the Washington average of $1,215.

Washington homeowners have a few risks to consider when shopping for home insurance, including earthquakes, wildfires, flooding and winter weather.

Washington state is particularly prone to earthquakes as part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. Standard homeowners insurance doesn’t cover earthquakes or other earth movements like landslides or mudslides, so you may want to look into separate earthquake insurance or an earthquake endorsement.

When purchasing earthquake insurance, pay attention to the deductibles so you know the potential out-of-pocket costs. Your earthquake insurance often has a separate deductible, which can be around 10% to 25% of the coverage on your policy. For example, if you have a 20% deductible on $200,000 of coverage, you would need to pay a $40,000 deductible for earthquake damage before your insurance kicks in.

Wildfires are a potential risk in Washington state, especially in dry seasons. Your homeowners insurance will typically cover damage from fires. Always review your policy for exceptions and to ensure you have enough coverage in case of a total loss related to wildfire.

Pay particular attention to your dwelling coverage limit. This is the amount the insurance company will pay to rebuild your house. A significant fire can destroy your whole home, so talk with your insurer to make sure you have enough coverage to rebuild if necessary.

Washingtonians who live near rivers, lakes or coastal areas may be at risk of flooding. Standard homeowners insurance policies typically do not cover flood damage. As a result, homeowners in flood-prone areas may need to purchase separate flood insurance to protect their property from water damage.

To find out if you’re at risk, check out the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s flood maps or visit RiskFactor.com, a website from the nonprofit First Street Foundation. Even if your property is deemed low risk, it may be worthwhile to purchase flood insurance for extra peace of mind.

Keep in mind that while you can purchase flood coverage anytime, there’s typically a 30-day waiting period before the insurance takes effect. Here’s more information about flood insurance and waiting periods.

Heavy snowfall, winter storms, and freezing temperatures can cause damage from fallen trees, the weight of ice or snow, or burst pipes, among others. Your standard homeowners policy will cover most damage from winter weather, but carefully review the coverage in your policy, as there may be exclusions.

Be sure to take appropriate precautions to limit the risk of damage, as damage due to negligence may not be covered. For example, homeowners should keep their home temperature above 60 degrees and ensure water sources are drained or insulated to avoid the risk of flooding due to burst pipes.

The Consumer Advocacy group can also help with your other insurance-related questions by live chat from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday, by email or by phone at 800-562-6900.

Amanda Shapland contributed to this story.