U.S. auto insurance rates highest in history — here’s how Whatcom’s premiums compare
Whatcom County drivers last year paid an average of $100 more for auto insurance premiums than they did in 2018, a recent report by The Zebra found, but rates were still lower than state and national averages.
Whatcom drivers paid an average of $1,231 for auto insurance in 2019 — an 8.8% increase over the $1,131 average in 2018 — Danielle Marchell, public relations specialist for insurance comparison website The Zebra, told The Bellingham Herald.
At an average of $1,548 per year, car insurance rates are at an all-time high in the United States, The Zebra said in a release announcing its 2020 State of Auto Insurance Report, as premiums have climbed nearly 30% nationally since 2011 — more than double the rate of inflation in the U.S.
The Seattle-Tacoma metro area has risen at nearly that rate, the release said, with a 27% increase since 2011. That includes a 9% bump last year when rates climbed to $1,594. Nationally, rates only saw a 5.8% increase from 2018, the report said.
Statewide, drivers averaged paying $1,368 — $37 higher than in Whatcom County. The Evergreen state ranked 35th in the nation, the report found, with Michigan the most expensive ($3,096) and Maine the cheapest ($935).
Whatcom ranked No. 9 for the cheapest rates in Washington behind No. 1 Clallam ($1,197), San Juan, Adams, Jefferson, Grant, Whitman, Franklin and Benton counties.
Why are rates climbing so fast?
The Zebra report suggested drivers are increasingly distracted by phone and other devices; other reckless behaviors, such as aggressive driving and DUI, also increase risk on the roads; and people are driving more miles than ever before.
The report also showed:
▪ Drivers in the Far West region (Washington, Oregon, California and Nevada) average the highest rates in the nation at $1,665.
▪ Luxury vehicles were the most expensive vehicles to insure, with the Maserati Quattroporte, BMW i8 and Mercedes-AMG GT the only vehicles with average premiums of more than $4,000.
▪ Meanwhile, two of the cars you’re most likely to see in Bellingham — the Subaru Outback ($1,499) and Subaru Forester ($1,561) — were among the 10 cheapest to insure on average behind the Fiat 500X ($1,467) at No. 1.
▪ Hybrid cars were among the most expensive cars to insure at an average of $2,110, because the higher cost to repair or replace.
How much do tickets affect rates?
As we all know, driving violations, as well as claims, impact insurance premiums — but how much? Here are some of the average increases The Zebra found in 2019:
▪ Driving without lights resulted in an average rate increase of $68 (4.4%).
▪ Failure to wear a seat belt led to a $90 increase (5.8%).
▪ Not-at-fault crashes led to a $107 increase (6.9%).
▪ Driving with expired registration led to a $159 increase (10.3%).
▪ Cell phone use led to a $355 increase (22.9%).
▪ Speeding led to a $379 increase (24.5%).
▪ At-fault crashes led a $636 increase (41.1%).
▪ DUI led to a $1,099 increase (71.0%).
The report said insurance companies tend to factor violations into premiums for at least three years.
