TONIGHT AT 5: Why your car insurance rates are rising

If your car insurance rates are racking up — you’re not alone, and it’s not all your fault.

In fact, you’re mostly paying for other drivers’ mistakes!

“As it costs more to repair cars and treat injuries, it’s going to cost more for insurance because insurance has to pay for the claims,” said Kenton Brine, President of the NW Insurance Council.

KIRO 7′s Samantha Lomibao spoke with Brine to find out what your car insurance premium is really paying for.

Bad drivers were at the top of the list.

“When you pay for insurance, you’re not paying for what might have happened to you. You’re paying for what is already happening out there in the world,” Brine explained.

According to Bankrate, the average cost of full coverage in Washington is $1,845. It comes out to about $200 more, or a 12% increase, from February 2024.

Liability insurance, which is the minimum required by state law, averages about $560 for Washingtonians.

KIRO 7 spoke with two drivers, stuck in very different situations, that you could very well find yourself in.

Let’s just say — even a clean driving record doesn’t always get you off the hook.

“In June – $1,600. And then it went up, you know, a couple hundred dollars in another six months,” said Tacoma resident Erika Weaver.

Weaver explained that her full coverage premium shot up in the past year and a half. From June 2024 to December 2024, her bill jumped from $1,602 to $1,833.

She lives in Tacoma, which according to Bankrate, has the most expensive car insurance rates in the state.

Weaver has insurance for four cars, two of which she drives regularly. One of them in particular is pretty pricey.

It’s a 2015 Kia Soul.

“I got the upgrade that I need for the key lock ignition. I got the steering wheel lock,” she added. “What else are you going to do? If they want it, they’re going to take it.”

Brine says Weaver took the right steps toward lowering her rates. Certain models, like Kias, have gotten a bad rap for being stolen often.

Experts say the high theft rates have spiked insurance prices across the board. But Brine says it’s not always a dead end for Kia owners.

“Most insurers continued to write coverage for those vehicles, and they might have said something like, yes, we’ll continue to underwrite this, but you have to show evidence that you’ve taken some steps to protect your vehicle from theft,” Brine said.

What if you have an older car, no accidents, and liability insurance?

“I got it in April 2010, so it’ll be almost 15 years old,” said Seattle resident Arlene Plevin.

She says she paid $400 less for her liability insurance in January 2023.

In 2025 alone, Plevin told KIRO 7 she expects to pay more than $1,600. She drives less than 5,000 miles a year.

“It’s going to last a little bit longer, but I don’t know if at my age I’ll be able to afford insurance on it. It’s just so shocking,” she said.

Some good news — there are ways you can cut back on your bill.

Here are three simple things Brine says you can do from home:

Shop around — Get quotes from multiple insurers because rates vary from company to company.
Take advantage of the new transparency rule — In June, the Washington state insurance commissioner stated “insurers shall provide the premium change transparency required by this chapter to their policyholders indicating the premium increases occurring at renewal.” Brine says you might be able to catch incorrect information that’s costing you more
Buy only what you need — For example: If you’re thinking about dropping coverage like comprehensive, Brine says to ask yourself – are you ready to let that car go? If it’s totaled, be ready to foot the bill!

Some of the steepest setbacks are driver-caused.

Bankrate research shows the top three costly impacts are: