Best car insurance in Washington, D.C. (2024)

The average cost of full coverage car insurance in Washington, D.C. is $1,802 per year. Compared to the U.S. average of $1,638, Washington, D.C. drivers pay more for car insurance than the average American.

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Rachael BrennanSenior Editor & Licensed Auto Insurance ExpertRachael Brennan is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.

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Anna SwartzAnna SwartzSenior Managing EditorAnna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.
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Maria FilindrasMaria FilindrasFinancial AdvisorMaria Filindras is a financial advisor, a licensed Life & Health insurance agent in California, and a member of the Financial Review Council at Policygenius.

Updated|3 min read

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The average cost of full coverage car insurance in Washington, D.C. is $1,802 per year. Compared to the U.S. average of $1,638, Washington, D.C. drivers pay more for car insurance than the average American.

Ready to shop car insurance?

Despite the higher-than-average insurance rates, drivers in Washington, D.C. can still save money on car insurance — as long as they shop around. Policygenius can help you compare quotes from top car insurance companies to find the right coverage at the right price.

Key takeaways

  • GEICO is the cheapest car insurance company in Washington, D.C., with an average price of $1,025 per year for full coverage.

  • Washington, D.C. requires drivers to have at least $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability and $10,000 in property damage liability. 

  • Uninsured motorist bodily injury ($25,000/$50,000) and uninsured motorist property damage ($5,000 with a $200 deductible) are also required in Washington D.C.

Methodology & why you can trust our rates

Policygenius has analyzed car insurance rates provided by Quadrant Information Services for every ZIP code in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. For full coverage policies, the following coverage limits were used:

  • Bodily injury liability: 50/100

  • Property damage liability: $50,000

  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist: 50/100

  • Comprehensive: $500 deductible

  • Collision: $500 deductible

In some cases, additional coverages were added where required by state or insurer.

Rates for overall average rate, rates by ZIP code, and cheapest companies determined using averages for single drivers ages 30, 35, and 45. Our sample vehicle was a 2017 Toyota Camry LE driven 10,000 miles/year.

Rates for driving violations and “Poor” credit determined using average rates for a single male 30-year-old driver with a credit score under 578.

Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.

Cheapest car insurance companies in Washington, D.C.

Car insurance rates are typically set using the same basic information, including your age, your ZIP code, and your personal driving history. However, just because each company uses the same information doesn’t mean they charge the same rates. Your actual insurance costs can vary from one car insurance company to another, sometimes by hundreds of dollars each year. 

This is why it is so important to compare quotes from multiple companies when shopping for car insurance — you want to make sure you’re finding the cheapest rates out there.

Company

Average cost

JD Power Rating

GEICO

$1,025

874

USAA

$1,149

890

Erie

$1,287

893

State Farm

$1,451

882

Bankers Insurance

$1,623

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Cheapest car insurance companies by age in Washington, D.C.

Young drivers usually have less experience behind the wheel than older drivers, making them more likely to file a claim. This is why most insurance companies charge higher rates for younger drivers.

Teen drivers who maintain a clean driving record will see their rates fall as they enter their early twenties, so it is important to avoid accidents and moving violations to help keep your insurance rates as low as possible.

Age

Cheapest company

Average cost

16

Erie

$3,037

18

Erie

$2,692

16

Allstate

$3,037

21

USAA

$1,652

25

GEICO

$1,322

30

GEICO

$1,035

35

GEICO

$1,052

45

GEICO

$989

55

GEICO

$1,025

60

GEICO

$1,014

65

GEICO

$1,014

70

GEICO

$1,109

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Choosing the right car insurance company in Washington, D.C.

There’s no one best car insurance company for every D.C. driver. The car insurance company that is the best one for you is whichever one offers you the coverage you need at the best price. Here’s what to look for:

  • Cost: Getting quotes from multiple companies is the best way to find the most affordable car insurance coverage.

  • Coverage: Buying enough coverage to make sure you are protected in case of a serious accident is an important part of shopping for insurance.

  • Customer service: Having an easy experience while buying a policy or filing a claim is just as important as cost when it comes to choosing an insurance policy.

Policygenius can help you compare quotes from top companies so you can choose the policy that’s right for you.

Car insurance rates for drivers with driving violations in Washington, D.C.

Your driving history is one of the biggest factors insurance companies use when setting your rates, which means an accident or a traffic ticket could have a significant effect.. 

Keeping your driving record clean is the easiest way to keep your insurance rates low. The chart below shows how different violations increased the cost of insurance with five of the cheapest insurance companies in Washington, D.C.

Violation

GEICO

USAA

Erie

State Farm

Bankers Insurance

At-fault accident

$1,913

$1,750

$1,781

$1,750

$2,460

DUI

$2,455

$2,180

$2,125

$1,610

$4,103

Suspended license

$2,126

$2,131

$2,125

$1,610

$4,103

Open container

$2,455

$1,605

$1,435

$1,610

$1,830

Expired registration

$1,317

$1,510

$1,372

$1,610

$1,830

Driving without lights

$1,317

$1,510

$1,372

$1,610

$1,830

Running a red light

$1,317

$1,510

$1,435

$1,610

$1,830

Following too closely

$1,317

$1,510

$1,435

$1,610

$1,830

Hit and run

$2,455

$2,223

$2,125

$1,610

$4,103

Not-at-fault accident

$1,100

$1,218

$1,435

$1,470

$1,703

Passing a school bus

$1,317

$1,782

$1,435

$1,610

$1,830

Reckless driving

$2,455

$1,605

$1,435

$1,610

$4,103

Speeding

$2,455

$1,510

$1,435

$1,610

$2,024

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Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI in Washington, D.C.

Company

Rates for drivers with DUIs

State Farm

$1,610

Erie

$2,125

USAA

$2,180

GEICO

$2,455

Bankers Insurance

$4,103

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket in Washington, D.C.

Company

Rates for drivers with speeding tickets

Erie

$1,435

USAA

$1,510

State Farm

$1,610

Bankers Insurance

$2,024

GEICO

$2,455

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with bad credit in Washington, D.C.

Generally, the lower your credit score, the more you’ll pay for car insurance, so working to improve your credit rating can help save you money on your car insurance. That said, some companies offer cheaper insurance for drivers with bad credit than others.

Company

Rates for drivers with bad credit

GEICO

$2,294

USAA

$2,456

Bankers Insurance

$2,474

State Farm

$3,086

Progressive

$3,403

Ready to shop car insurance?

Buying car insurance in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. state law says that all drivers have to meet the following minimum coverage requirements:

  • Third party liability (bodily injury liability) coverage per person: $25,000

  • Third party liability (bodily injury liability) coverage per accident: $50,000

  • Property damage liability coverage: $10,000

  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: $25,000 BI per person; $50,000 BI per accident and $5,000 PD per accident

What is referred to as bodily injury liability in most states is called third party liability insurance in Washington, D.C. 

Washington, D.C. is a no-fault state, which means that after an accident, each party files a claim with their own insurance company rather than with the at-fault driver’s insurance. But unlike most no-fault states, Washington, D.C. does not require drivers to have personal injury protection insurance (PIP).

How to get cheap car insurance in Washington, D.C.

Most car insurance companies offer discounts that drivers in Washington, D.C. will be able to take advantage of, including:

  • Good student discount: For full-time students who maintain above a certain GPA

  • Bundling discount: For buying more than one type of policy from the same insurance company

  • Group/employer/professional discount: For drivers affiliated with institutions that offer discounted rates through partner insurance companies. 

  • Safe driver discount: For drivers who’ve completed a driver’s education or defensive driving course.

  • Accident free discount: For drivers without a recent accident on their record

  • Low mileage discount: For drivers who drive below a certain number of miles each year

  • Military discount: For drivers affiliated with the U.S. military

Beyond discounts, keeping your driving record clean and improving your credit score are both excellent ways to help keep your insurance costs low.

Frequently asked questions

Who has the cheapest car insurance in Washington D.C.?

Our analysis found that GEICO has the lowest average rates for full coverage in the state, at $1,025 per year, but rates are specific to the individual and vary by company, so shopping around may help you find an even cheaper policy.

Does my gender impact my insurance rates?

While there are several states that have passed laws to prevent your gender from being used to set your insurance rates, Washington D.C. is not one of them. The states where gender doesn’t impact your cost of insurance are California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

Why is car insurance so expensive for young drivers?

Young drivers are inexperienced, which means they are more likely to be in an accident and file a claim. Insurance companies charge higher rates to drivers under 25 because they are higher risk and will likely cost insurance companies more money.

Is car insurance in Washington DC expensive?

At $1,802 per year, drivers in Washington D.C. pay more for car insurance than the average American. However, the district doesn't even come close to being the most expensive insurance in the country. Drivers in Florida have an average insurance rate of $2,794 per year, which is $992 higher than the average car insurance premium in Washington D.C.

Author

Rachael Brennan is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.

Editor

Anna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.

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