Car insurance in Washington, D.C.: Cheapest insurance and average rates

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Car insurance in Washington, D.C., costs $2,157 per year for full coverage – $180 monthly. In 2024, USAA offers the cheapest car insurance policy at $103 per month for full coverage – but USAA is only available to military community members and their families.

If you are moving to Washington, D.C. — or already live there — it is important to find the right car insurance policy. Fortunately, there are ways to get cheap car insurance in Washington, D.C., providing the coverage you need. 

How to find the best car insurance in Washington, D.C. 

With the right tools and a little work, you can find the best car insurance policy in Washington, D.C. that marries the coverage you need with a cost you can afford. 

Before shopping for car insurance, determine the type of policy you need, including the amount of coverage necessary to protect yourself. Get quotes from at least three companies comparing similar coverage limits and options and ask about any discounts you qualify for. It’s always best to buy as much coverage as you can afford.

Cheapest car insurance company in Washington, D.C. 

USAA provides the cheapest car insurance in Washington, D.C., according to 2023 data. It costs an average of $1,230 annually to purchase a full-coverage policy from the insurer. The next cheapest car insurance companies are Geico and Progressive.

See other cheap car insurance rates in Washington, D.C., in the table below.

Average annual rates from insurers in Washington, D.C. 

How much is car insurance in Washington, D.C., per month?

Washington, D.C., residents can expect to pay an average of $180 per month in full coverage car insurance costs or $46 per month for the state minimum coverage.

Of course, some drivers pay less than this average, while others pay more. Factors determining how much you pay for car insurance include the insurance company you choose and the coverage you need. 

Other factors — including your age and gender, car type, and history of accidents and violations — also influence car insurance costs.  

One way to cut your car insurance costs is to search out discounts. Insurance companies usually offer several types of discounts to drivers who qualify for them. 

“Find out if your insurer offers a telematics policy that rewards safer driving habits with reduced premiums,” says Robert Passmore, APCIA department vice president, personal lines with the American Property Casualty Insurance Association.  

See more rates in the table below.

Monthly rates for car insurance in Washington, D.C.

How do rates in Washington, D.C., compare to other large cities in the U.S.?

The cost of coverage in Washington, D.C., is cheaper than in other major cities. See how much you can expect to pay for car insurance in several major U.S. cities in the table below.

Here’s what you need to know when driving in Washington, D.C. 

Traffic can be simply awful in Washington, D.C.

In 2022, drivers in Washington, D.C., lost an average of 83 hours in traffic, according to INRIX, which looks at traffic patterns. That makes Washington, D.C., the eighth most-congested city in the U.S., and the 20th most congested in the world. 

If you are driving in the Washington, D.C., area during rush hour, you can expect to spend an extra 18.22 minutes in traffic, according to the website CoPilot. That places Washington, D.C., at No. 22 among all cities in the nation when it comes to losing time due to rush hour. 

Other things to remember when driving around Washington, D.C.:

• The default speed limit in Washington, D.C., is 25 mph. If another speed limit applies, it will be posted.  
• Eight roads in the Washington, D.C., metro have toll facilities. 
• Washington, D.C., has about 250 public chargers for electric vehicles. However, plans call for at least 7,500 charging stations to be installed in the city by 2027. 

How much car insurance do I need in Washington, D.C.?

You will need to carry at least a minimum amount of car insurance in Washington, D.C.

“Most states require drivers to carry insurance that covers damage to other drivers in a crash,” Passmore says.  

Washington, D.C., requirements are: 

• $10,000 property damage liability
• $25,000 per person third party liability
• $50,000 per accident third party liability
• $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident uninsured motorist bodily injury
• $5,000 subject to $200 deductible uninsured motorist property damage

However, these minimum levels of coverage will not be adequate for most drivers. 

Many drivers will prefer to carry much higher levels of liability coverage so they are better protected financially. In addition, liability insurance does not cover you or your car. 

That means drivers also might be interested in going beyond the minimums and protecting their own vehicles by purchasing insurance beyond the minimum, such as comprehensive and collision coverage. 

If you are unsure of how much coverage you need, consult with an insurance agent who can help. 

Average cost of car insurance in Washington, D.C. 

The average cost of full-coverage car insurance in Washington, D.C., is $2,157 annually. That compares to a nationwide average of $1,895. 

Annual average rates in Washington, D.C. for state minimum coverage and full coverage

How much does car insurance in Washington, D.C. cost with violations?

Moving violations on your driving record will likely increase your car insurance rates. Violations like speeding tickets often cause a significant but manageable rise in rates. 

Other types of violations can make rates climb much higher. This is particularly true if you are convicted of a DUI or if you have poor credit.

See rate increases in Washington, D.C., in the table below by violation.

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

Your age will impact how much you pay for car insurance. The youngest drivers tend to pay the highest rates. The oldest drivers also are likely to pay more. 

See how much you can expect to pay by age in the table below.

Annual rates for state minimum and full coverage car insurance in Washington, D.C., by age

Compare auto insurance rates in Washington, D.C., by ZIP code 

Where you live also plays a role in how much you pay for car insurance. Here are the ZIP codes in Washington, D.C., with the cheapest and most expensive car insurance rates. 

Cheapest annual car insurance rates in Washington, D.C., by ZIP code 

Most expensive annual car insurance rates in Washington, D.C., by ZIP code 

Our recommendations: Car insurance for drivers in Washington, D.C. 

If low prices are your top focus when shopping for car insurance, USAA might be your best choice. It has the lowest average rates in our survey. 

However, it’s often a mistake to shop by price alone. It is crucial to ensure you have the coverage you need, even if you have to pay a little more for it. 

Shopping around and gathering quotes from several insurance companies is the best way to get the coverage you need at the best price. 

A full coverage insurance policy with liability limits of 100/300/100 is the best option for most drivers. Consider increasing your liability limits as you accumulate wealth and your net worth increases. Purchasing as much car insurance as you can afford will give you peace of mind as you navigate the roads of Washington, D.C.

Resources & Methodology

Methodology

In 2024, Insure.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to pull rates for a 40-year-old who has a 12-mile commute and drives a 2023 Honda Accord LX 10k miles annually. The hypothetical driver has full coverage, carrying policy limits of 100/300/100 with $500 deductibles for comprehensive and collision coverages. We analyzed 51,088,003 insurance quotes from 167 companies across 34,588 ZIP codes in every state and Washington, D.C.

Chris Kissell

Contributing Researcher

 

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Chris Kissell is a Denver-based writer and editor with work featured on U.S. News & World Report, MSN Money, Fox Business, Forbes, Yahoo Finance, Money Talks News and more.