Car insurance rates in Washington, DC depend on your coverage amount and driver profile. GEICO provides the cheapest state minimum and full coverage insurance policies in the city. It is also the cheapest insurer for drivers with speeding tickets. Military families can get affordable rates from USAA. MoneyGeek’s research determined GEICO is the best company for both affordability and service.
Compare the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes in Washington, D.C.
Updated: October 25, 2024
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BestAuto InsuranceWashingtonThe Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Washington
Cheapest Car Insurance Companies - GEICO
Cheapest for Minimum Coverage - GEICO
Cheapest With Driving Violations - GEICO
Best Overall - GEICO
MoneyGeek analyzed scores from J.D. Power, AM Best and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to determine the best auto insurance companies in Washington, D.C.
The Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Washington
On average, the cheapest car insurance providers in Washington for drivers looking for a full coverage policy are:
- GEICO: $606 per year
- Erie: $817 per year
Drivers with a military background are eligible for a USAA policy, which costs roughly $672 annually.
GEICO provides the most affordable full coverage car insurance and is almost 30% less than what the most expensive company, Nationwide, charges its customers. If you have a policy from Nationwide, you will pay an average of $1,790 annually.
Full coverage car insurance comprises both comprehensive and collision insurance. Your costs may vary from these average rates based on the coverage amount you choose.
Learn more about car insurance in Washington, D.C
Company | 100/300/100 per year | 50/100/50 per year |
|---|---|---|
$606 | $565 | |
$672 | $617 | |
$817 | $796 | |
$1,161 | $1,070 | |
$1,476 | $1,287 | |
$1,362 | $1,368 | |
$1,790 | $1,793 |
MoneyGeek analyzed car insurance rates in Washington using a sample 40-year-old driver with a full coverage policy featuring limits outlined in our methodology.
While full coverage auto insurance costs more than the state minimum coverage, it also provides higher limits for at-fault accidents.
Full coverage policies contain liability coverage plus:
- Collision Coverage: Coverage for damages to your car as a result of an at-fault accident or hitting a stationary object.
- Comprehensive Coverage: This protects you from the cost of damage as a result of non-accident-related incidents like theft and vandalism.
A full coverage policy may have higher rates than the worth of your car if it is old. In this case, you will want to purchase a state minimum or liability only policy to ensure that you keep your costs affordable.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Washington for Minimum Coverage
The state minimum liability-only car insurance policy is the most affordable option in Washington, DC. MoneyGeek’s research found that the cheapest state minimum car insurance in the city, on average, is from:
- GEICO: $352 per year
- Erie: $417 per year
Military families can get a policy from USAA at an average of $357 per year.
GEICO’s average annual cost is less than Progressive, which is the most expensive provider in the city at roughly $995.
The state minimum car insurance may be the cheapest, but it does not include comprehensive and collision coverage, which covers additional costs of damage in case of an accident. You can use the table below to see how rates change between varying coverage limits.
Company | State Minimum per year | Liability Only 50/100/50 |
|---|---|---|
$352 | $391 | |
$357 | $399 | |
$417 | $468 | |
$644 | $756 | |
$715 | $792 | |
$995 | $1,078 | |
$988 | $1,161 |
In Washington, your state minimum car insurance policy should have a limit of 25/50/10 plus uninsured motorist coverage with 25/50/5 as the limits. Purchasing the minimum coverage means that you will pay less for your annual premium. However, if you cause an accident, you may need to cover some costs out of pocket.
For example, if you are involved in an accident and need to pay $70,000 in bodily injury for the accident, your policy will only cover $50,000. You will need to pay the rest of the amount out of pocket.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA MINIMUM LIABILITY REQUIREMENTS
Bodily Injury and Property Damage | $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $10,000 for property damage. A more protective level is 100/300/100. |
Uninsured Motorist | $25,000 per person, $50,000 per incident and $5,000 for property damage. The minimum coverage may not be enough if you're in a serious accident. |
Cheapest Car Insurance in Washington if You Have Driving Violations
Traffic violations can cause your car insurance rates to go up. However, your rates will vary depending on the violation. On average, the cheapest insurance companies in Washington, DC for full coverage if you have a violation are:
- Cheapest after a ticket: GEICO, $751 per year
- Cheapest after an at-fault accident: GEICO, $1,001 per year
- Cheapest after a DUI: Erie, $1,227 per year
USAA provides the cheapest coverage for drivers with at-fault accidents and the second cheapest for those with speeding tickets and DUIs. However, these policies are limited to military families.
If you have a poor driving record, you can find affordable rates by shopping around. You can also improve your driving history to pay lower rates in the future.
Company | Speeding Ticket per year | At Fault Accident | DUI |
|---|---|---|---|
$751 | $1,001 | $1,388 | |
$775 | $953 | $1,334 | |
$854 | $1,041 | $1,227 | |
$1,270 | $1,380 | $1,270 | |
$1,681 | $1,920 | $1,850 | |
$1,762 | $2,010 | $1,694 | |
$1,989 | $2,444 | $3,175 |
Average Cost of Car Insurance in Washington
Many drivers in the capital pay more affordable car insurance rates compared to the national average. Car insurance companies in Washington, D.C., offer an average annual premium of $1,202, which is 15.6% cheaper than the average nationwide auto insurance rate.
Washington
$1,202
DC
$1,202
U.S.
$1,424
Personalized Quotes to Get You the Cheapest Car Insurance in Washington
Your age, gender, marital status, credit history and driving history can all impact your car insurance rates in Washington, D.C. Drivers should get personalized quotes so that they can find the best premium based on their unique circumstances. As these factors change, people seeking better deals on their auto insurance should ask for updated quotes, compare rates from various car insurance companies, and they may be surprised to get discounts, rebates, promos and more.
The Best Car Insurance Companies in Washington
MoneyGeek ranked the best car insurance companies in Washington, D.C., based on average quotes, user satisfaction scores and claims ratings. Overall, the top-performing car insurance companies in Washington, D.C., are:
- GEICO: MoneyGeek score of 85 out of 100
- Erie: MoneyGeek score of 84 out of 100
USAA received a MoneyGeek score of 99, making it the best car insurance company in Washington, D.C. We excluded USAA from our analysis since it only caters to those with a military background.
1
GEICO
Score:85
In Washington, D.C., GEICO received high scores in all categories and got a near-perfect score in affordability. GEICO offers full coverage policies at around $606 per year and provides mechanical breakdown insurance, a unique add-on coverage.
More About GEICO
With GEICO, you can add up to four extra coverages to your existing policy in Washington, D.C. Mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI) helps cover your vehicle’s parts and systems at more competitive rates compared to a dealer’s extended warranty. You can only get MBI if your mileage is below 15,000 and your car is less than 15 months old.
After your first at-fault accident, your GEICO insurance rate won’t increase. If you have been accident-free for five years or more and are over 21 years old, you can earn accident forgiveness coverage from GEICO. Otherwise, you can purchase it.
Read MoneyGeek's GEICO auto Insurance Review2
Erie
Score:84
Erie performed well across all categories, making it the second-best auto insurance provider in Washington, D.C. With an average policy costing around $817 per year, Erie offers the rare coverage for better car replacement.
3
State Farm
Score:81
4
Progressive
Score:74
5
Allstate
Score:66
6
Nationwide
Score:66
Average Cost of Car Insurance by Postal Code
Car insurance companies in Washington, D.C., don’t seem to break down location factors by ZIP codes to determine the best auto policy premium. You’ll often see auto insurance providers vary their rates depending on your ZIP code’s crime rate, records of accidents and theft incidents, road conditions and even weather. In Washington D.C., though, the average annual premium rate is consistent at $1,202 in all of its ZIP codes.
Zip Code | State Minimum per year |
|---|---|
20002 | $1,202 |
20009 | $1,202 |
20011 | $1,202 |
20019 | $1,202 |
20020 | $1,202 |
Factors That Impact Insurance Costs in Washington
In addition to individual driver needs and history, location-specific factors like the percentage of uninsured motorists and the rate of car thefts also contribute to car insurance rates in Washington. How Washington ranks compared to the 300 most populous cities in the United States can have a significant impact on premium costs.
Most Accidents With Fatalities
225th/300
Most Car Thefts
46th/300
Most Uninsured Motorists by State
10th/50
Personal Injury Protection Required
No
Most Annual Rainfall
110th/300
Most Rainy Days
102nd/300
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.