The average cost to insure a car in Washington, D.C. is $1,202 per year, cheaper than the national average. The most affordable option is GEICO, which has an average rate of $606. MoneyGeek analyzed the cheapest by coverage level and driving history. MoneyGeek also recommended the best options in Washington for those focused on quality and cost.
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.
bestauto insuranceWashington2022The Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Washington
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.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Washington
Full Coverage 100/300/100
- Company100/300/100per year
- 1.$606
- 2.$672
- 3.$817
- 4.$1,161
- 5.$1,362
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.
Cheapest Minimum Liability Car Insurance in Washington
State Minimum
- CompanyState Minimumper year
- 1.$352
- 2.$357
- 3.$417
- 4.$644
- 5.$715
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
- ItemDescription
- 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.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Washington With a Violation
Speeding Ticket
- CompanySpeeding Ticketper year
- 1.$751
- 2.$775
- 3.$854
- 4.$1,270
- 5.$1,681
Average Cost of Car Insurance in Washington
Washington$1,202
DC$1,202
U.S.$1,424
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.
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
If you are looking for an insurer that balances customer service and affordability, MoneyGeek scored the best providers in the city to help you find the best coverage. According to the findings, the best car insurance carriers in Washington for most drivers are:
- GEICO: MoneyGeek score of 93 out of 100
- Hartford: MoneyGeek score of 88 out of 100
USAA has an average score of 100 out of 100, but does not rank among the best insurers overall because its policies are not issued to non-military members. MoneyGeek determined the best insurers in the city based on financial stability, affordability and customer satisfaction scores.
1
USAA
Score:100
2
GEICO
Score:92.5
3
Hartford
Score:87.5
4
State Farm
Score:85
5
Travelers
Score:85
6
Progressive
Score:80
7
Nationwide
Score:77.5
8
Farmers
Score:75
9
CSAA
Score:75
10
Allstate
Score:75
11
Plymouth Rock Assurance
Score:72.5
12
Liberty Mutual
Score:72.5
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 CodeState Minimumper 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.
Methodology and Assumptions
MoneyGeek’s average premium rates for Washington are based on 100/300/100 comprehensive collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible for a 40-year-old male driver. The average driver profiled drives a 2010 Toyota Camry LE and has no tickets or accidents on their record. Additional premiums are added based on coverage type, location and driving record. Learn more about MoneyGeek’s data and methodology here.
About the Author
