In Washington, D.C., drivers pay an average of $137/month for full coverage, which covers damage to their own car. That's $13 above the national average of $124. The $84 gap between the cheapest and most expensive insurance company in DC for the exact same coverage is a factor you can control. Some factors, such as whether you live in the district or commute to work from Virginia, are less under your control.
Washington D.C., Car Insurance Calculators: Cost & Coverage
Updated: May 26, 2026
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Washington D.C. Car Insurance Cost Calculator
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How Car Your Car Insurance Rates are Calculated in Washington DC
Calculate How Much Car Insurance Coverage You Need in Washington D.C.
Before purchasing a policy, you need to know how much coverage you need to properly protect your assets. MoneyGeek's coverage calculator asks about your vehicle, how you bought it and what you own to give you a personalized coverage recommendation for drivers in California.
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Why You Got Your Coverage Recommendations for Washington, DC
Your coverage recommendations above are based on DC's specific conditions, not just what the law requires. Three facts about the car insurance market in D.C. that push adequate coverage above the legal minimums are the district's high vehicle theft rates, high uninsured or underinsured driver rates and its at-fault state, meaning you are personally responsible for any liability damage not paid for by your insurer if you caused the accident.
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Why Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage is Recommended
DC law requires uninsured motorist coverage on every policy under D.C. Code § 31-2406. You cannot opt out of it. In most states, drivers can sign a waiver to decline this coverage. In DC, they cannot.
According to the Insurance Research Council, DC's uninsured driver rate of 25.2% is the highest in the country. One in four drivers on DC roads has no insurance. The minimum UM/UIM in your recommendation is what the law requires, but drivers with high medical costs or high-value vehicles should carry limits that match their bodily injury coverage.
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Why Higher Liability Limits are Needed
The recommended coverage amounts are higher than DC's legal minimums because the minimums aren't enough for a real crash in this city. DC law sets minimum coverage at $25,000 per injured person and $10,000 for property damage, per the DC DMV.
A $10,000 property damage limit won't replace a newer car, and $25,000 in bodily injury won't cover a serious injury at a DC hospital. Whatever exceeds your policy limit is your personal debt. If you're still paying off your car, your lender requires full coverage on cars you're financing, regardless. The minimum vs. full coverage decision doesn't apply until the loan is paid off.
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Why At-Fault States Raises Your Liability Risk
DC is an at-fault state. If you cause a crash, you are personally responsible for every dollar above your policy limit. A court judgment above that limit can be paid from your savings and home equity.
The $25,000 per-person minimum isn't enough to protect a driver who owns property. Drivers with a home or significant savings should carry at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per crash in bodily injury coverage to protect what they have.
Bottom LIne and Next Steps
DC's required minimum limits are too low for a city where nearly one in four drivers has no insurance (Insurance Research Council, 2022 [VERIFY]). The state requires $25,000 per person in bodily injury and $10,000 for property damage, and mandates uninsured motorist coverage on every policy under D.C. Code § 31-2406.
Stepping up to the recommended $100,000/$300,000/$100,000 full coverage costs $68/month more. For DC drivers with savings or a home to protect, that $68/month buys coverage that holds up in a real crash rather than a policy that runs out the moment bills exceed $25,000.
Washington, D.C., Car Insurance Estimate: FAQ
Full coverage in Washington, DC costs $137/month on average, while the minimum required by law is $69/month. DC's average runs $13 above the $124 national figure. Drivers in Virginia pay $97/month for full coverage; drivers in Maryland pay $152/month. DC's all-urban geography and the mandatory uninsured motorist coverage required on every policy under D.C. Code § 31-2406 push the average above most states.
Uninsured motorist coverage is required on every policy in DC by law under D.C. Code § 31-2406. In most states, it's optional. Every DC driver pays for it in their base rate, whether they'd choose it or not, adding cost that most states don't build into the base premium.
The FBI also found DC had the highest vehicle theft rate in the country in 2023, which drives up the cost of comprehensive coverage (the part of your policy that pays if your car is stolen) above what most markets charge.
Washington, D.C., requires an SR-22, not an FR-44. An SR-22 is a form your insurance company files with the DC DMV to prove you still have coverage. The DC DMV requires it after a DUI or other serious driving conviction and mandates a three-year filing period from the date of your conviction.
If your coverage gets canceled or lapses during that period, the three-year clock resets per DC DMV. Drivers who need an SR-22 but don't own a car can meet the requirement with a non-owner SR-22 policy, which covers people who borrow or rent cars rather than owning one.
Our Washington, D.C., Car Insurance Estimate Methodology
Our base profile for all costs and modifications is:
- 40 years old
- Good credit
- Drives a 2012 Toyota Camry
- Clean driving record
We sourced rate data from insurer filings via Quadrant Information Services. Full coverage policies reflect 100/300/100 liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage and a $1,000 deductible.
Minimum coverage reflects Washington, D.C.'s mandated minimums of $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident, $10,000 property damage liability, $25,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person, $50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident and $5,000 uninsured motorist property damage. We update rates monthly to make sure they reflect the most recent data. To learn more about how MoneyGeek analyzes car insurance costs, see our auto insurance methodology.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has spent nearly a decade analyzing the market, first at LendingTree and now at MoneyGeek, where he produces original research on hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.
He covers economics and insurance at MoneyGeek, and his work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among other outlets.
Like all MoneyGeek analysts, he draws on independent cost and consumer experience data. No insurance company partnership influences his recommendations.
Mark holds a B.A. from Boston College and an M.A. in Economics and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University. He started his career in financial risk management at State Street and is also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.