AutoInsurance.com is supported by commissions from providers listed on our site. Read our Editorial Guidelines.
Autoinsurance.com logo
Find Your Perfect Policy:866-843-5386
Last updated: June 5, 2025

Compare Cheap Auto Insurance in Washington, D.C.

USAA and Erie offer the cheapest rates for most drivers in the nation's capital, though USAA is only available to those affiliated with the military.

Document with check mark

Compare quotes from top providers

Car insurance reviews
Share
Twitter brand
Facebook brand
Linkedin brand
Reddit brand
Envelop icon
Share
Twitter brand
Facebook brand
Linkedin brand
Reddit brand
Envelop icon

Auto insurance in Washington, D.C., costs an average of $2,456 annually for full coverage, which is slightly above the national average of $2,399 annually. Minimum coverage costs an average of $1,086 per year, which is 71 percent more expensive than the national average.

Although D.C. is not a state, it has similar auto insurance laws as the states, including mandatory minimum limits. It is also more densely populated than any state, which may contribute to above-average rates.

Overview

  • Auto insurance in Washington, D.C., costs $2,456 annually, on average, for full coverage. Minimum coverage costs $1,086 per year on average.
  • USAA offers the cheapest average rates for military-affiliated drivers in Washington, D.C., while Erie has the cheapest rates for most other drivers.
  • Progressive tends to have the cheapest rates for high-risk drivers, particularly those with a DUI or low credit.

Jump to:

Cheapest Car Insurance in Washington, D.C., for Full Coverage: USAA and Erie

USAA offers the cheapest full coverage auto insurance rates for drivers affiliated with the military in Washington, D.C. This includes active military members, veterans and their spouses and children. Its average annual rate of $1,193 is 51 percent cheaper than the city average. Erie has the next cheapest rates at $1,769 per year on average.

Provider Annual Full Coverage Monthly Full Coverage
USAA $1,193 $99
Erie $1,769 $147
GEICO $1,815 $151
Progressive $2,218 $185
Nationwide $2,561 $213
State Farm $3,138 $262
Allstate $4,141 $345
Washington, D.C., average $2,456 $205
National average $2,399 $200

FYI

GEICO offers a 12 percent discount to active and retired federal employees, GS-7 and above. The discount is available in most states and D.C. If you’re a federal employee, it’s worth getting a quote. When you do, make sure to mention your federal affiliation.

Cheapest Car Insurance in Washington, D.C., for Minimum Coverage: USAA and Erie

USAA and Erie also have the cheapest minimum coverage rates in Washington, D.C., at $516 per year and $748 per year on average. That’s 52 percent and 31 percent below the city average, respectively.

Provider Annual Minimum Coverage Monthly Minimum Coverage
USAA $516 $43
Erie $748 $62
GEICO $918 $77
Progressive $1,221 $102
State Farm $1,408 $117
Allstate $1,999 $167
Washington, D.C., average $1,086 $91
National average $635 $53

Cheapest Car Insurance in Washington, D.C., for Teen Drivers: USAA and Erie

Auto insurance rates for teens tend to be very expensive, but households with teen drivers in Washington, D.C., can find low average rates from USAA (if eligible) and Erie at $3,183 per year and $3,838 per year, respectively. USAA’s rate is 61 percent below the city average while Erie’s is 53 percent cheaper.

Provider Annual With Teen Driver Monthly With Teen Driver
USAA $3,183 $265
Erie $3,838 $320
GEICO $5,101 $425
Nationwide $8,085 $674
State Farm $9,342 $778
Progressive $12,404 $1,034
Allstate $13,474 $1,123
Washington, D.C., average $8,205 $684
National average $5,327 $444

TIP

Like most states, Washington, D.C., allows insurers to use age as a rating factor, meaning that teens pay more for car insurance than other age groups on average. Teens and their families can save money by looking for young driver discounts, such as good student discounts and adding the teen to an existing family policy.

Cheapest Car Insurance in Washington, D.C., With a Speeding Ticket: USAA and Erie

Drivers with a speeding ticket in Washington, D.C., can find the cheapest average rates from USAA at $1,349, as long as they are eligible. Nonmilitary drivers may find the best rates from Erie at $1,858 annually on average — 30 percent cheaper than the city average.

Provider Annual With Speeding Ticket Monthly With Speeding Ticket
USAA $1,349 $112
Erie $1,858 $155
GEICO $2,101 $175
Progressive $2,341 $195
State Farm $4,514 $376
Allstate $4,283 $357
Washington, D.C., average $2,671 $223
National average $2,511 $209

Cheapest Car Insurance in Washington, D.C., With an At-Fault Accident: USAA and Erie

USAA and Erie have the lowest rates for drivers with an at-fault accident in Washington, D.C., at $1,654 per year and $2,239 per year, respectively. USAA is only available to the military community, but Erie’s average annual rate is still 30 percent below the city average.

Provider Annual With At-Fault Accident Monthly With At-Fault Accident
USAA $1,654 $138
Erie $2,239 $187
Progressive $2,909 $242
State Farm $3,136 $261
GEICO $3,246 $271
Nationwide $3,759 $313
Allstate $5,564 $464
Washington, D.C., average $3,182 $265
National average $2,812 $234

Cheapest Car Insurance in Washington, D.C., With a DUI: Progressive

A DUI can significantly impact car insurance premiums. Progressive, which topped our list of the best auto insurance providers for drivers with a DUI, offers the best rates for Washington, D.C., drivers in this situation at $2,053 annually — that’s 46 percent cheaper than the city average. USAA also has competitive rates for military-affiliated drivers.

Provider Annual With DUI Monthly With DUI
Progressive $2,053 $171
USAA $2,116 $176
Erie $2,650 $221
GEICO $4,265 $355
State Farm $4,653 $388
Nationwide $4,996 $416
Allstate $5,196 $433
Washington, D.C., average $3,830 $319
National average $3,305 $275

Cheapest Car Insurance in Washington, D.C., With Low Credit: USAA and Progressive

USAA offers the best rates for military-affiliated drivers with poor credit in Washington, D.C., at $2,189 per year on average, which is 53 percent below the city average. Progressive has the next cheapest rates at $3,364 per year on average, which is still 28 percent below average.

Provider Annual With Low Credit Monthly With Low Credit
USAA $2,189 $182
Progressive $3,364 $280
GEICO $3,527 $294
Erie $4,624 $385
Allstate $5,692 $474
State Farm $8,381 $698
Washington, D.C., average $4,681 $390
National average $3,377 $281

Best Claims and Customer Satisfaction in Washington, D.C.: State Farm

In addition to offering some of the cheapest auto insurance rates in Washington, D.C., Erie also has high customer satisfaction ratings. Always get quotes from several companies, as the cheapest average company may not be the cheapest for you. However, depending on the rate you’re quoted, it may be worth paying slightly more for Erie if you value customer service. USAA also offers strong customer service.

Provider Mid-Atlantic Customer Satisfaction (J.D. Power)1 Claims Satisfaction (J.D. Power)2 CRASH Network Insurer Report Card Grade3
USAA 743 726 D+
Erie 713 733 A- (Honor Roll)
State Farm 652 710 C-
GEICO 647 692 C-
Nationwide 642 728 C
Allstate 624 691 D
Progressive 624 672 C
Average 654 697 C+

How to Find the Cheapest Car Insurance Rates in Washington, D.C.

  1. Compare rates periodically: Auto insurance rates change over time, and the cheapest company when you signed up for your current policy may not necessarily be the cheapest now. It’s a good idea to periodically get quotes and compare rates, especially before your policy is up for renewal.
  2. Bundle policies: You can usually save money by purchasing more than one policy type from the same insurer. These may include auto, home, renters, pet and motorcycle insurance, depending on what the provider offers.
  3. Look for discounts: Auto insurers offer a variety of discounts to help you save money on your premium, although availability varies by state and company. Check with prospective insurers to see what you may be eligible for, which may include good driving and autopay discounts.
  4. Lower your limits: If you need to lower your premium, you can decrease your liability limits, as long as you maintain the minimum requirements. However, reducing your limits can leave you on the hook for significant out-of-pocket expenses if you get into an accident, so weigh the decision carefully.

Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., has minimum car insurance requirements just like states do. In D.C., the minimum limits are as follows:

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $10,000 per accident
  • Uninsured motorist bodily injury liability coverage: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Uninsured motorist bodily property damage coverage: $5,000 per accident4

Uninsured motorist coverage will help cover your injuries and damages if you’re in an accident caused by a driver without insurance or insufficient insurance. For added peace of mind, it’s recommended to increase your liability limits and add full coverage.

FYI

As of the latest available data, D.C. has the highest rate of uninsured drivers in the country: an estimated one in four drivers are uninsured.5 It’s wise to increase your limits above the required minimum to protect yourself financially in the event you’re involved in an accident with an uninsured driver.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

USAA has the cheapest car insurance in Washington, D.C., at $1,193 annually for full coverage and $516 annually for minimum coverage. However, USAA is only available to those affiliated with the military. Erie has the next cheapest rates and does not have any eligibility requirements, with average annual rates of $1,769 annually for full coverage and $748 annually for minimum coverage.

Is $200 a month a lot for car insurance?

In Washington, D.C., $200 a month is about on par with the city average for full coverage insurance. If you have a clean driving record and are paying for full coverage, it’s not particularly expensive, but you may also be able to find cheaper rates. However, compared to average rates for drivers with violations or low credit, $200 a month is quite a good rate.

Does your address affect car insurance?

Yes, your address, specifically your ZIP code, affects car insurance since insurers take your location into account when determining premiums. This is because some areas have a higher risk of things like accidents, theft and natural disasters.

At what age does car insurance go down?

Teens generally pay significantly more for car insurance than other age groups due to their inexperience on the road. Auto insurance rates tend to go down every year in a young driver’s teens and early 20s and usually level off between 25 and 30.

Methodology

We analyze average auto insurance premiums in Washington, D.C., for full and minimum coverage for good drivers with good credit as well as other driver profiles, including those with DUIs, accidents, low credit and teenagers. Full coverage averages use the following limits:

  • Bodily injury liability: $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $100,000 per accident
  • Uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident
  • Comprehensive and collision: $500 deductible
Maya Afilalo Headshot MBA Photo
Written by:Maya Afilalo
Managing Editor & Industry Analyst
Maya Afilalo holds over 10 years of professional experience in writing, communications, and research, which she leverages to provide accurate and reliable information to empower consumers. In addition to overseeing content production, Maya has herself written many articles on auto insurance costs, company comparisons, state laws and requirements, and other topics. She is committed to helping consumers navigate the complex world of car insurance with clarity and confidence. Maya holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s from North Carolina State University.

Citations

  1. 2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Study. J.D. Power. (2024, Jun 11).
    https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2024-us-auto-insurance-study

  2. 2024 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. J.D. Power. (2024, Oct 29).
    https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2024-us-auto-claims-satisfaction-study

  3. 2025 Insurer Report Card. CRASH Network. (2025).
    https://www.crashnetwork.com/irc/

  4. Vehicle Insurance. DC Department of Motor Vehicles. (2025).
    https://dmv.dc.gov/service/vehicle-insurance

  5. Facts + Statistics: Uninsured Motorists. Insurance Information Institute. (2025).
    https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-uninsured-motorists