
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.
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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.
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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 |
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.
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 |
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 |
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.
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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+ |
Washington, D.C., has minimum car insurance requirements just like states do. In D.C., the minimum limits are as follows:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Study. J.D. Power. (2024, Jun 11).
https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2024-us-auto-insurance-study
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
2025 Insurer Report Card. CRASH Network. (2025).
https://www.crashnetwork.com/irc/
Vehicle Insurance. DC Department of Motor Vehicles. (2025).
https://dmv.dc.gov/service/vehicle-insurance
Facts + Statistics: Uninsured Motorists. Insurance Information Institute. (2025).
https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-uninsured-motorists