Car Insurance in Washington, D.C.

Average car insurance cost in Washington, D.C.

The NAIC average expenditure is what insured drivers actually paid on average, including people who carry only liability. For those who buy each coverage, the average premium was $891 for liability, $664 for collision and $264 for comprehensive ($1,818 combined, versus $1,439 nationally). That average expenditure is 12% higher than the NAIC's previous data year ($1,501).

Minimum car insurance requirements in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.'s minimum is written as 25/50/10: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability and $10,000 in property damage liability. Those limits are low compared with the cost of a serious injury claim, so many drivers choose 100/300/100 — we estimate that "standard" level at about $1,075 a year here, $335 more than the minimum.

Coverage must be kept continuously while a vehicle is registered; return plates to DC DMV before canceling insurance.

Is Washington, D.C. a no-fault state?

No — Washington, D.C. is an at-fault (tort) state. The District uses an at-fault system with optional PIP: a victim who has PIP may elect PIP benefits within 60 days, and then may sue only for serious permanent injury or losses above PIP limits. Injured people can claim against the at-fault driver's insurer, use their own coverage, or sue.

No-fault vs. at-fault explained

Uninsured drivers in Washington, D.C.

The Insurance Research Council estimates 23.1% of Washington, D.C. drivers are uninsured — 3rd highest in the country, compared with 15.4% nationally. That's roughly one uninsured driver in every 4 on the road. Washington, D.C. requires uninsured motorist coverage, which pays your injury costs when the at-fault driver has no insurance.

SR-22 requirements in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. uses the SR-22 — a certificate your insurer files with the state to prove you carry at least the minimum liability coverage. It is usually ordered after a DUI, driving uninsured, serious violations or a license suspension, and is typically kept for about 3 years. DC DMV requires drivers in its ignition interlock program to keep SR-22 insurance for three years from the conviction date.

By our model, a driver in their 30s with a DUI would pay about $1,400 a year for minimum coverage in Washington, D.C., versus $740 with a clean record. What is SR-22 insurance?

Car insurance by city in Washington, D.C.

We cover 1 Washington, D.C. cities. Estimates are for full coverage for a driver in their 30s with a clean record; hover a city to find it on the map.

Estimated cost by driver profile in Washington, D.C.

Age and driving record move premiums more than almost anything else. A teen on their own policy pays about 2.7× what a driver in their 30s pays for the same full coverage in Washington, D.C..

By coverage level

Cheapest and most expensive cars to insure in Washington, D.C.

Full-coverage estimates for current models, using HLDI insurance-loss data where available. Vehicle choice alone can swing the premium by more than $4,295 a year here.

Cheap car insurance in Washington, D.C.: how to lower your rate

• Raise your deductible. Going from $500 to $1,000 on collision and comprehensive saves about $130 a year on a typical Washington, D.C. full-coverage policy.
• Match coverage to your car's value. On a 10-year-old car, dropping collision and comprehensive could cut the bill from about $1,585 to $1,075.
• Drive less, pay less. Low-mileage and usage-based programs can save around $140 a year if you drive under 7,500 miles.
• Protect your record. A single speeding ticket adds roughly $440 a year in our model; an at-fault accident adds much more.
• Shop at renewal. Rates for the same driver differ widely between insurers. Compare identical limits and deductibles. The District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking publishes a rate comparison tool.
• Ask about discounts — bundling home and auto, good student, safe-driver, paid-in-full and defensive-driving course discounts. See common discounts.

Complaints and help: District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking

The District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking licenses insurers and agents, reviews rates and handles consumer complaints about claims, cancellations and billing — free of charge.

Website

disb.dc.gov

File a complaint

Consumer complaint page

Consumer helpline

1-202-727-8000

Rate comparison

Official premium comparison

Homeowners insurance in Washington, D.C. →

Washington, D.C. vs. neighboring states