Cheapest car insurance quotes in Washington, D.C.

On average, auto insurance in Washington, D.C. costs about $72 per month for minimum coverage liability insurance and about $185 per month for full coverage. D.C. drivers pay about 12% more than the national average for car insurance.

Smart car insurance shoppers in Washington, D.C. turn to Jerry every month, because Jerry makes it easy for customers to compare and purchase affordable car insurance. Below are some of the cheapest car insurance quotes Jerry found for customers in Washington, D.C.

Best car insurance companies in Washington, D.C.

No single provider will offer the most affordable coverage in the District of Columbia every time. But by surveying over 15,000 policyholders, we discovered that drivers in D.C. have had luck with GEICO, Traveler, and Nationwide when looking for cheap rates.

Here’s how drivers in Washington, D.C. rate different companies on a scale of 0 to 5:

Best cheap car insurance quotes in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. drivers are required to carry at least 25/50/10 liability insurance coverage and uninsured motorist coverage (UIM), including both ​​uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage (UMBI), and uninsured motorist property damage coverage (UMPD). This means you’ll need:

• $25,000 of bodily injury liability coverage (or, “third-party coverage”) per person
• $50,000 of bodily injury liability per accident
• $10,000 of property damage liability coverage per accident
• $25,000 of UMBI per person
• $50,000 of UMBI per accident
• $5,000 of UMPD per accident (subject to a $200 deductible)

Do you need more than minimum coverage in Washington, D.C.?

While legal minimum coverage is a good place to start, Washington, D.C. drivers will almost always benefit from adding more insurance to their policy. Our experts recommend carrying at least 100/300/100 liability insurance and full coverage. We recommend this for three reasons:

1. D.C. minimum insurance won’t always pay your bills: After an accident, liability insurance will only pay for damages and injuries sustained by the other driver. Meanwhile, UM coverage won’t apply unless you weren’t at fault and the other driver was uninsured. This means any injuries or damages you or your vehicle sustain will be paid out-of-pocket.
2. You might need to pay damages out-of-pocket anyway: According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), the average auto liability claim for property damage in 2022 was $5,313, and the average bodily injury liability claim was $24,211. If you carry D.C. minimum coverage, it might not be enough to pay for damages or injuries after a severe accident.
3. You could get sued for inadequate coverage: Drivers who don’t have enough liability coverage to pay for damages after an accident may face a lawsuit if the other driver decides to sue to cover the remaining damages.

With all of this in mind, consider adding more liability coverage and other types of insurance to your policy.

Cheap full coverage car insurance quotes in Washington, D.C.

Full coverage car insurance is the only way to protect yourself from costs associated with repairing or replacing your vehicle if you’re at fault in an accident in D.C.

Full coverage includes comprehensive and collision insurance:

• Collision insurance: Collision coverage pays to repair or replace your vehicle after a collision.
• Comprehensive insurance: If your vehicle suffers non-collision damages (such as a flood, fire, or vandalism), comprehensive coverage will pay for repairs or replacement.

If you have a loan on your vehicle, or you’re leasing, your lender will typically require both collision and comprehensive coverage.

The easiest and fastest way to find the cheapest car insurance for your preferred coverage option is to compare car insurance quotes online.

Jerry, a top insurance agency, offers a free app that lets you compare car insurance quotes and provides end-to-end service to customers with the help of 100+ licensed insurance agents.

Average cost of car insurance in Washington, D.C.

Jerry has helped countless drivers in Washington, D.C. find affordable quality car insurance. Through these searches, we’ve found that the average cost for minimum liability coverage is $72 per month or $864 per year. The average price for full coverage insurance in Washington, D.C. is $185 per month or $2,225 per year.

While researching average insurance rates can help you predict your insurance costs, it’s important to note that each driver’s insurance premium is calculated based on various factors, such as vehicle type, driving record, claims history, and demographics.

Car insurance quotes in Washington, D.C. by rating factors

Insurance companies in Washington, D.C. use many rating factors when calculating your auto insurance premiums:

• Your driving record and claims history: Insurers will charge more if you’ve had accidents or tickets.
• Your driving experience: Drivers with less experience typically pay much higher rates than those with more experience.
• Your vehicle: Collision and comprehensive coverage are more costly for luxury, high-performance, and sports cars.
• Your location: Rates are likely higher if you regularly park in a neighborhood with a higher incidence of auto insurance claims.
• Your driving habits: Insurers often charge more if you drive your vehicle to and from work than if you only use it for leisure.

Cheap car insurance quotes in Washington, D.C. after driving violations

Your driving record plays one of the biggest roles in your car insurance rates. If insurance providers see a history of violations, they’ll view you as a higher risk and charge a higher rate. Common violations that could increase your insurance rates include:

• Speeding
• DUI/DWI
• At-fault accident
• Reckless driving
• Driving on a suspended license

Cheapest D.C. auto Insurance after an at-fault accident

One of the most critical elements affecting car insurance rates is your car accident or claims history. Your car insurance rates could more than double if you’ve recently been in an at-fault accident. Jerry has helped many Washington, D.C drivers save on car insurance after accidents.

Cheapest car insurance in Washington, D.C. after other driving violations

Besides speeding tickets, DUIs, and at-fault accidents, violations like reckless driving and driving on a suspended license can also cause your rates to increase in Washington, D.C.

We compiled a list of other driving violations and how we helped drivers with these offenses save on their auto insurance.

Cheapest D.C. car insurance by age

Young drivers under 25 and senior drivers over 65 face higher car insurance costs than other age groups, so finding a car insurance company with affordable rates can be challenging for these populations. Young drivers, in particular, see the highest rates of any age group due to a higher perceived risk of accidents.

Cheapest D.C. auto insurance based on insurance history

If you experience a gap or interruption in your insurance coverage (due to nonpayment, for example), you’ll be in what’s called an insurance lapse.

An insurance lapse can significantly increase your rates because it causes insurance companies to label you as a high-risk driver. That’s why Jerry offers automatic payment reminders to keep you on top of your insurance bills each month.

Cheapest car insurance for D.C. drivers with poor credit

Drivers with poor credit pay an average of 115% more than those with excellent credit and 44% more than those with fair credit for their car insurance. This is because insurance companies have found that drivers with lower credit tend to file more claims.

Here are the rates offered by some of the more affordable D.C. car insurance providers based on your credit score.

How to find cheap car insurance for your vehicle model in Washington, D.C.

Your vehicle make and model can have an impact on car insurance rates, since different vehicles have different repair and replacement costs. Additionally, many providers offer car insurance discounts for vehicles with certain safety features, like anti-lock brakes, adaptive headlights, anti-theft devices, or even airbags.

Currently, some of the most popular vehicles in Washington, D.C. include:

• Tesla Model Y
• Toyota Rav4
• Honda CR-V
• Tesla Model 3
• Subaru Crosstrek

Why is car insurance so expensive in D.C.?

Reasons for D.C.’s high car insurance rates include:

1. High population density. Washington, D.C. has a population density of ​​11,535 people per square mile. However, the population increases to more than one million as other drivers come from Virginia and Maryland during the work week. A higher population density and high commuter rates increase the risk of accidents.
2. Heavy traffic. In a recent study, Washington, D.C. ranked second to worst of all US cities in their traffic index. Heavy traffic means an increased likelihood of an accident.
3. Lots of tourism and special events. As the nation’s capital city, D.C. sees a heavy influx of tourists each year. In 2022, for example, the city saw 21.9 million total visitors. More tourists who aren’t familiar with the roads means more traffic and an increased likelihood of an accident.

How to lower car insurance costs in Washington, D.C.

If your car insurance is too expensive for you, these are some things you could try:

• Shop around: To ensure you’re getting the best deal, shop around with multiple providers and gather several car insurance quotes. With Jerry, you can compare quotes, discount options, and benefits from multiple providers at once.
• Bundle your policies: Under some providers, you may be able to bundle your policies at a discounted rate. This is because many car insurance providers offer other types of coverage, too, such as renters insurance or homeowners insurance, giving you
• Check for discounts: All providers offer car insurance discounts of one kind or another. If you’re interested, ask your insurance agent if you’re eligible, or use Jerry’s discount tool to search for things like safe driver discounts, telematics discounts, military discounts, good student discounts, or other types of savings bundling opportunities.
• Maintain a clean driving record: Even if your record is already spotty, try to avoid at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, and other traffic violations. Your provider will reward your safe driving with a better insurance rate.

MEET OUR EXPERTS

Sarah Gray

Sarah Gray is an insurance writer with nearly a decade of experience in publishing and writing. Sarah specializes in writing articles that educate car owners and buyers on the full scope of car ownership—from shopping for and buying a new car to scrapping one that’s breathed its last and everything in between. Sarah has authored over 1,500 articles for Jerry on topics ranging from first-time buyer programs to how to get a salvage title for a totaled car. Prior to joining Jerry, Sarah was a full-time professor of English literature and composition with multiple academic writing publications.

Liz Jenson

Liz Jenson is an insurance writer who specializes in general automotive and insurance topics. Liz’s mission is to produce informative and useful content to help car owners make smart choices when buying cars and car insurance. Since joining Jerry in 2021, Liz has written nearly 4,000 long- and short-form articles on topics including state-specific insurance recommendations, common car insurance questions, and deep dives into vehicle model details. Before they came to Jerry, Liz was a full-time student at Indiana University, Bloomington working on a double major in English and French.