Reviews Report
- Based on 2021 data from Bankrate.com, USAA is the cheapest car insurance company in D.C., with an average annual full coverage rate of $876.
- Drivers in Washington D.C. are required to carry at least 25/50/10 personal liability coverage.
Car insurance is required in almost every state, and that includes Washington D.C. Every driver in Washington D.C. must carry a minimum amount of car insurance in order to legally get behind the wheel. The providers we recommend to drivers in Washington D.C. are USAA, Geico, State Farm, Nationwide, and Erie.
To find the best Washington D.C. car insurance, we started by making a list of the most popular providers, and reviewed each one based on important factors like price, financial strength, overall customer satisfaction, coverage options, and discounts.
The 5 Best Auto Insurance Companies in Washington, D.C.
- USAA: Best D.C. Car Insurance for Military-Centric Options
- Geico: Best D.C. Car Insurance for Discounts
- State Farm: Best D.C. Car Insurance for Customer Service
- Nationwide: Best D.C. Car Insurance for Safe Drivers
- Erie: Cheapest Car Insurance in D.C.
Compare the Best Car Insurance Companies in Washington, D.C.
| Full Coverage Annual Premium* | State Minimum Annual Premium* | AM Best Financial Strength AM Best rates insurance providers creditworthiness. Ratings are based on the provider’s ability to follow through with a payout when a consumer files a claim. | J.D. Power Overall Customer Satisfaction** J.D. Power scores are based on surveys for customer satisfaction and product quality. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pin USAA | $876 | $383 | A++ | 896 | |
| Pin Geico | $1,420 | $466 | A++ | 835 | |
| Pin State Farm | $1,994 | $906 | A++ | 851 | |
| Pin Nationwide | $1,985 | $1,014 | A+ | 823 | |
| Pin Erie | $1,212 | $438 | A+ | 856 |
Information accurate as of June 2021
* Data provided by Bankrate.com
**J.D. Power 2021 Auto Insurance Satisfaction Study for the Mid-Atlantic region. Based on a 1,000-point scale. USAA not officially rated due to eligibility restrictions.
Best D.C. Car Insurance for Military-Centric Options
Why We Chose It
Why we chose it
Pros
- Personalized customer service
- Affordable policies
- Many discounts
Cons
- Only available to active and retired military members
- Very few branch locations
Additional Coverage
- Personal injury protection
- Extended benefits coverage
- Roadside assistance
- Rental car reimbursement
- Accident forgiveness
Discounts Available
- Safe driver
- Defensive driving course
- Driver training course
- Good student
- New vehicle
- Family discount
- Length of membership
- Military installation
- Policy bundling
More USAA Insurance Reviews
Best D.C. Car Insurance for Discounts
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Lower premiums than some competitors
- Good discounts
- Strong financial ratings
Cons
- Not the best customer service
- Limited coverage options
Additional Coverage
- Personal injury protection
- Roadside assistance
- Rental car reimbursement
- Mechanical breakdown coverage
Discounts Available
- Air-bag
- Anti-lock brakes
- Anti-theft system
- New vehicle
- Defensive driving course
- Driver’s ed course
- Good student
- Emergency deployment
- Federal employee
- Employee and membership
More Geico Insurance Reviews
Best D.C. Car Insurance for Customer Service
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Impressive financial strength
- High claims satisfaction ratings
- Over a dozen discounts
Cons
- Fewer add-on coverages than competitors
- Higher-than-average premiums
- More NAIC complaints than industry average
Additional Coverage
- Rental car and travel expenses coverage
- Roadside assistance coverage
- Rideshare driver coverage
Discounts Available
- Drive Safe & Save program
- Steer Clear program
- Accident-free
- Defensive driving course
- Good student
- Good driver
- Driver training course
- Student away at school
- Vehicle safety
- Passive restraint
More State Farm Insurance Reviews
Best D.C. Car Insurance for Safe Drivers
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Premium-reducing app-based program
- More add-on coverage than some competitors
- Excellent financial strength
Cons
- Poor customer satisfaction rating
- Premiums are more expensive than average
Additional Coverage
- Personal injury protection
- Rental car reimbursement
- Gap insurance
- Towing and labor
- Accident forgiveness
- Roadside assistance
- Vanishing deductible
- Total loss deductible waiver
Discounts Available
- Multi-policy
- SmartRide program
- SmartMiles program
- Accident-free
- Defensive driving course
- Anti-theft device
- Safe driver
More Nationwide Insurance Reviews
Cheapest Car Insurance in D.C
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Above-average customer satisfaction
- More add-on coverage than competitors
- Discounts to help you save
Cons
- Not available nationwide
Additional Coverage
- Pet coverage
- Personal item coverage
- Auto glass repair
- Roadside assistance
- Rental car reimbursement
- Locksmith coverage
- Auto Plus package
- Rate lock guarantee
- Non-owners insurance
Discounts Available
- Multi-policy
- Safe driver
- Car safety equipment
- Multi-car
- Reduced usage
- Teen drivers
- Pay in full
More Erie Insurance Reviews
* Data provided by Bankrate.com
**J.D. Power’s 2021 U.S. Auto Insurance Study rating for the Mid-Atlantic region. Based on a 1,000-point scale.
The Average Cost of Car Insurance in Washington, D.C.
The average cost of car insurance in Washington, D.C. is $1,855 per year for a full coverage policy and $704 for a minimum coverage policy, according to 2021 data from Bankrate.com. For comparison, the national average car insurance premium is $1,674 for a full coverage policy. Drivers in Washington, D.C. pay slightly less for full coverage car insurance than drivers in Maryland ($1,877) but slightly more than drivers in Delaware ($1,775).
Keep in mind that these car insurance rates are just averages. They reflect certain risks in the District, like crime rate and accident statistics. Car insurance premiums are personalized, and insurance companies look at factors like ZIP code, age, credit score, claims history, the type of car you drive, and the amount of coverage wanted when calculating quotes.
Top 3 Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Washington, D.C.
The table below includes the three cheapest car insurance companies in Washington D.C. and their average annual premium for a minimum coverage policy:
| Company | Average Annual Full Coverage Premium* |
| USAA | $876 |
| Erie | $1,212 |
| Geico | $1,420 |
* Data provided by Bankrate.com.
Top 3 Most Expensive Car Insurance Companies in Washington, D.C.
The table below highlights the three most expensive car insurance companies in Washington D.C. and their average annual premium for a minimum coverage policy:
| Company | Average Annual Full Coverage Premium* |
| Allstate | $3,732 |
| State Farm | $1,994 |
| Nationwide | $1,985 |
* Data provided by Bankrate.com.
Washington, D.C., Car Insurance: What You Need to Know
Before you purchase car insurance, it’s important to understand some of the risks that Washington D.C. drivers face. This can help you decide what type of coverage and how much coverage you might need. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Washington D.C. has a very high number of uninsured drivers. As of 2019, more than 19% of drivers did not carry car insurance.
- In 2019, there were 22 fatal car accidents in Washington D.C.
Washington, D.C., Minimum Insurance Requirements
Almost every state requires car insurance, but the exact requirements are different. In Washington D.C., drivers are required to carry personal liability and uninsured/underinsured motorist liability coverage. The limits required are:
- $25,000 in bodily injury coverage per person
- $50,000 in bodily injury coverage per accident
- $10,000 in property damage coverage per accident
Additional Car Insurance Coverage in Washington, D.C.
Drivers in Washington D.C. are required to carry minimum coverage car insurance, but many drivers choose to purchase additional coverages for more protection. Here are some optional policies that you might consider:
- Collision insurance: Collision insurance pays to repair your car’s damages after a covered accident. If your car is totaled, it will pay for a new car, based on the old car’s value.
- Comprehensive insurance: Comprehensive insurance pays to repair your car’s damages after a non-collision incident, like a fire, flood, falling object damage, theft, or vandalism.
- Roadside assistance: Roadside assistance pays for the cost of basic repairs if your car breaks down. It also covers towing, battery replacement, fuel delivery, extrication, and flat tire changes.
- New car replacement coverage: If your car gets totaled in a covered peril, new car replacement coverage will reimburse you for the cost of your vehicle’s original value, without factoring in depreciation.
Washington, D.C., Car Insurance FAQ
Methodology
Reviews.com reviews products, services and companies based on five criteria to help readers understand how companies compare based on similar metrics. For the best car insurance companies, our editorial team compared affordability, customer support, coverage options, customer satisfaction scores and online resources from each company to determine top providers.
As for average pricing, we used Bankrate.com’s data of car insurance in D.C., based on the profiles of a 40-year male and female. For full coverage, the details used were the following:
- $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $50,000 property damage liability per accident
- $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
- $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
- $500 collision deductible
- $500 comprehensive deductible
To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2019 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.
These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.
About the Authors
Elizabeth Rivelli is an insurance writer for Reviews.com. Over the last year, she has covered insurance providers, best policies, industry trends and more. Elizabeth has been featured in The Simple Dollar, Bankrate and Coverage.com, among others. She holds a bachelor's degree in Communication Studies from Northeastern University in Boston, MA. The Best Term Life Insurance Companies is Elizabeth’s favorite review on Reviews.com.
