The Best Cheap Washington D.C. Car Insurance for 2024

Car insurance can be a little pricey in our nation's capital city, but it's still necessary to legally hit the roads. Fortunately, drivers don't have to settle for above-average rates if they know where to find the cheapest car insurance in Washington D.C. Here's a look at which companies offer the best Washington D.C. auto insurance rates for several common driver profiles.

• Cheapest for typical drivers: Geico
• Cheapest for drivers with prior accidents: Geico
• Cheapest for drivers with prior speeding tickets: Geico
• Cheapest for young drivers: Geico
• Cheapest for senior drivers: Geico
• Cheapest for drivers looking for minimum coverage: Chubb
• Cheapest for drivers with poor credit: Geico

Cheapest for typical drivers

The typical female driver with a clean record pays about $2,352 per year for Washington D.C. auto insurance, while male drivers with clean records pay about $2,393 per year on average. But with Geico, males and females without an accident history pay about $1,226 and $1,312 per year, respectively.

These companies also offer some of the best car insurance in Washington D.C.:

• Chubb, which charges female drivers about $2,009 per year and males about $2,209 per year
• State Farm, where both men and women with clean records pay about $2,055 per year

Cheapest for drivers with prior accidents

Drivers with prior accidents pay about $3,294 per year for Washington D.C. auto insurance. But once again, Geico offers these drivers a much lower rate. Its average annual premium for drivers with a single accident was just $2,296.

These insurers also make the list of the best car insurance companies in Washington D.C. for drivers with a single accident:

• State Farm, which charges these drivers about $2,458 annually for Washington D.C. auto insurance
• Chubb, where drivers with one accident have an average annual premium of $2,953

Cheapest for drivers with prior speeding tickets

Drivers with a single speeding ticket pay about $2,806 per year for Washington D.C. auto insurance, but those who go with Geico save about $1,200 per year. Its customers with one speeding ticket only pay $1,602 per year.

These drivers also offer cheap auto insurance in Washington D.C. for drivers with one speeding ticket:

• State Farm, where these drivers have an average annual premium of $2,256
• Chubb, which charges these drivers about $2,528 per year

Cheapest for young drivers

Teen drivers have the highest Washington D.C. auto insurance rates, with the average annual premium coming in around $7,907. Geico also offers affordable rates to these drivers, with the typical 18-year-old male with a clean record paying about $4,012 per year.

These companies also have cheap car insurance quotes in Washington D.C. for teens:

• Chubb, where the typical 18-year-old pays $5,056 per year for Washington D.C. auto insurance
• State Farm, where teens pay about $5,286 per year on average

Cheapest for senior drivers

Senior drivers see Washington D.C. auto insurance rates that are well below average. The typical 65-year-old only pays $2,290 per year, but those who choose Geico can get the same coverage for an even better $1,223 per year.

These insurers also offer affordable car insurance in Washington D.C. to senior drivers:

• State Farm, where seniors pay about $1,896 per year for Washington D.C. auto insurance
• Chubb, where the average 65-year-old pays $2,009 annually for car insurance

Cheapest for drivers looking for minimum coverage

Cheap liability car insurance in Washington D.C. will run the average driver about $933 per year. But those who choose Chubb can get the same coverage for just $388 annually.

These insurers also offer great deals on Washington D.C. minimum car insurance:

• Geico, where minimum coverage costs about $468 per year on average
• State Farm, where drivers can get minimum coverage for about $860 per year

Cheapest for drivers with poor credit

Geico once again stands out as the most affordable option for drivers with poor credit. Its average annual premium of $2,540 was well below the city's average rate of $4,009 per year.

Drivers with bad credit may also want to take a look at these companies:

• Chubb, where the typical driver with bad credit pays $2,980 annually for Washington D.C. auto insurance
• State Farm, which charges these drivers about $3,460 per year on average

Average car insurance cost in Washington D.C. compared to the national average

How much is car insurance in Washington D.C.? That depends on several factors, like the driver's record, vehicle make and model, location within the city, and more. But typically, Washington D.C. drivers pay a little more than the national average. Here's a closer look at how its rates stack up to the rest of the country for several common driver profiles.

Washington D.C. auto insurance laws

Here are some Washington D.C. car insurance laws all drivers should be familiar with:

Washington D.C. is a no-fault district

Washington D.C. is a no-fault auto insurance district. This means that in the event of an accident that causes injuries, each driver bills their own insurance provider for the medical costs, regardless of who caused the accident. This is different from at-fault states where the driver who is found to be at fault for the accident pays for the medical bills for all parties.

Consequences for driving without insurance in Washington D.C.

Washington D.C. drivers who choose to skip car insurance could face the following consequences:

• Suspension of vehicle registration
• Fines of up to $2,500

Washington D.C. minimum coverage requirements

All Washington D.C. drivers are required to carry at least the following coverage:

Bodily injury liability coverage

Drivers must have at least:

• $25,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per person
• $50,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per accident

Property damage liability coverage

Drivers must also have at least $10,000 of property damage liability coverage.

Uninsured motorist coverage

In addition, drivers must have uninsured motorist bodily injury and property damage coverage in the same quantities outlined above. This coverage kicks in if a driver is hit by another driver that doesn't have insurance.

How to get cheap auto insurance in Washington D.C.

Drivers seeking low-cost car insurance in Washington D.C. should do the following:

• Shop around: Compare rates from several companies before making a purchase. Each insurer evaluates a driver's application a little differently, and some companies penalize drivers more for certain actions than others.
• Claim all possible discounts: Often, insurers apply car insurance discounts automatically, but there might be a few that interested drivers have to opt into. For example, drivers must agree to participate in a monitoring program in order to get the discount.
• Go with a higher deductible: Drivers who choose a higher deductible usually have lower Washington D.C. auto insurance premiums.

Other things to consider when looking for car insurance in Washington D.C.

Here are a few other things Washington D.C. drivers ought to keep in mind when shopping for car insurance:

Washington D.C. has a high rate of uninsured drivers

Washington D.C. has the ninth-highest rate of uninsured drivers in the country, according to the Insurance Information Institute, with nearly 1 in 5 drivers lacking insurance. This is illegal and can lead to fines and penalties, but it also poses a problem for drivers who do have insurance. That's why they need to make sure they have adequate uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist applies when the driver who caused the accident has no insurance while underinsured motorist coverage applies when the driver doesn't have enough coverage to pay for the full cost of the accident.

There are a lot of holes in minimum coverage

Washington D.C. minimum car insurance coverage doesn't include any protection for the policyholder's own vehicle. Drivers who want financial help replacing their own vehicle after a wreck need to invest in collision and comprehensive coverage. Collision coverage kicks in when the policyholder gets into an accident with another driver. Comprehensive coverage protects against animal-vehicle collisions, bad weather, theft, vandalism, and more.