Washington, D.C. car insurance

Full-coverage car insurance in Washington, D.C. averages about $231 a month, or $2,776 a year, while the District's required minimum coverage averages about $90 a month. This article will walk you through how car insurance works in the District of Columbia and how you can save both time and money when shopping for car insurance.

In 2026, full-coverage car insurance in Washington, D.C. averages about $231 a month, and the required minimum averages about $90 a month.

Full coverage adds collision and comprehensive coverage on top of the liability and uninsured motorist coverage D.C. requires. It costs more, but it pays to repair or replace your own vehicle after a crash, theft or storm.

Why is Washington, D.C. car insurance so expensive?

D.C. premiums run above the national average for multiple reasons:  

• High uninsured driver rates. In 2023, an estimated 23.1 percent of D.C. drivers were uninsured, the third-highest rate in the nation behind Mississippi and New Mexico, according to the Insurance Research Council.¹

• Urban population. Dense urban traffic patterns mean greater odds of collision compared with rural areas.

• High medical and repair costs. The cost of repairing vehicles and treating injuries pushes up the cost of claims.

Washington, D.C. requires every registered vehicle to carry 25/50/10 liability coverage. 

That means at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability, and $10,000 in property damage liability. Additionally, the District requires every policy to include uninsured motorist/under-insured motorist bodily injury insurance of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, and $5,000 in uninsured motorist property damage coverage with a $200 deductible.^{2, 3}

These limits are usually adequate for a minor fender-bender. But they’re grossly inadequate for a major crash with injuries. If a new car now costs nearly $50,000, you can easily overwhelm the $10,000 property damage minimum.

Coming in 2027: D.C. has already enacted higher auto insurance minimums through the Motor Vehicle Insurance Modernization Amendment Act of 2026, but they do not take effect until October 1, 2027. The new law doubles the liability minimums to 50/100/20, and strengthens uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage provisions. However, the 25/50/10 limits shown above remain the legal minimum through 2026.³

Does Washington, D.C. require uninsured motorist coverage?

Uninsured motorist coverage is mandatory in Washington, D.C.

Every D.C. auto policy must include uninsured motorist bodily injury of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, plus uninsured motorist property damage of $5,000, subject to a $200 deductible.³

Insurers must also offer personal injury protection and underinsured motorist coverage, but you can decline both.^{3, 4}

What is the District of Columbia Uninsured Motorist Fund?

The District operates an Uninsured Motorist Fund as a backstop for certain victims who otherwise cannot recover from injuries from at-fault uninsured motorists.For eligible victims, the Fund can cover up to $100,000 in medical and rehabilitation expenses, $24,000 in lost wages, and $4,000 in funeral costs.

Generally, the accident must be reported within 45 days, and the claim filed within 180 days, although D.C. law allows exceptions for good cause.⁵

How Does Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Work in DC?

All DC insurers must offer optional personal injury protection insurance, or PIP, which pays covered first-party benefits without regard to fault.⁴

You don’t have to take PIP. It’s completely optional in the District of Columbia. But if you’re injured due to a car accident, that money can help you pay your deductibles, copays, and other out-of-pocket costs until your major medical plan’s benefits kick in. And because there’s no need to determine fault, PIP benefits can normally be paid out very quickly following a crash, when you need the money most. 

If you bought PIP, you generally have 60 days after a crash to elect those benefits. If you do not elect PIP within that window, you keep your full right to pursue the at-fault driver.⁶

Note: Electing PIP restricts your right to sue the at-fault driver for damages. But you can still sue the at-fault driver if you meet D.C.'s serious-injury criteria or if your medical, rehabilitation, or work-loss expenses are more than your PIP.⁶

USAA and GEICO feature the lowest average premiums, coming in at $121 and $167 per month, respectively, for full coverage. Progressive and Allstate are the priciest, both coming in over $300/month on average.

Rates here run from about $121 to $342 a month for the same driver and coverage. Luva compares D.C. carriers on your details so you can see where your profile lands.

Every company underwrites differently. But the biggest factors are:

• Age

• Credit

• Driving record

• Vehicle make and model

• Annual mileage

• Coverage

Unlike most areas, D.C. prohibits territorial rating, so an insurer cannot charge you more simply because you live in a particular District neighborhood.⁷ The District also prohibits insurers from hiking premiums for an accident that wasn’t your fault.³

How do traffic violations affect Washington, D.C. car insurance rates?

Speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, and DUI convictions can each cause significantly higher car insurance premiums.

The best way to find the lowest-priced car insurance in the District of Columbia is to get multiple personalized quotes from several carriers. A few tips: 

• Compare at least five companies. Compare quotes from multiple companies for identical limits and deductibles. That way, you’re getting a valid comparison.

• Check available discounts. Car insurance companies routinely offer several discounts. You may qualify for discounts for safe driving, low mileage, paying in full, good grades, insuring multiple vehicles, enrolling in a telematics program, or bundling auto with renters or home coverage.

• Choose the highest deductible you can afford. Selecting a $1,000 deductible rather than a $500 deductible can make a big difference in your monthly premium. But don’t set it so high that you can’t quickly recover from an accident or covered loss.

• Don’t let coverage lapse. Even a short lapse can increase your insurance premiums later. It can also bring fines and cause the District to suspend your registration.²

• Shop around at renewal. Rates shift as carriers reprice, so use Luva to pull a fresh set of quotes each renewal, or after any change to your record, vehicle, or coverage.