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The best car insurance for drivers in the nation’s capital
Based in Pennsylvania, Erie Insurance has been around for 100 years and is the eighth-largest provider in D.C. With an average annual rate of $1,452 for full coverage, it’s the cheapest provider in Washington, D.C.
GEICO is one of the only car insurers that advertises a discount for federal workers. If you’re one of the thousands of government employees in D.C., you can take advantage of GEICO’s unique federal discount.
If you have a moving violation, accident, or DUI on your record, State Farm will offer the best rates on average. On top of affordable insurance for high-risk drivers, State Farm has the most local agents in D.C. and over 100 years in business.
On top of nationwide car insurance increases due to inflation and higher claim rates, car insurance is becoming more expensive in Washington, D.C., due to unprecedented auto theft surges. Between 2022 and 2023, motor vehicle theft grew by 84 percent in the nation’s capital, increasing from 3,684 to 6,770.1 Higher theft rates are linked to an increase in the number of claims insurers have to fulfill, turning fairly popular vehicles — like Honda Civics, Kias, and Hyundais — into high-risk vehicles.2
Even with the recent insurance cost hikes, you can employ several strategies to find the best insurance in D.C. at a reasonable cost. Below we’ll help you find the best coverage options and cheapest rates based on your needs and driving profile.
High-risk vehicles are more expensive to insure and will likely lead to premium increases. While sports cars and luxury vehicles are considered high risk because they’re expensive to replace and repair, commonplace vehicles can become high risk if they have a higher rate of theft — which leads to higher insurance costs for vehicle and part replacements.
If you live in an area where it is more likely for your vehicle to be stolen, you can expect your insurance rates to increase.
Auto Insurance in the capital city is $2,145 annually on average. That’s slightly higher than the national average ($2,071), and you can expect that number to steadily increase into 2024, as it will for the rest of the country.3
Washington, D.C., is one of the most densely populated areas in the U.S., making it more likely for accidents and auto theft to occur compared to the surrounding areas. Arlington offers the cheapest rates in the area ($1,596 annually), while College Park is the most expensive on average ($2,208 annually).
City | Monthly average premium | Annual average premium |
---|---|---|
Arlington, VA | $133 | $1,596 |
Fairfax, VA | $136 | $1,632 |
Alexandria, VA | $144 | $1,728 |
Potomac, MD | $147 | $1,764 |
Baltimore, MD | $162 | $1,944 |
Washington, D.C. | $179 | $2,145 |
College Park, MD | $184 | $2,208 |
Feature | Erie | GEICO | State Farm | Chubb | Allstate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Average annual rate in Washington, D.C. | $1,452 | $1,884 | $1,632 | $1,728 | $2,556 |
Mid-Atlantic Customer Satisfaction Index Ranking out of 1,000 (J.D. Power)4 | 863 | 818 | 843 | N/A | 825 |
Best for | Drivers on a budget | Government employees | People with a bad driving record | People who want minimum liability | People who drive for a rideshare service |
Agents in Washington, D.C. | 7 | 1 | 26 | N/A | 7 |
Review | Erie review | GEICO review | State Farm review | N/A | Allstate review |
Best Cheap Auto Insurance in Washington, D.C.: Erie
Best Auto Insurance for Federal Workers in Washington, D.C.: GEICO
Best Auto Insurance for Drivers With a Bad Record: State Farm
Best Auto for Minimum Liability in Washington, D.C.: Chubb
Best Auto Insurance for Rideshare Drivers in Washington, D.C.: Allstate
Erie has been around for nearly a century, offering affordable rates to drivers in select states and Washington, D.C. It boasts impressive customer service scores, cheap average rates, and excellent add-ons to keep your prices low.
With a monthly rate of $121 ($1,452 annually), Erie is the cheapest provider in D.C. Allstate offers the most expensive average rate of $213 monthly ($2,556 annually).
Company | Monthly average premium | Annual average premium |
---|---|---|
Erie | $121 | $1,452 |
State Farm | $136 | $1,632 |
Chubb | $144 | $1,728 |
GEICO | $157 | $1,884 |
Progressive | $166 | $1,992 |
Nationwide | $192 | $2,304 |
Allstate | $213 | $2,556 |
Erie’s rate lock feature ensures you can keep your prices low, even after an accident. With the rate lock feature, your rates won’t change unless you add a new vehicle or driver to your policy.
Commute with your pet? Erie has you covered. Erie automatically integrates pet insurance with all of its policies, which comes in the form of $500 per pet (capped at $1,000 total for two pets) to help cover veterinary costs if your pet is injured in an accident.
GEICO insures 37 percent of all Washington, D.C., drivers, making by far the largest company in the capital.5 Those hundreds of thousands of drivers enjoy GEICO’s wide selection of coverage options and discounts.
Twenty-three percent of all federal agencies are located in D.C. and the surrounding area.6 If you work in a federal agency or are part of the military, you can benefit from the following discounts:
Discount | Maximum savings |
---|---|
Emergency deployment (military) | 25% |
Federal employee | 12% |
Military member | 15% |
Employee affiliation for select organizations/companies | Varies |
Fun Fact:
More than 141,000 federal workers are located in D.C., making it the most densely populated city for federal workers.
Car insurance companies incentivize vehicle safety equipment because this equipment will, in theory, lead to fewer claims and accidents. Installing an anti-theft system will help keep your car safer in D.C. — where auto thefts are especially high — and earn you a significant discount with GEICO.
Discount | Maximum savings |
---|---|
Airbag | 23% |
Anti-lock brakes | 5% |
Anti-theft system | 25% |
Daytime running lights | 3% |
New vehicle | 15% |
State Farm is the largest car insurance company in the country and the second-largest company in Washington, D.C. It offers the best rates for drivers after an accident, DUI, or speeding ticket, making it our top pick for drivers with a bad driving record.
Driving under the influence is extremely dangerous and can be costly to your insurance bill. A DUI can increase your premium by anywhere from about $400 to $1,400 annually in D.C.
If you have a DUI on your record, you can find the best average rates with State Farm.
Company | Monthly average premium | Annual average premium |
---|---|---|
State Farm | $162 | $1,944 |
Erie | $184 | $2,208 |
GEICO | $226 | $2,712 |
Progressive | $248 | $2,976 |
Nationwide | $281 | $3,372 |
Allstate | $330 | $3,960 |
Did You Know?
DUI arrests have dropped to 1 arrest for every 100 drunk drivers in D.C. However, alcohol-related fatalities have risen by 33 percent in recent years, leading to a greater demand for DUI enforcement from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and other traffic safety organizations in D.C.7
A speeding ticket, especially a severe ticket that adds several points to your record, will likely lead to a car insurance premium hike. State Farm will offer the best average rate ($1,764 annually) if you have one or more speeding tickets on your record.
Company | Monthly average premium | Annual average premium |
---|---|---|
State Farm | $147 | $1,764 |
Erie | $152 | $1,824 |
GEICO | $194 | $2,328 |
Progressive | $205 | $2,460 |
Nationwide | $243 | $2,916 |
Allstate | $282 | $3,384 |
With over 6,000 injuries and dozens of fatalities, 2023 saw the highest rate of traffic-related deaths in 16 years in Washington, D.C.8 Because of how costly car accidents can be — both to property and bodily well-being — you can expect your insurance rates to increase after an accident.
At just over $1,900 per year for car insurance, State Farm is your best bet for affordable car insurance after an accident.
Company | Monthly average premium | Annual average premium |
---|---|---|
State Farm | $159 | $1,908 |
Erie | $164 | $1,968 |
GEICO | $220 | $2,640 |
Progressive | $258 | $3,096 |
Nationwide | $307 | $3,684 |
Allstate | $351 | $4,212 |
With operations in more than 50 countries, Chubb is one the largest and oldest publicly traded property and casualty insurance companies in the world. In D.C., it offers the best rates for minimum liability car insurance and several specialized coverage options for classic cars, high-end vehicles, and luxury items.
Company | Monthly average premium | Annual average premium |
---|---|---|
Chubb | $38 | $456 |
GEICO | $45 | $540 |
Erie | $49 | $588 |
State Farm | $53 | $636 |
Progressive | $67 | $804 |
Nationwide | $85 | $1,020 |
If your vehicle is at least 30 years old, part of a larger vehicle collection, or a limited production model, you might qualify for Chubb’s specialized classic car coverage. Classic cars must be garaged and used for events like car shows, exhibitions, and car club activities.
With Chubb, here’s what you get with your classic car policy:
With Chubb, you can get the following coverage:
With nearly 100 years in business, Allstate is one of the most recognizable car insurance companies in the country and one of the largest in D.C. Washington, D.C., is one of the highest-paying cities for rideshare drivers, and Allstate is one of the few car insurance companies that offer rideshare insurance in the city.
If you’re a rideshare driver in D.C., you’ll need additional rideshare coverage to stay protected throughout the entirety of your drive. While your personal insurance and TNC policy (provided by the rideshare company) cover most of your trip, the time you spend waiting to connect with your next passenger is not protected by personal/TNC coverage; rideshare insurance will fill that insurance gap.
Allstate’s Ride for Hire program is a rideshare coverage option you can add for just pennies per day. Allstate will extend your existing coverage limits to your rideshare gaps, giving you the protection you need for the entirety of your drive.
Did You Know?
At about $22 per hour for Uber drivers, Washington, D.C., offers one of the highest hourly pay rates for rideshare workers in the country. The city recorded over 50,000 Uber drivers as early as 2019, and that number is about to increase as Uber partners with local taxi drivers in D.C.
If you’re a homeowner in D.C., you can benefit from one of the largest bundling discounts in the industry. Allstate offers up to 25 percent on your auto insurance when you bundle your home and auto insurance policies.
With Allstate, you can add coverage for a variety of vehicles, which can help simplify your insurance needs by consolidating all of your coverage plans to one provider.
Here’s everything you can insure with Allstate:
Yes, Washington, D.C. is a no-fault district, which means each party in a car accident will be responsible for paying for their own injuries — regardless of who is at fault.
Unlike most no-fault states, D.C. does not require drivers to obtain personal injury protection (PIP). However, it does require car insurance companies to offer PIP.
According to D.C.’s District Department of Transportation, you need to meet the following minimum insurance requirements to drive legally:
With average annual premiums starting at around $2,000, Erie offers the cheapest coverage to teens in D.C.
2024 Year-to-Date Crime Comparison. Metropolitan Police Washington D.C. (2024, Mar 7).
https://mpdc.dc.gov/page/district-crime-data-glance
Hyundais and Kias top District’s most stolen list. NBC Washington. (2023, Jul 27).
https://www.nbcwashington.com/investigations/hyundais-and-kias-top-districts-most-stolen-list/3393506/
15 Best Auto Insurance Companies Heading into 2024. Yahoo! Finance. (2023, Dec 26).
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/15-best-auto-insurance-companies-010218354.html
Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction Plummets as Rates Continue to Surge, J.D. Power Finds. J.D. Power. (2023, Jun 13).
https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2023-us-auto-insurance-study
2022 Market Share Reports For Property/Casualty Groups and Companies by State and Countrywide. National Association of Insurance Commissioners. (2023, Sep).
https://content.naic.org/sites/default/files/publication-msr-pb-property-casualty.pdf
Federal Civilian Employment. U.S. Office of Personnel Management. (20217, Sep).
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/data-analysis-documentation/federal-employment-reports/reports-publications/federal-civilian-employment/
‘Not enough (officers) to catch the ones we don’t get’: DUI arrests down as deaths rise. NBC Washington. (2023, Aug 31).
https://www.nbcwashington.com/investigations/not-enough-officers-to-catch-the-ones-we-dont-get-dui-arrests-down-as-deaths-rise/3414906/
D.C.’s deadly streets take a growing toll on residents, victims. The Washington Post. (2023, Dec 21).
https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2023/12/19/dc-traffic-deaths-safety/