Cheapest car insurance for high-risk drivers in Washington, D.C.

Cheapest car insurance in Washington, D.C. for a bad driving record

If you have a poor driving record in Washington, D.C., Progressive, Erie Insurance, GEICO are the cheapest options. Progressive has the lowest annual rate at $2,088 per year.

Having accidents, DUIs or traffic tickets on your driving record, will make you pay more for insurance. Most tickets will affect your rates for three to five years. A DUI can affect your rates for up to 10 years and can stay on your record for life.

Company	Average annual premium for clean record	Annual premium for high-risk driver
Progressive	$1,488	$2,088
Erie Insurance	$1,581	$2,203
GEICO	$1,408	$3,129
Chubb	$2,799	$4,454
State Farm	$2,426	$4,529
Allstate	$3,769	$4,816
USAA	$1,230	$1,832

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How much is high-risk car insurance in Washington, D.C.?

A problematic driving record or poor credit score may mean higher insurance rates, but affordable options exist. In Washington, D.C., high-risk car insurance costs $3,456 per year. However, you can get rates as low as $2,088 annually from Progressive.

Many things can make you a high-risk driver, but some affect your rates more than others. For example, having multiple speeding tickets or a ticket for speeding in a school zone will increase your rates more than a single basic speeding ticket.

Read on as we explain high-risk car insurance factors and rates below.

Average annual car insurance rate for At-fault bodily injury accident in Washington, D.C., DC is $3,099

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Company	Annual premium for clean record	Annual premium after violation
USAA	$1,230	$1,849
Erie Insurance	$1,581	$2,024
Progressive	$1,488	$2,543
State Farm	$2,426	$2,828
GEICO	$1,408	$2,864
Chubb	$2,799	$3,945
Allstate	$3,769	$5,117

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Average annual rate

PEOPLE ASK:

Who is considered high-risk for insurance in Washington, D.C.?

Each insurance company has its own rules for deciding who is a high-risk driver. But usually, things like a DUI, several tickets or accidents, or serious violations like reckless driving will put you in the high-risk category.

Cheapest car insurance in Washington, D.C. with a DUI

While many insurers offer coverage after a DUI, Progressive has the lowest rate at $1,701 a year.

Driving under the influence (DUI) is a major traffic violation that will hurt your driving record. It can increase auto insurance rates for almost a decade in addition to fines and other penalties. Multiple DUIs will increase your premiums even more, but improving your driving habits can help you get better rates over time.

The table below shows the average car insurance rates for a clean record vs. a DUI in Washington, D.C.

Company	Average annual premium for clean record	Annual premium for a DUI
Progressive	$1,488	$1,701
Erie Insurance	$1,581	$2,392
State Farm	$2,426	$2,608
GEICO	$1,408	$3,409
Allstate	$3,769	$4,778
Chubb	$2,799	$6,388
USAA	$1,230	$2,216

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Cheapest car insurance in Washington, D.C. with multiple tickets

The cheapest insurer for drivers with multiple tickets is Erie Insurance, with rates averaging $1,658 annually or $138 monthly.

One ticket will affect car insurance rates, but multiple tickets will increase rates by a lot more. Repeated failure to obey speed limits and traffic laws means insurers are more likely to pay claims because of your risky driving.

This table shows Washington, D.C. drivers how much multiple tickets increase premiums.

Company	Average annual premium for clean record	Annual premium with a speeding ticket
Erie Insurance	$1,581	$1,658
Progressive	$1,488	$1,900
State Farm	$2,426	$2,608
GEICO	$1,408	$2,891
Chubb	$2,799	$3,181
Allstate	$3,769	$4,353
USAA	$1,230	$1,521

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Cheapest car insurance in Washington, D.C. with a reckless driving conviction

Erie Insurance has the cheapest rates for drivers with reckless driving convictions at $1,658 a year.

If you engage in hazardous driving behaviors that endanger others, you may be charged with reckless driving. A reckless driving conviction will increase your car insurance rates.

The table below shows car insurance rates for drivers with a clean record vs. drivers with a reckless driving conviction.

Company	Average annual premium for clean record	Annual premium for reckless driving
Erie Insurance	$1,581	$1,658
Progressive	$1,488	$2,079
State Farm	$2,426	$2,608
GEICO	$1,408	$3,409
Allstate	$3,769	$4,778
Chubb	$2,799	$6,723
USAA	$1,230	$1,627

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Cheapest car insurance in Washington, D.C. with bad credit

In Washington, D.C., Progressive provides the lowest premiums for drivers with poor credit, averaging $3,049 per year or $254 per month. Even with a low credit score, you can still find affordable auto insurance.

While your credit score doesn't reflect your driving ability, it can impact your car insurance rates and place you in a higher-risk category. Insurers view lower credit scores as an indicator of increased risk based on statistics showing that these drivers are more likely to file claims.

Check the table below to see how credit scores impact car insurance costs in Washington, D.C.

Company	Annual premium for good credit	Annual premium for bad credit
Progressive	$1,488	$3,049
GEICO	$1,408	$3,281
Chubb	$2,799	$4,066
Erie Insurance	$1,581	$4,201
Allstate	$3,769	$6,283
State Farm	$2,426	$14,129
USAA	$1,230	$2,590

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Cheapest car insurance after an accident in Washington, D.C.

Erie Insurance has the lowest rates after an accident at $2,024 a year. Progressive also has affordable rates at $2,455 a year.

Drivers with accidents on their record typically pay higher insurance rates than those with a clean record. While car insurance rates may increase after one accident, multiple accidents can increase rates even more.

This table shows rates for drivers with a clean record, one at-fault accident and multiple accidents.

Company	Average annual premium for clean record	Annual premium for one at-fault accident	Annual premium for multiple accident
Erie Insurance	$1,581	$2,024	$2,392
Progressive	$1,488	$2,455	$3,416
State Farm	$2,426	$2,828	$2,828
GEICO	$1,408	$2,864	$4,494
Chubb	$2,799	$3,945	$5,204
Allstate	$3,769	$5,117	$6,437
USAA	$1,230	$1,849	$3,036

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Cheapest car insurance in Washington, D.C. by city

Washington has the cheapest car insurance rates in Washington, D.C. at $3,456 per year. But the most expensive city is Washington with rates of $3,456 per year.

Your location in Washington, D.C. also matters. For example, if you live in an area with heavy traffic or a high vehicle theft rate, rates will reflect the increased chance of claims.

City	Average annual premium for clean record	Annual premium for high-risk driver
Washington	$2,157	$3,456
Washington Navy Yard	$2,157	$3,456

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How to reduce car insurance rates in Washington, D.C. for a bad driving record

Finding affordable car insurance in Washington, D.C. is possible, even with a bad driving record. Ways to lower car insurance rates include:

Where you live in Washington, D.C. also affects car insurance rates. For example, if you live in a high-traffic or high-theft area, rates will increase because your vehicle is more likely to be damaged or stolen.

Carefully consider filing claims. Paying for minor damage out of pocket may be cheaper than filing an insurance claim and increasing rates for years.
Avoid costly infractions. Drive carefully to avoid adding traffic infractions to your record. Tickets only affect insurance rates for a few years, which will decrease if more tickets aren't added.
Improve your credit score. Raising your credit score lowers car insurance rates. Make on-time payments and consider credit usage to improve your rating.
Take a defensive driving course. Many insurance companies offer a discount for doing so, and some states remove driver's license points for successfully completing the class.
Shop around for coverage. Every car insurance company weighs factors differently and offers different rates. Compare quotes to find the cheapest rates.

PEOPLE ASK:

How long are you considered a high-risk driver in Washington, D.C.?

Three years is common, but how long you are considered a high-risk driver in California depends on the insurance company's guidelines. The state determines how long a violation stays on your record, but the insurance company determines how long you're charged for that violation.

Washington, D.C. car insurance laws for high-risk drivers

If you're a high-risk driver in Washington, D.C., you may need to file an SR-22. Your insurer submits this form to confirm you carry the state's minimum required coverage. The court will specify how long you must maintain the SR-22.

An SR-22 is not a type of insurance; it's simply a form. You don't need special coverage, but your premiums may be higher since you're classified as high risk. Additionally, not all insurance companies offer policies for high risk drivers or handle SR-22 filings.

Methodology

170+

insurance companies analyzed

34,000+

ZIP codes examined

$53M

insurance quotes analyzed

National and state average rates are based on three coverage levels: state minimum, 50/100/50 liability-only, and full coverage with 100/300/100 liability and $500 deductibles.

All base rate averages are based on our full coverage data set. This data set is based on:

A 40-year-old driver
A clean record
Good credit
State minimum insurance, which includes liability coverage and may also include personal injury protection, medical payments and uninsured motorist coverage

Best company rankings use the rate data outline above, as well as:

Customer complaints ratios from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaints database, where a score of 1.00 is considered the baseline and anything below is a low complaint volume while anything above is considered a high volume.
Overall customer satisfaction ratings from J.D. Power's U.S. Auto Insurance Study, where companies are scored out of 1,000.
AM Best financial ratings were used to indicate financial stability, where the best possible score is A++.