Washington, D.C. car insurance: minimums, SR-22 rules and costs

Last updated: November 12, 2026

Washington, D.C. drivers must carry at least $25,000/$50,000 of bodily injury liability and $10,000 of property damage liability, plus uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. In 2023, insured drivers in D.C. spent an average of $1,676.99 on car insurance, 31% above the national average of $1,281.60, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). That makes D.C. the 4th most expensive of the 50 states and D.C. by that measure.

Minimum car insurance required in Washington, D.C.

Coverage	Minimum
Bodily injury liability, per person	$25,000
Bodily injury liability, per accident	$50,000
Property damage liability, per accident	$10,000
Uninsured motorist (UM)	Required

You'll often see this written as 25/50/10. The first two numbers are the bodily injury limits in thousands of dollars (per person and per accident), and the last is property damage. Those amounts are the most the policy pays for injuries and damage you cause to others. Anything above them can come back to you personally.

Is Washington, D.C. a no-fault state?

No. D.C. isn't one of the 12 no-fault states listed by the Insurance Information Institute, so the driver who causes a crash, and their insurer, is generally responsible for the other people's injuries and damage. That's why the liability limits above matter so much.

SR-22 rules in Washington, D.C.

D.C. law (Code §50-1301.53) lets drivers give required proof of financial responsibility by filing a certificate of insurance, a self-insurance certificate or another approved method. The code doesn't call it an SR-22, but insurers often use that name for the certificate. If the DMV requires proof after a violation or crash, your insurer files it and the DMV can tell you how long it must stay in place.

What drives car insurance costs in Washington, D.C.

Average spending in D.C. rose 16% from 2019 to 2023, compared with 19% nationwide. Here's average annual spending per insured vehicle, from the NAIC:

Year	D.C. average	U.S. average
2019	$1,439.99	$1,075.08
2020	$1,411.28	$1,047.76
2021	$1,434.16	$1,060.23
2022	$1,501.41	$1,124.45
2023	$1,676.99	$1,281.60

The NAIC's "average expenditure" is total written premium divided by insured vehicles. It isn't a quote, and your own price depends on your driver profile and the coverage you choose.

Uninsured drivers. An estimated 23.1% of drivers in D.C. were uninsured in 2023, higher than the national estimate of 15.4%. That's the 3rd highest rate among the 50 states and D.C. When more drivers are uninsured, insured drivers' own uninsured motorist coverage pays more claims, which pushes up its price.
Crash deaths. D.C. recorded 47 motor vehicle crash deaths in 2024, or 1.33 per 100 million miles driven, higher than the U.S. rate of 1.19 (the 16th highest of the 50 states and D.C.). Severe crashes drive up bodily injury claim costs.
Where and how crashes happen. In 2024, 0% of D.C.'s crash deaths happened in rural areas (U.S.: 41%), 38% involved speeding (U.S.: 29%), and 38% of those killed were pedestrians (U.S.: 18%).

Ways to save on car insurance in Washington, D.C.

Compare at least three quotes. Insurers weigh the same facts differently, so prices for the same driver in D.C. can vary widely. More ways to lower your bill.
Don't drop uninsured motorist coverage to save money. With roughly 1 in 4 drivers in D.C. uninsured, it's what pays your injury bills if one of them hits you. How UM coverage works.
Shop at renewal. Even where prices rise more slowly, your own renewal can jump after a claim, a move or a new car. When to compare.
Pick a deductible you can actually pay. Raising it lowers your premium, but only if you could cover it after a claim. How deductibles work.
Ask about discounts. Common ones include safe driver, multi-car, bundling, paying in full, good student and usage-based programs. They're not always applied automatically.

See other states in our car insurance guides by state.

Sources

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DriveCheaper may be paid by companies shown on this site. How we make money. This page is general information, not insurance or legal advice. Laws and prices change, so confirm details with your insurer or your state's insurance department or DMV.