Cost of Owning a Car in Washington DC
How Washington DC’s gas prices, electricity rates, sales tax and insurance costs affect what you’ll typically pay to own a vehicle.
Washington DC at a glance
Gas price
$3.55per gallon, illustrative averageElectricity
$0.16per kWh, illustrative averageSales tax
6.00%plus ~$80 average registrationInsurance in Washington DC runs above the national average in this model, reflected as a 1.15× multiplier on our base class rates.
What drives the cost in Washington DC
Costs are pushed up mainly by insurance rates (about $1,292 more over 5 years) and sales tax (about $464 more over 5 years). (Figures are for a typical SUV compared with the average state.)
5-year cost by vehicle class in Washington DC
Uses real market-average vehicle prices per class (from our 152-vehicle MarketCheck pull) combined with Washington DC-specific tax, fee, fuel and insurance data.
Sedan
$35,2115-year estimate, $587/moSUV / crossover
$47,5675-year estimate, $793/moTruck
$49,9095-year estimate, $832/moElectric
$50,2475-year estimate, $837/moLuxury
$71,5865-year estimate, $1,193/moPopular vehicles: 5-year cost in Washington DC
2026 Toyota RAV4
$36,7655-year cost in Washington DCFull breakdown →2026 Honda CR-V
$36,4415-year cost in Washington DCFull breakdown →2026 Toyota Camry
$32,3655-year cost in Washington DCFull breakdown →2026 Honda Civic
$28,3085-year cost in Washington DCFull breakdown →2026 Ford F-150
$62,0295-year cost in Washington DCFull breakdown →2026 Tesla Model Y
$40,2625-year cost in Washington DCFull breakdown →2026 Chevrolet Equinox
$41,5495-year cost in Washington DCFull breakdown →2026 Toyota Corolla
$28,2605-year cost in Washington DCFull breakdown →EV vs. gas in Washington DC
At Washington DC’s $0.16/kWh electricity and $3.55/gal gas, charging a typical EV at home costs about $634 a year, versus about $1,374 a year to fuel a typical gas sedan — a savings of $741 per year. Run your own numbers with the EV vs. gas calculator.