Money at Washington Reagan National (DCA)
Currency, tipping and cash-vs-card for arrivals at Washington, United States.
Washington uses the USD ($). Expected airport→city taxi fare is roughly $2.25–$6.75 Metro; $20–$35 rideshare. Card everywhere; cash still fine. Tip is not optional for taxi drivers.
Airport currency kiosks quote rates 5–15% worse than any bank ATM inside the terminal. If you need cash on landing, use an in-terminal bank ATM — not the "0% commission" kiosks (the margin is in the rate).
Frequently asked
Q.What currency is used at Washington Reagan National (DCA)?
United States uses the USD ($). Airport ATMs dispense USD directly — skip the exchange kiosks.
Q.How much should a taxi from DCA to the city cost?
Expected fare on the DCA → downtown DC route is roughly $2.25–$6.75 Metro; $20–$35 rideshare. Around $50+ taxi is already high, and $60 flat town car is a scam quote — confirm the meter or a printed rate before you get in.
Q.Do I tip taxi drivers at DCA?
15–20% is expected. Drivers in United States don't rely on tips the way US drivers do; inflated "tips" are sometimes used to justify an overcharge — pay the metered fare first, then decide.
Q.Cash or card for a taxi at DCA?
Card everywhere; cash still fine. Tip is not optional for taxi drivers. "Card machine broken" is the most common excuse to force a cash overpay — carry a small stack of USD notes and you keep the leverage.
Q.Should I change money at DCA?
Only if you need $10–20 of USD to cover a taxi or a SIM card. Airport exchange kiosks quote 5–15% worse than a bank ATM in the same terminal. If your card has no FX fee, just pay by card and skip cash entirely.
Every transport option ranked, fare tiers, first-30-minute checklist and reported scams.