Washington, D.C., Car Insurance Laws and Requirements (2024)

Washington, D.C., law dictates the minimum requirements for insurance coverage that all drivers must carry. All drivers in Washington, D.C., must hold 25/50/10 in liability coverage and uninsured motorist coverage. Additionally, drivers can pick from a long list of additional coverages for added protection.

Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Washington, D.C.

The minimum car insurance requirements in Washington, D.C.^[1], are:

• $25,000 for bodily injury liability per person

• $50,000 for bodily injury liability per accident

• $10,000 for property damage liability per accident

• $25,000 for uninsured motorist bodily injury liability per person

• $50,000 for uninsured motorist bodily injury liability per accident

• $5,000 for uninsured motorist property damage liability per accident (subject to $200 deductible)

The District of Columbia has a standard “at-fault” system for auto insurance. All drivers must carry liability insurance and uninsured motorist coverage. These coverage requirements are in line with most of the U.S.

Bodily Injury Liability

Bodily injury liability is part of your liability car insurance coverage. If you cause an accident, this coverage will help cover the other party’s medical expenses. This type of coverage will not cover your own medical expenses for injuries sustained in a car accident you caused. Bodily injury liability coverage is required in Washington, D.C.

Property Damage Liability

Property damage liability is the other half of your liability car insurance. It covers repair costs and damage expenses to the other cars involved in an accident you caused. This coverage does not cover damage to your own car in an accident you were at fault for. Property damage liability coverage is required in Washington, D.C.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

If an uninsured (or underinsured) driver causes an accident and you suffer bodily injury, uninsured motorist coverage will cover your medical expenses. If the at-fault driver surpasses their bodily injury liability coverage limits, your underinsured motorist coverage will cover the rest of your medical expenses. Uninsured motorist coverage is required in Washington, D.C.

Is minimum car insurance enough in Washington, D.C.?

The minimum required car insurance coverage in Washington, D.C., provides drivers with a solid foundation of auto insurance coverage, but it may not be enough for everyone. For starters, $10,000 in property damage liability coverage won’t recuperate even the majority of your costs in an at-fault accident with most new cars, especially if the car is totaled.

Homeowners with assets to protect should think especially hard about going beyond minimum car insurance. While $50,000 per accident in bodily injury coverage may seem reasonable, a bad car accident can rack up multiples of that in medical bills. In this case, a slightly higher auto insurance rate can save you from financial ruin.

Optional Car Insurance Coverage for Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., drivers who want to be protected in any situation should consider bolstering the minimum car insurance coverage with the following supplemental car insurance coverages:

Collision Coverage

Collision coverage covers damages to your car after a collision with another vehicle or object. If your vehicle is a total loss, collision coverage will reimburse you for the actual cash value of your vehicle. This is a great addition to the required property damage liability coverage in Washington, D.C., which applies only to the damages to the other driver’s vehicle.

Comprehensive Coverage

Complementing your collision coverage, comprehensive insurance covers damage to your vehicle that occurs during an event that is not a collision with another vehicle or object. This may apply in situations of vandalism, theft, weather damage, or a run-in with an animal. Adding comprehensive and collision coverage together creates a full-coverage car insurance policy.

Other Supplemental Coverage

Medical payments coverage, a popular and affordable addition to your auto insurance policy, helps support medical expenses you incur in an accident no matter who was at fault. This can also be used to pay your health insurance deductible for bills from a covered crash. It’s cheaper than personal injury protection, though it doesn’t cover lost wages and other non-medical expenses.

You might be interested in other optional coverages your insurance company has to offer, such as roadside assistance and towing or rental car reimbursement coverage. These insurance options don’t raise your insurance costs much, but they can help in a crisis. Make your auto insurance policy work for you.

Penalties for Driving Uninsured in Washington, D.C.

^[2]It is illegal to drive in Washington, D.C., without the minimum car insurance coverage. If you fail to provide proof of insurance to law enforcement in the nation’s capital, you’ll be subject to one or both of the following penalties:

• A fine of $500

• A license suspension of up to 30 days

Those penalties are for first-time offenders. If it happens again, the consequences get more severe.

Minimum Requirements for High-Risk Drivers in Washington, D.C.

If you are involved in a very serious car accident, especially if it involves driving uninsured or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you may be required by the D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to obtain an SR-22 certificate. If you lose your driver’s license, you may need an SR-22 to get it reinstated or to complete a vehicle registration.

An SR-22 only costs $25, and your insurance provider files it with the District of Columbia DMV. You’ll be charged higher car insurance premiums than you otherwise would be. The required limits for minimum coverage will stay the same, however.

More Information for High-Risk Drivers in Washington, D.C.

DUI Insurance in Washington, D.C.

SR-22 Insurance in Washington, D.C.

Cheapest Minimum Car Insurance in Washington, D.C.

Car insurance companies weigh different factors to determine what to quote drivers on their car insurance policies. Minimum coverage generally means lower car insurance rates. It also means low coverage limits, which may cost you if you’re ever involved in an accident. Here are the cheapest car insurance quotes for minimum coverage in Washington, D.C.

How to Find Cheap Car Insurance in Washington, D.C.

Sometimes, you just want to meet the coverage requirements and call it a day, especially if you drive infrequently or have an old car. When it comes to finding the cheapest car insurance possible, count on Insurify to help you out. It’s a simple website where you can compare car insurance quotes and click and buy when you find an affordable D.C. auto insurance policy.