Is car insurance required in District of Columbia?

Yes, you need car insurance to own or drive a car in Washington, D.C. All vehicles that are registered must have coverage. Failure to show proof of insurance will subject you to numerous penalties.

Do you need car insurance to register a car in District of Columbia?

Yes, you need to show proof of insurance to get your car registered in the District of Columbia. On top of this, you also need to present your current license and vehicle inspection certificate.

What is “basic” car insurance in District of Columbia?

The minimum car insurance requirements of the District of Columbia require drivers to have at least liability limits of 25/50/10. It means your policy should be able to cover costs of damages up to $50,000 for bodily injury per accident with a cap of $25,000 per individual. Your car insurance company also reimburses property damage up to $10,000 per accident. Your policy must include also include uninsured motorist coverage with 25/50/5 limits.

Does insurance follow the car or driver in District of Columbia?

In D.C., car insurance follows the vehicle, not the driver . It means that, regardless of who is driving, if your car gets into an accident, your policy’s coverage will apply.

Can you get car insurance without a license in District of Columbia?

It’s possible to purchase car insurance without a license, but it may prove to be a challenge. Most national insurers will not sell you insurance unless you have a license. A possible workaround is to purchase your policy from a local insurance company or an independent agent. Your other option is to list yourself as an excluded driver on the policy. However, if you do drive the car and get pulled over, you will be considered an uninsured driver.

Is District of Columbia a No-Fault Jurisdiction and What Does This Mean?

The District of Columbia is a no-fault jurisdiction. It means each insurance company covers its policyholders regardless of who caused the accident.

Is PIP Coverage Required in District of Columbia?

No, you don’t need to have personal injury protection coverage in your car insurance policy. Insurers are required to offer it, but it is optional. You may consider including it since the District of Columbia is a no-fault state. PIP provides you an additional layer of protection because it may cover things like funeral expenses and lost wages due to being unable to work after an accident.

Does District of Columbia Require Uninsured Motorist Insurance?

Yes, uninsured motorist insurance is part of the District of Columbia’s minimum car insurance requirements. Despite the penalties imposed by the state, 19.1% of drivers in the District of Columbia still do not carry insurance. It currently ranks ninth among the jurisdictions with the highest number of uninsured drivers.

Does District of Columbia Allow for Diminished Value Compensation After an Accident?

After an accident in D.C., the at-fault driver's insurer should reimburse you for any post-repair residual diminished value to your vehicle.

How Do Car Insurance Requirements Change After a DUI in District of Columbia?

Driving under the influence is considered a severe driving violation in the District of Columbia. Having a DUI violation on your driving records means you need to file for SR-22 insurance. Although you only need to pay a one-time fee for this, it will significantly increase your car insurance premiums because filing an SR-22 form tells your car insurance company that you’re a high-risk driver.

What is a CARCO Inspection and is it Required?

Some states require drivers to complete a pre-insurance inspection before allowing them to purchase comprehensive and collision insurance. CARCO is the company that typically does the legwork, creating a report and sending it to the car insurance company. Insurers use it to prevent fraudulent claims since it provides physical proof of a car’s condition before any policy taking effect. There are only five states that require a CARCO inspection. The District of Columbia does not require these inspections.

District Of Columbia Minimum Car Insurance Requirements, Penalties and Other Auto Insurance Laws

You are required to have car insurance in the District of Columbia to drive a vehicle. The District of Columbia’s car insurance requirements include uninsured motorist coverage in addition to liability insurance with limits of 25/50/10. You need to show proof of insurance if you want to register your car or obtain a reciprocity sticker in the District of Columbia. If you cannot show insurance papers during a traffic stop, you may incur penalties, such as fines and license suspensions. You will also pay for fines if your insurance lapses.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in District Of Columbia
How Much Does Minimum Car Insurance Cost?
Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in District Of Columbia
FAQs

What Is the Minimum Car Insurance Requirement in District Of Columbia?

It is illegal to own and drive an uninsured vehicle in the District of Columbia. To avoid penalties, you must ensure your policy meets the District of Columbia’s minimum car insurance requirements. It means your liability limits must at least be 25/50/10. You must also have uninsured motorist coverage.

These requirements mean your insurance policy must have coverage of:

$25,000 for bodily injury per person
$50,000 for bodily injury per accident
$10,000 for property damage per accident
$25,000 for bodily injury per person for uninsured motorists
$50,000 for bodily injury per accident for uninsured motorists
$5,000 for property damage per accident for uninsured motorists

Remember these limits only fulfill the minimum car insurance requirement in the District of Columbia. You’ll need to factor in other information to accurately determine how much car insurance you need in Washington, D.C.

What Does This Minimum Coverage Mean?

Minimum car insurance in D.C. has 25/50/10 liability limits. It means your car insurance company will reimburse you for the cost of injuries up to $50,000 per accident with a cap of $25,000 per person. If there is any property damage, your policy also helps cover expenses up to $10,000. Car insurance companies follow this process regardless of who is at fault since Washington, D.C. is a no-fault jurisdiction.

Car insurance laws in the District of Columbia also require you to have uninsured motorist coverage. It takes effect if you get into an accident and the other driver doesn’t carry insurance. The minimum car insurance requirement states you must have limits of at least $25,000 for bodily injury per person and $50,000 for bodily injury per accident. Uninsured motorist property damage has a limit of $5,000 per accident.

Although these limits allow you to fulfill the District of Columbia’s minimum car insurance requirements, expenses from a collision may be more expensive. You may want to consider higher limits to ensure more protection while you drive.

How Much Does the Minimum Car Insurance Cost in District Of Columbia?

Car insurance rates in the District of Columbia cost an average of $1,202 per year. You may be offered a different rate due to factors unique to you. These include your age, how long you’ve been driving and whether you have any violations on your record. Where you live and whether you have good credit may also impact your car insurance premium.

Another element that may affect your rate is the car insurance company you choose for your policy. Although carriers use the same information to set car insurance premiums, they calculate it differently. Among the car insurance companies in the District of Columbia, GEICO offers the most affordable option for minimum liability coverage at $352 per year on average.

Cheapest Minimum Liability Car Insurance in District Of Columbia

Cheapest Minimum Car Insurance in District Of Columbia

Company
Annually
Monthly
1.
GEICO
$352
$29
2.
USAA
$357
$30
3.
Erie
$417
$35
4.
State Farm
$644
$54
5.
Allstate
$715
$60
6.
Nationwide
$988
$82
7.
Progressive
$995
$83

These prices are only estimates based on rates for an average District Of Columbia driver and should not be used to compare insurance prices.

MoneyGeek used a 40-year-old male driver’s profile for this analysis. It assumes he carries a policy meeting the District of Columbia’s minimum car insurance requirements of 25/50/10, plus uninsured motorist coverage with 25/50/5 limits. He has good credit, a clean driving record and drives a 2010 Toyota Camry.

What Is the Minimum Car Insurance Requirement in District Of Columbia While Leasing a Car?

The car insurance requirements for leased cars in the District of Columbia are different than those for most vehicles. Even if your policy meets the District of Columbia’s minimum car insurance requirements, it may not be enough for your leasing company. In Washington, D.C., lenders dictate insurance requirements, not the district.

Most leasing companies require drivers to carry a full coverage car insurance policy with limits of at least 100/300/50. It’s best to call them directly to know your lender’s requirements. It also allows you to gather other pertinent information, such as their leasing procedures and payment terms.

Drivers in the District of Columbia are encouraged to increase their liability limits to at least 50/100/50. MoneyGeek also recommends that you purchase comprehensive and collision insurance. You may also consider raising your limits for uninsured motorist coverage. The District of Columbia ranks ninth among jurisdictions with the highest number of uninsured drivers. Around 19.1% of drivers are uninsured.

This information can help accurately gauge how much car insurance you need.

Penalties for Driving Without Car Insurance in District Of Columbia

In the District of Columbia, there are various penalties for driving with no insurance. These include the following:

$500 fine (increases by 50% for each subsequent offense)
License suspension for 30 days for the first offense
License suspension for 60 days for subsequent offenses
$30 fine for failing or refusing to show proof of insurance per offense

In addition to these penalties, you need to pay a $98 fee and file an SR-22 form with the local DMV for your license's reinstatement.

There is a separate set of very similar penalties for owning an uninsured car. The only real difference is the vehicle owner’s fine of $150 plus $7 for each day after the first 30 days of receiving the notice, with a maximum of $2,500.

Frequently Asked Questions About Car Insurance in District Of Columbia

Here are the most commonly asked questions about car insurance laws in the District of Columbia:

Learn More About Car Insurance

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick is a senior content director at MoneyGeek with over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, conducting original research and creating content that can be personalized for every buyer. He has been quoted on insurance topics in several publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Mark earned a master’s degree in Economics and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his economics and insurance knowledge to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.

sources

D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles. "Vehicle Insurance." Accessed September 19, 2021.
District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking. "What to Know About Your Car Insurance After a Car Accident." Accessed September 19, 2021.
Insurance Information Institute. "Facts + Statistics: Uninsured Motorists." Accessed September 19, 2021.