District of Columbia Auto Insurance

The District of Columbia (D.C.) requires liability insurance and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. For liability insurance, the District issues the following requirements:

• A minimum of $25,000 for one person injured in an accident
• A minimum of $50,000 for all injuries in an accident
• A minimum of $10,000 for all property damaged in an accident

Bodily Injury Liability
Bodily Injury Liability, or BIL, covers injuries sustained by the blameless party in an accident. That means you, as the at-fault party, will cover medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and even funeral costs through this coverage. Many District of Columbia residents opt for higher coverage as injury costs tend to escalate in metropolitan, high-traffic areas.

Property Damage Liability
Property Damage Liability, or PDL, covers damages caused to the other party’s car. It also covers the costs of repairing or replacing surrounding property damaged in the accident, even if the property was public. Again, it is in your best interests to go well above $10,000 for PDL, as these damages’ costs may exceed those of injuries.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage, or UI/UMC, reimburses your medical expenses and other injury-related costs if you are hit by an uninsured driver. Forgoing this coverage will cost you dearly, as uninsured drivers will not be able to fund your medical care and vehicular damage. The District of Columbia requires the following minimum amounts for UI/UMC:

• $25,000 for one person injured in an accident
• $50,000 for all injuries sustained per accident

Other Recommended Types of Coverage
Though D.C. does not require personal coverage, you will certainly want to purchase it if you want to protect yourself, your dependents, and your car from devastating costs. Foremost, you should purchase Personal Injury Protection (PIP) to cover medical costs should you or your passengers sustain injuries in an accident. You should also obtain Collision Coverage and Comprehensive Coverage to reimburse your car’s damages from collisions with other cars or stationary objects, as well as damages from storms, fires, and vandalism.

Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in D.C.
As the nation’s capital, D.C. maintains stringent financial responsibility laws. It is risky to drive without proof of insurance, even if you are out-of-state. Naturally, it is much riskier if you are a D.C. resident and lack the required insurance. If you are stopped by a traffic officer and lack proof of insurance, such as an insurance card, you will be issued a fine of $30. If your coverage lapses for 1 to 30 days, you will pay a $150 lapse fee, plus $7 for each additional day past the 30-day limit. You will pay these fees at any Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) service center in the metropolitan area. Continuing to withhold payment will result in suspension of your registration (or reciprocity sticker) and tags, which will be held by the DMV until you can provide proof of current insurance.

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