Changes in liability coverage, required documentation and penalties vary from state to state.
Guidelines
- If you have a vehicle and that will be operated in the District of Columbia, you must have valid auto insurance.
- You must present proof of insurance before you can register or renew a car’s registration. And when your coverage is canceled, you must surrender your tags to the District or be subject to fines and penalties.
- Even if you are officially a resident of another jurisdiction, you must abide the District of Coumbia’s insurance laws. The Metropolitan Police Department will issue you a citation if you do not have proof of insurance, regardless of where you live. The MPD will enforce the proof of insurance law and fine you $30.
- You will be fined $150 if you have an insurance coverage lapse from 1 to 30 days. If it’s more than a month, the District of Columbia will fine an additional $7 per day (up to $2,500 per tag).
- For the District of Columbia, you must carry at least $10,000 in property damage liability, $25,000 in third-party liability ($50,000 per accident), $25,000 in uninsured motorist bodily injury ($50,000 per accident), and $5,000 uninsured motorist property damage liability.
Contact:
Dept. of Insurance, Securities and Banking
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20004
Web Site: disb.dc.gov/disr/site
Phone: 1-202-727-8000
District Of Columbia (DC) Mandatory Auto Insurance Minimums:
- Liability: 25/50/10 = Bodily Injury Individual/Bodily Injury Total Per Accident/Property Damage
- Other Mandatory Insurance: Uninsured Motorist
- Regulations Regarding Proof of Insurance: Proof Required – When Obtaining Registration
- Penalties For Not Carrying Mandatory Insurance: Fine up to $500 and jail term up to 30 days
