Car Insurance Requirements in Washington, D.C. (2025)
Washington, D.C., drivers must purchase a minimum amount of bodily injury liability, property damage liability, and uninsured motorist coverages.
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Car insurance requirements vary from place to place and can affect how much you pay for your policy. In Washington, D.C., drivers must carry liability limits of 25/50/10, which includes bodily injury and property damage liability insurance.
It’s important to understand D.C.’s auto insurance laws and how much car insurance you need before you hit the road. A lack of proper coverage can leave you vulnerable to medical and vehicle damage expenses, and you could even lose your license.
Washington, D.C., car insurance requirements
Washington, D.C., law requires drivers to carry at least the following amounts and types of auto coverage:1
Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
Property damage liability: $10,000 per accident
Uninsured motorist bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
Uninsured motorist property damage liability: $5,000 per accident, subject to a $200 deductible
Bodily injury liability coverage
Bodily injury liability insurance protects you if you cause an accident that results in another driver or passenger’s injury or death. It covers the medical bills of the injured people, but it won’t cover your own.
The minimum limit of bodily injury liability required for a policy in D.C. is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
Property damage liability coverage
Property damage liability insurance covers you if you damage another driver’s vehicle or property in an at-fault accident. This policy covers the other party’s damages but won’t cover damages to your own vehicle or property.
The minimum property damage insurance limit required for an auto insurance policy in D.C. is $10,000 per accident.
Uninsured motorist liability coverage
Uninsured motorist liability coverage protects you from an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver. It covers both bodily injury and property damage liability expenses if the other driver can’t pay.
Car insurance policies in D.C. must have $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in uninsured motorist bodily injury liability coverage and $5,000 per accident in uninsured motorist property damage liability coverage. This property damage coverage is subject to a $200 deductible.
District of Columbia Automobile Insurance Plan
Washington, D.C., offers the District of Columbia Automobile Insurance Plan for people who can’t find auto insurance coverage in the traditional way. This plan helps drivers in the auto insurance residual market find insurance coverage. Drivers need a valid District of Columbia driver’s license and a vehicle registered in D.C. to qualify for the program.2
Do you need more than minimum coverage in Washington, D.C.?
Washington, D.C. doesn’t require drivers to carry more than its minimum coverage amount. But the minimum requirement is just that: a minimum. Most drivers should carry more to have financial protection in the event of a car insurance claim. Liability coverage only pays for the other driver’s medical expenses and property damages, not your own.
If you lease or finance your vehicle, your leasing company or lender will require you to carry full-coverage auto insurance to protect its investment in your car.
Most drivers opt to carry additional protection in the form of full-coverage car insurance, which includes liability, collision, and comprehensive insurance. In fact, 79% of insured drivers buy comprehensive insurance, and 75% buy collision insurance, according to the Insurance Information Institute.3
Drivers in Washington, D.C., pay an average car insurance rate of $313 per month for full coverage and $225 per month for liability coverage. Full coverage costs more than liability coverage, and it provides much greater financial protection in the event of an accident. If you have an auto accident, you may wish you had a full-coverage policy.
The cost of liability-only car insurance in Washington, D.C.
The average cost of liability-only car insurance in Washington, D.C., is $225 per month. Liability coverage is the bare-minimum legal car insurance that D.C. requires. It only covers bodily injury and property damage liability expenses for another driver, not you.
The cost of full-coverage car insurance in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., drivers pay an average of $313 per month for full-coverage car insurance. It costs much more per month than liability coverage, but it provides more coverage if you have an accident. It’s a good idea in almost all cases, as property damages and medical bills can add up very quickly after a car accident.
Penalties for driving without proof of insurance in Washington, D.C.
If a law enforcement officer catches you driving without proof of insurance in Washington, D.C., you can face the following penalties for a first offense:4
Cancellation of insurance
License suspension
Required SR-22 maintenance
$500 civil fine for driving an uninsured vehicle
$150 civil fine for owning an uninsured vehicle
$98 reinstatement fee
Optional car insurance coverages to consider
While you only legally need to carry liability insurance in Washington, D.C., you should consider optional coverages for greater protection.
Washington, D.C., car insurance requirements FAQs
It’s important to know what kinds of and how much car insurance coverage you need to drive in Washington, D.C. The following information should help answer some of your remaining questions about D.C.’s car insurance requirements.
Does Washington, D.C., require car insurance?
Yes. Washington, D.C., drivers must carry 25/50/10 liability insurance and uninsured motorist coverage to legally be on the road.
Does D.C. require uninsured motorist coverage?
Yes. Washington, D.C., requires drivers to carry uninsured motorist protection. Drivers must carry it at limits of 25/50/5.
Do you need car insurance to register a car in Washington, D.C.?
Yes. You need car insurance to register a car in Washington, D.C. You can’t legally drive your car without an active insurance policy that includes the state’s minimum liability requirements.
Does insurance follow the car or the driver in Washington, D.C.?
Insurance follows the car in Washington, D.C., not the driver. If you lend your vehicle to another driver, your auto policy will cover them. Always keep your current insurance and registration in the vehicle.
Does D.C. have no-fault car insurance laws?
No. Washington, D.C., doesn’t have no-fault laws. It uses at-fault rules, meaning the car insurance of the at-fault driver will cover the other driver’s damages and injuries. But D.C. law does require insurers to offer policyholders the option to buy personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, which drivers can reject.
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