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The District's car insurance rules are about to change. For now, DC requires 25/50/10 liability coverage plus uninsured motorist coverage of $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $5,000 for property damage. A 2026 law, enacted without the Mayor's signature, will raise liability and uninsured motorist limits to 50/100/20 beginning October 1, 2027, and require insurers to offer enhanced underinsured motorist coverage. The previous limits had not been raised since 1986.

DC also stands out for contributory negligence: an injured person who is even partly at fault can be barred from recovering. That makes the uninsured motorist coverage the District requires more valuable than it might sound, since it pays when an uninsured driver hits you. Personal injury protection is optional rather than required. The DMV enforces coverage through insurer reporting and a verification notice; you can answer it through the DC Insurance Verification System, but a lapse leads to fines that increase over time and a suspended registration. Tight parking, heavy commuter traffic and street-parked cars shape claims.

District of Columbia at a glance
Minimum liability25/50/10 (BI per person / BI per accident / PD, in $1,000s)
Other required coverageUninsured motorist bodily injury: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident; Uninsured motorist property damage: $5,000, subject to a $200 deductible
Fault systemAt-fault (tort)
Credit-based insurance scoresRestricted

District of Columbia minimum liability limits

To register and drive a car in District of Columbia you need at least this much liability coverage:

  • $25,000 for injuries to one person in an accident you cause.
  • $50,000 in total for injuries to everyone in that accident.
  • $10,000 for damage to other people's property, such as their car.

A 2026 law (B26-0057, the Motor Vehicle Insurance Modernization Act) raises required liability, uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist limits to 50/100/20 starting October 1, 2027; until then 25/50/10 applies. This was confirmed through a legislative tracker rather than an official DC Code page.

Tip: The minimum is a legal floor, not a recommendation. If a serious crash costs more than your limits, you could be personally responsible for the rest. See how much liability coverage you may need.

Other required and offered coverage

Besides liability, District of Columbia requires:

  • Uninsured motorist bodily injury: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident
  • Uninsured motorist property damage: $5,000, subject to a $200 deductible

Personal injury protection (PIP) is optional in DC. The 2026 law also requires insurers to offer enhanced underinsured motorist coverage beginning October 1, 2027, unless the first named insured waives it in writing.

Learn more about uninsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection.

Is District of Columbia a no-fault state?

District of Columbia is an at-fault (tort) state. The driver who causes a crash is responsible for the other people's injuries and property damage, which is normally paid by that driver's liability insurance. Injured people can claim against the at-fault driver's insurer or, in some cases, sue.

DC is an at-fault jurisdiction with optional PIP. It follows contributory negligence, which can bar recovery by an injured person who is even partly at fault.

Read more: at-fault vs. no-fault states explained.

Can insurers use your credit in District of Columbia?

Status: Restricted. DC permits insurers to use credit scores but, under DISB Bulletin 15-001-IB, an insurer that does not review scores at least annually must let each policyholder request a rate determination using the most recent score once a year at renewal.

See how credit affects car insurance for the bigger picture.

Penalties for driving uninsured in District of Columbia

If you let vehicle insurance lapse in DC, you will be fined, your registration or reciprocity sticker is suspended, and fines increase over time. If coverage ends and you do not promptly surrender your tags and registration, additional fines and penalties apply. Exact current fine amounts could not be verified.

Insurers must tell DC DMV when a policy cancels or terminates, and the DMV sends the owner a verification notice. The owner or insurer can then provide proof of coverage through the DC Insurance Verification System (DCIVS).

If you are ordered to file proof of insurance, see what SR-22 insurance is.

Tips for District of Columbia drivers

  • Do not wait until October 2027 to think about limits. The scheduled increase to 50/100/20 suggests the current minimums are widely seen as thin, so ask your insurer what higher limits involve.
  • If you receive a DMV insurance verification notice, respond promptly through DCIVS or have your insurer do so. Ignoring it is how a lapse becomes a suspended registration.
  • If you stop using a car in DC, surrender the tags and registration right away rather than just cancelling insurance. Fines and penalties apply if coverage ends and the tags are not surrendered.
  • Because DC uses contributory negligence, avoid saying anything at the scene that assigns fault to you, and collect photos, witness names and a police report.
  • Look at the optional PIP coverage. It pays medical, rehabilitation, funeral and lost-wage costs for you and your passengers regardless of fault, and it is not part of the required minimum.
  • Street parking exposes cars to sideswipes and hit-and-runs. Check how collision and uninsured motorist property damage, with its $200 deductible, would respond.

When you shop, compare quotes from several insurers using the same limits and deductibles, so the prices are like-for-like.

Official resources

Your state insurance department can answer questions about your rights and handle complaints about insurers.

Frequently asked questions

What are the minimum car insurance requirements in DC?

DC requires bodily injury liability of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, property damage liability of $10,000, and uninsured motorist coverage of $25,000/$50,000 for bodily injury and $5,000 for property damage with a $200 deductible. A 2026 law raises these to 50/100/20 beginning October 1, 2027.

When do DC's minimum auto insurance limits increase?

A 2026 law, Act A26-0358 according to a legislative tracker, raises liability, uninsured motorist and traditional underinsured motorist limits to $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident and $20,000 for property damage starting October 1, 2027. Until then, the current limits apply. Check the DC DISB or Council records to confirm the latest details.

Is DC a no-fault jurisdiction?

DC is generally an at-fault jurisdiction. The driver who causes a crash is responsible for damages, and personal injury protection is an optional add-on rather than a requirement. DC also follows contributory negligence, meaning an injured person who is even slightly at fault can be barred from recovering from the other driver.

What happens if my car insurance lapses in DC?

DC DMV says you will be fined, your registration or reciprocity sticker will be suspended, and fines increase over time. If coverage ends and you do not surrender your tags and registration right away, additional fines apply. Insurers notify the DMV of cancellations, and the DMV then sends you a verification notice.

Is PIP required in DC?

No. The DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking describes personal injury protection as optional. When you buy it, it covers medical, rehabilitation, funeral and lost-wage costs for you and your passengers regardless of who was at fault. Uninsured motorist coverage, by contrast, is required in DC.

Sources

General information only. State rules change. Confirm current requirements with the DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking or your insurer before you buy. This page is not insurance or legal advice.