Laws on Liability Insurance in Washington, D.C.
- As of 2011, residents of the District of Columbia must maintain bodily injury and property damage limits of, at least, $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident with $10,000 in property damage. In addition, Washington laws require drivers to maintain uninsured and underinsured motorist liability coverages that are, at least, equivalent to the minimum bodily injury limits. Drivers can carry no less than $5,000 in uninsured motorist property damage coverage.
- Non-resident drivers that house their vehicles within Washington D.C.'s borders for 30 or more consecutive days are subject to out-of-state registration requirements. To comply, these drivers must register their vehicles with the D.C. DMV. The application requires drivers to prove their state residency by issuing a copy of a current utility bill and vehicle registration. Approved out-of-state registrations are valid for one year.
- D.C.'s auto insurance laws require drivers to provide proof of their insurance coverage immediately upon an officer's request. Drivers who fail to provide proof of auto insurance are considered noncompliant and will receive a civil fine, along with their other traffic violations.
- Drivers who are cited for uninsured accidents will have their driver's license and registration privileges suspended. Out-of-state registrations are revoked in these situations. Drivers can reinstate their privileges after completing the required. The noncompliant driver must petition the court for reinstatement and attend a reinstatement hearing. After receiving court approval, drivers must pay their reinstatement fees and display valid proof of insurance to the D.C. DMV prior to reinstatement.
