District of Columbia car insurance: today's minimums, the PIP choice and the new higher limits

The new DC minimums under Law 26-155

The Motor Vehicle Insurance Modernization Amendment Act of 2026, D.C. Law 26-155, took effect on August 14, 2026. Its changes to coverage requirements apply as of October 1, 2027.

Higher minimums mean more protection for the people you might injure and more protection for you against a lawsuit, but they may also raise the price of a minimum-limit policy. If you already carry limits above the new minimums, the liability change may not affect you. Our liability coverage guide explains how limits work, and our post on state minimum coverage changes tracks similar laws elsewhere.

Automatic increases after the first change

The law does not stop at one increase. Starting January 1, 2037 and every 10 years after that, the minimum amounts rise again by $5,000 per person, $10,000 for all people injured in one crash and $2,000 for property damage.

Enhanced underinsured motorist coverage becomes the default

Today, DC insurers must offer underinsured motorist coverage, and you can decline it without a written rejection. Under Law 26-155, from October 1, 2027, insurers must include enhanced underinsured motorist coverage unless the first named insured waives it in writing. If you do not sign a waiver, the coverage is provided.

A few details in the new rules:

• Enhanced underinsured coverage cannot be higher than the policy's uninsured motorist amount.
• You cannot carry the enhanced version and the traditional version at the same time.
• Policies cannot require binding arbitration for underinsured motorist disputes.

Underinsured coverage pays when the driver who hurts you has insurance, but not enough to cover your losses. Our uninsured motorist coverage guide explains how UM and UIM work together.

PIP in DC: an optional benefit with a deadline

DC sits between the two main systems. Insurers must offer personal injury protection, and buying it is optional. If you buy it, the minimum package includes:

After a crash, a victim with PIP must tell the PIP insurer within 60 days whether they elect PIP benefits. Electing PIP limits your right to sue the other driver: you can still sue if the injury causes permanent scarring or a substantial permanent impairment, if it prevents you from carrying out your usual activities for more than 180 continuous days, or if your medical costs or work loss exceed your PIP benefits. If you do not elect PIP in time, the liability coverage applies instead.

This choice is time-sensitive and has legal consequences; a licensed agent or an attorney can explain how it applies to you. Our personal injury protection guide and after an accident guide cover the basics.

Uninsured drivers and costs in the District

The Insurance Research Council estimates that 23.1% of DC drivers were uninsured in 2023, well above the national estimate of 15.4%. That makes the uninsured motorist requirement, and the new default underinsured coverage, especially relevant here.

Both cost averages are above the national average; the average expenditure is about $140 a month. IIHS counted 47 crash deaths in the District in 2024. The death rate per resident is below the national rate, but the rate per mile driven and the speeding-related share are above it.

Getting ready for the change

1. Find your declarations page and note your current liability, uninsured and underinsured limits; our guide to reading a declarations page helps.
2. Ask your insurer when and how your policy will be updated to the new minimums from October 1, 2027.
3. Decide whether you want enhanced underinsured motorist coverage. If you do not, you will need to waive it in writing.
4. Review whether to buy PIP, and at what level, before you need it.
5. Compare quotes at renewal, since a change in required coverage is a natural point to shop around.

Drivers who live or work across the line should also check the rules in Maryland and Virginia. See every jurisdiction on the car insurance by state page.