Washington, DC car insurance and the coming limit increase

What DC requires on a policy today

The District uses an at-fault system with add-on personal injury protection. In practice, a DC policy has three parts that matter most:

• Liability coverage. At least $25,000 for one injured person, $50,000 for all injuries in one crash and $10,000 for property damage. This pays for harm you cause to others. See liability coverage.
• Uninsured motorist coverage. It is mandatory in DC (Required: $25,000/$50,000 bodily injury and $5,000 property damage). It pays your own injury costs, and some car damage, when an uninsured driver is at fault.
• Optional extras the insurer must offer. Insurers must offer PIP, and underinsured motorist coverage is offered but can be turned down. Personal injury protection pays your own medical costs regardless of fault.

What changes under D.C. Law 26-155

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

The law also adds enhanced underinsured motorist coverage, which is included by default unless the first named insured waives it in writing. It cannot exceed the policy's uninsured motorist limits. After that, the minimums rise again by set amounts every 10 years, starting January 1, 2037.

What this means for you depends on what you carry now. If your policy already has limits at or above the new figures, the law may change little. If you carry the bare minimum, expect your coverage, and likely your premium, to change. Ask your insurer when and how your policy will be updated, and see our roundup of state minimum coverage changes.

Car-free DC: when you need insurance

Car-free living is common in the District: 36.0% of households, or 116,851, had no vehicle in the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 survey. Those who do drive to work spend an average of 30.0 minutes getting there.

If you do not own a car but borrow friends' cars or rent often, non-owner car insurance adds liability coverage that follows you. If you own a car but drive it very little, our guides on mileage and telematics explain how low use can affect the price.

On safety, the District launched its Vision Zero initiative in 2,015 text with a goal of zero traffic deaths and serious injuries. DC recorded 47 crash deaths in 2024, or 6.7 per 100,000 people, and speeding was involved in 38% of them, according to IIHS.

How location and theft shape DC prices

Insurers price policies by where a car is garaged. The NAIC notes that urban areas have more claims than rural ones and that repair costs run higher in more populated places. Our guide on how ZIP codes affect car insurance explains how territories work, even inside one city.

Theft is part of that local risk. NICB counted 15,204 vehicle thefts in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area in 2025, the No. 8 total among US metro areas. Theft is paid only by comprehensive coverage. And with 23.1% of DC drivers estimated to be uninsured, compared with 15.4% nationally, the required uninsured motorist coverage is especially relevant here.

Ways to pay less in DC

1. Match coverage to how you live. If you do not own a car, a non-owner policy is designed for occasional driving; it never covers a car you own or regularly use.
2. Compare quotes before the new limits apply. Prices for the same coverage vary by insurer; see shopping at renewal.
3. Ask about low-mileage and telematics programs. Some insurers price by miles driven or by driving habits.
4. Review deductibles and discounts. See choosing a deductible and car insurance discounts.
5. Get help if you are stuck. The DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking takes consumer questions at (202) 727-8000.