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District of Columbia Car Insurance

D.C. drivers can commute in and out of the Capital of America, for cheap with car insurance from Good2Go Insurance, Inc. Start a quote today and get back on the road!

Drivers who fail to provide proper insurance on the road can receive a fine, or a suspension of their registration tags.

Washington, DC Penalties for Driving Without Car Insurance

In the District of Columbia, the penalties for driving without car insurance are:

Suspension of registration tags and reciprocity sticker
Fine of $150 for first 30 days, and $7 for each additional uninsured day, up to $2,500
Fine of $30 if you cannot produce proof of insurance if pulled over by a police officer

What is considered Full Coverage Auto Insurance in the District of Columbia?

According to the District of Columbia’s Department of Motor Vehicles, anyone with a registered vehicle must have valid proof of insurance. The District of Columbia’s Compulsory/No-Fault Motor Vehicle Insurance Act requires that every person applying for registration or a reciprocity sticker in D.C. has valid D.C. auto insurance. Vehicle registrations are for D.C. residents while reciprocity stickers are typically for temporary and part-time residents of D.C..

Like most states, D.C. requires drivers to have a minimum level of auto insurance limits for bodily injury and property damage in the following amounts:

$25,000 for injury or death of one person in an accident
$50,000 for injury or death of more than one person in an accident
$10,000 for damage to the property of another person
$25,000 for Uninsured motorist bodily injury
$5,000 for uninsured damage to the property of another person

Washington, DC DUI/DWI Laws and Penalties

A DUI in Washington, D.C. is a serious offense that can lead to hefty fines, license suspension, and jail time. The legal limit of alcohol in D.C. is a BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) of 0.08 and 0.04 for commercial drivers. However, D.C. has a zero tolerance law for those under the age of 21 that get behind the wheel while drunk. D.C. also has an implied consent law, which means that refusal to submit to a chemical test will lead to a fine and an automatic one year license suspension.

If you are caught driving over the legal drinking limits, DUI penalties could include:

First offense:

6 month driver’s license suspension
Up to $1,000 in fines
Up to 90 days in jail

Second Offense:

One year driver’s license suspension
Up to $5,000 in fines
Up to one year in jail

Third offense:

2-year driver’s license revocation
Up to $10,000 in fines
Up to one year in jail

For more information on D.C.’s DUI/DWI penalties, visit the District of Columbia’s Metropolitan Police Department.

Washington, D.C. Cell Phone Driving Laws and Texting While Driving Laws

In Washington, D.C., all drivers are prohibited from using handheld cell phones while driving. Under the law, motorists can still use a hands-free device to talk on their cell phone while driving, except for bus drivers and novice drivers. According to the Governor’s Highway Safety Association, starting October 2013, all cell phone laws will be primary enforcement, meaning an officer may cite you for using a handheld cell phone without any other traffic offense taking place.

Texting while driving in D.C. is also prohibited for all drivers. The penalties for texting or sending an email on a cell phone are:

Fine for the first offense, which can be suspended if you submit proof that you have acquired a hands-free device
$100 fine for subsequent offenses
One point on your driving record for each offense

Washington, D.C. SR-22 Insurance Documents

In Washington, D.C., certain drivers must file an SR-22 insurance document to stay on the road. This document is proof of the driver’s financial responsibility, stating that his/her auto insurance liability is active. You must file a SR-22 insurance document in the following cases:

If you are involved in an accident in the past, but did not pay the requisite compensation
If you are involved in an accident in the past and had an unsatisfactory judgment entered against you as a result
If your driver’s license has been revoked
In the case of mandatory insurance supervisions
If you received more than three convictions for mandatory insurance violations
If you have an accumulation of violations such as reckless driving, a DUI or DWI offense, and refusing testing

Fortunately, Good2Go Insurance, Inc. provides electronic filing of SR-22 insurance documents to the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicle Division to help get you driving back on the road legally more quickly.