Washington DC Auto Insurance

In DC auto insurance is not an option.  Legal requirements make auto insurance in Washington, DC something you must have.  Without this insurance you open yourself up to many risks and that is simply not worth it.  You need to find auto insurance in DC if you want to stay legal on the road and to help ensure you stay safe.

Legal Requirements

The legal requirements for DC auto insurance are in line with the US averages.  Requirements for liability coverage are $25,000 minimum for injury to one person and $50,000 minimum total liability per accident.

The main variation from the country's average insurance requirement is that in DC you must also carry uninsured motorist coverage.  The uninsured motorist coverage must be the same as the liability coverage required by law.

If pulled over by an officer you must show proof of insurance coverage.  It is important to avoid lapses in coverage as this could carry severe penalties including but not limited to the loss of your license and fines.

Types of Auto Insurance Available

There are options in the different types of coverage where you can vary your coverage and still stay legal under DC law.  You are only required by law to maintain liability coverage, but you also have the option of collision coverage.

Collision coverage, also known as full coverage, provides you more protection.  When you are in an accident and you only have liability coverage it will typically only pay for damage and injury to the other parties involved and not you.  That means any damamge to your vehicle is not going to be fixed by your insurance company.

With collison insurance, though, you get protection and coverage on you and your vehicle.  Within the limits of your policy, you may be entitled to repairs or even replacment of a damaged vehicle under collision insurance.  It is important to check the details of your policy as every policy differs and coverage may not always be the same.

Cost of Auto Insurance

Choosing collision coverage in addition to liability coverage will result in higher premiums.  There are many ways you can lower premiums and still stay legal.
Obviously, if you choose to refuse collision coverage your premium costs will be lower than if you had full coverage.  However, you do not have to skip out on full coverage.  There are other things that factor into the overall cost of your insurance coverage.

The deductible on your policy will affect the premium rate.  The deductible is the amount of money you must pay out of pocket before your insurance company will pay on a policy.  Deductibles typically range between $250 and $500.  Choosing a higher deductible will lower your premium costs.

The problem with choosing a high deductible, though, is that if you do get into an accident you have to come up with your deductible amount.  It is important to consider what choice is best for your situation. Would you rather have lower premiums now or have to pay a higher deductible if something happens?

Some other things that are factored into your price include:

• Your driving record
• Your credit record
• The make, model and year of your vehicle
• Your previous insurance coverage

It is up to you to shop around and get the best price on your District of Columbia auto insurance policy. Before you start shopping around for quotes it will help to get a few bits of information handy.  This will allow you to make the process quicker and get more accurate quotes.  Most quote forms will ask for the following information:

• Your name
• Your address and the street address where the vehicle is parked at night
• Your birth date
• Your phone number
• Your social security number
• Your driver’s license number
• The make, model and year of your vehicle
• The VIN for your vehicle
• The average number of miles you drive each year
• The last insurance policy you held, company name and length of policy
• The type of coverage limits you want
• The deductible desired

Comparing Auto Insurance Quotes

To make filling out quote forms easier you should grab the title to your vehicle which will have the make, model, year and VIN number.  You should also get your last insurance policy information and try to estimate the number of miles you drive every year.  You also will need to make sure to figure out how much coverage you want and what deductible you want and can realistically afford.

Once you have all your information ready you can use a quote tool like the one on this page to help you get a quick and easy quote from multiple providers.  You only have to fill out a quote form one time to receive a range of different offers.  This helps to speed up the process and you can avoid filling out multiple forms.

Auto insurance coverage in Washington, DC is not hard to come by but it is a matter of getting the right insurance coverage for your needs and staying legal.  Choose a company that can offer you the best value for your money.  Your insurance policy should fit into your lifestyle and be affordable.  The main reason for lapses in coverage is because people get a policy that they can not afford. Plan ahead a bit and avoid this costly error.

Once you get your DC auto insurance policy, you have to stay current on your payments and make sure you report all changes to your insurance provider.  A provider can deny coverage or deny a payment on a claim if you do not provide them with up to date and accurate information about yourself and your vehicle. To ensure that you meet all the requirements under DC auto insurance laws you should always do business with a reputable and trusted insurance provider.

The cost free Washington DC car insurance quote tool at the top of this page is intended to give you multiple bids from some of the best providers of auto insurance in DC. You can save your self time and money by just typing in your zip code above, and you'll start receiving some competitive quotes today!