Washington DC Car Insurance
by BRENT A. KENNY
Washington DC car insurance liability requirements are $25,000 minimum cover for injury to one person and $50,000 total liability per accident. This is about average for the USA, as is the cover required for damage to property of $10,000.
Where Washington DC differs from others is in its uninsured motorist coverage. The capital demands that you buy uninsured motorist injury liability at the same levels as your own liability for bodily injury, both for an individual and for multiple individuals in one accident of $25,000 and $50,000 dollars. That for uninsured driver's property damage is $5,000 subject to a $200 deductible. It seems rather unfair that you should have to pay for insurance twice in case you are hit by an uninsured driver.
Although this does not affect your premium, it is useful to know that you must also carry your policy with you and provide it when requested by a police officer, irrespective of where your policy was issued or what state you are from.
Other than that, Washington DC auto insurance is much the same as any other and the same considerations apply when deciding the rest of your cover. Since you have so much statutory insurance to purchase, you will likely be selective in your options but do not underinsure if your car is new or of high cost to replace or you could lose it in the event of a serious collision. Let's look at the options available to you and whether or not they are worth the extra cost over and above what you must have.
The Washington DC statutory liability cover is for third party cover only. That means that it does not cover you for personal injury. If you are hospitalized as a result of your accident, and you have caused that accident, then you will have to pay your own medical expenses. You will also have to pay for the damage to your own car. Personal injury protection insurance will cover the first eventuality, and collision cover the second. Whether or not either of these is worth you buying is your choice. However, you should consider the likely costs should the unthinkable happen.
Could you afford the costs yourself? If not, where would the money come from? If your car is not worth much then you probably don't need collision cover, and comprehensive cover is only for very expensive cars that might be damaged by floods, vandalized or stolen. If your vehicle does n't fit that description, then don't bother with either. That applies to Washington DC as much as any other state in the USA. Or any other country in the world for that matter.
There are many actions you can take in order to reduce your insurance costs. If your car is fitted with a steering lock, car alarms and any other anti-theft devices you should get a small discount. The same is true of airbags, including for side and rear passengers, and other safety devices such as ABS braking. Whether or not your car is garaged, what your car is used for, your occupation and your zip code can all affect your insurance price.
If you have made no claims from your existing policy for some years then you will definitely get a discount, as you will if you opt for a high deductible. There is no reason why you should not be able to negotiate an auto insurance policy to meet your needs in Washington DC if you know exactly what these needs are. Those that pay too much are those that have no fixed budget for their car insurance and that are unsure as to the options they want when they request the quote.
You must have a clear idea in your mind what you want, how much you want to spend, and how you are going to negotiate the discounts. Without considering each of these three then you are unlikely to secure the best deal that you can. Washington DC car insurance is generally no different to that of any other state; only you don't have to worry whether or not to go for uninsured motorist cover, because you must.
Otherwise, you can haggle and get the best discounts you can for the options you want in the capital city as much as you can anywhere else in the country.
