Crashes, insurance and registration in District of Columbia

By the end of this topic you can

• You can follow the legal steps after a crash in DC.
• You can explain when to call 911.
• You can list DC's minimum insurance coverage.
• You can describe what happens if insurance lapses.
• You can outline the steps to register a car in DC.

What you need to know and understand

• After any crash you know about, you must stop immediately.
• If anyone is hurt, call 911, stay until police arrive and give your identifying information to police and the injured person.
• If only property is damaged and the owner is not there, give your information and the location to police or 911.
• Leaving the scene can bring jail time, and on the DC point chart it carries 8 points with no injury, or 12 points and revocation with injury.
• DC DMV does not take crash reports. For non-injury crashes, use DC DMV's Non-Injury Checklist and notify your insurer.
• Minimum DC insurance is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injury liability, $10,000 for property damage, and uninsured motorist cover of $25,000 and $50,000 for injury and $5,000 for property damage.
• New residents must register their vehicle within 60 days of starting to live in DC.

At the scene, step by step

1. Stop as soon as it is safe, turn on hazard lights and switch off the engine if there is any risk of fire.
2. Check for injuries. If anyone is hurt or the crash creates danger to others, call 911.
3. If you can, move uninjured vehicles out of traffic when it is safe to do so.
4. Exchange identifying, license and insurance details with the other driver.
5. If you hit an unattended car or property, give your details and the location to police or 911.
6. Take photos, note the location and any witnesses, and tell your insurance company.

Insurance: required, and kept in force

Every vehicle registered in DC must have valid DC insurance at or above the minimums while it is registered. If your insurance lapses, DC DMV fines you, the fines grow the longer the lapse lasts, and your registration is suspended. If you stop insuring a car, return the tags and registration to DC DMV straight away to avoid extra penalties.

For the road test, the car you bring must have valid registration and proof of insurance that names the vehicle and shows an expiration date.

Registering a car in DC

• Get a DC driver license or ID first if you are a new resident.
• Buy DC insurance before you apply.
• Submit the vehicle title, which DC DMV must have before registering the car.
• Pass inspection if required. Brand-new passenger vehicles do not need one.
• A 45-day temporary registration is available for residents waiting for inspection.
• Students, active military, diplomats and some others may use a reciprocity permit instead of DC tags.

Common mistakes

• Driving away from a minor scrape in a parking lot without leaving information. That can be leaving the scene.
• Admitting fault or arguing at the scene. Stick to facts and exchange details.
• Letting insurance lapse on a car you are not using without returning the tags.
• Bringing a car with an expired insurance card to the road test.

Test yourself: Crashes, insurance and registration in District of Columbia

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• DC Permit Practice Test
• DC DMV Road Test