Getting enough auto insurance is something every consumer and business should make a priority. If you operate a business in the district of Washington D.C., you need to know all about D.C. auto insurance agencies and the minimum auto insurance in D.C.

If you or other employees use cars for business purposes, make sure to let your insurance company know. Your premiums may be higher, but if someone has a wreck while on company business and the Washington D.C. insurance agency that covers the vehicle did not know that the car is for business purposes, it may reject the claim. When purchasing auto insurance in Washington D.C., the key points to consider are:

1. Buying enough Washington D.C. insurance coverage to meet your company’s needs

2. Knowing where and how to compare rates and find car insurance in D.C.

3. Compare online insurance sites and traditional providers for Washington D.C. auto insurance

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase enough Washington D.C. insurance coverage for your company's needs

The minimum auto insurance in Washington D.C. is 25/50/10. This means that if an accident happens, the most the car insurance company pays for bodily injury liability to other passengers is $25,000 per injured person up to a total of $50,000 per accident. If property damage occurs, the limit is $10,000 per incident. Washington D.C. residents must purchase uninsured motorist coverage. Most businesses want at least 100/300/100 coverage plus collision and comprehensive insurance. Collision insurance covers damage to the policyholder's car in the event of a wreck; comprehensive insurance covers other non-wreck incidents (theft of car, broken window). You may also purchase an umbrella policy that covers any additional claims against the driver or company. These policies usually come in increments of $1,000,000. You should decide if the company will pay insurance costs for its employees (usually in form of commercial insurance) or if the employees must find and pay for their own coverage.

I recommend: Chase and AutoInsure both have free umbrella insurance quotes.

Consider online insurance sites and traditional providers for D.C. auto insurance rates

With websites that promise to deliver insurance quotes from multiple companies with one click, it may be tempting to purchase auto insurance online. If you purchase insurance online from an unknown company and it goes bankrupt, you and your employees are out of luck. Also, never underestimate the importance of good customer service. Will online insurance agencies answer the phone quickly, respond to your questions and take the time to explain your policies? If you have a strong need for personal customer service, a traditional, proven insurance provider that you can call or visit in person in addition to contacting via the Internet may be your best bet.

I recommend: Check out Automotive.com to locate an auto insurance agency in the District of Columbia. Go to Internet Auto Guide.com to locate a traditional Washington, D.C. insurance agency by county.

Know where and how to compare rates and find D.C. car insurance

Thanks to the Internet, it's faster than ever to get insurance quotes at the click of a mouse. Many reputable companies now offer auto insurance quotes from a slew of providers when you fill out a single application. By inputting the specific needs of your business, you can get a similar comparison of the same insurance coverage from several different providers.

I recommend: Insurance, Esurance and Progressive have excellent user interfaces and solicit quotes from several companies. With these sites, you can immediately purchase coverage and print insurance cards. Although Progressive is an individual insurer, it also offers competitor's rates (which are sometimes cheaper) that you can immediately purchase.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Network with others in your industry to find out what companies they use for auto insurance in Washington D.C. The best recommendation for insurance companies in D.C. is through word-of-mouth.