Washington D.C. DUI Laws

You are breaking Washington D.C. DUI laws when you drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. You will be charged with a DUI if your blood-alcohol content is .08 percent or higher. Just one DUI charge can raise your D.C. car insurance rates. Enter your ZIP code below to start shopping for affordable DUI auto insurance with free insurance quotes.

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Reviewed by Brad Larsen
Licensed Auto Insurance Agent

UPDATED: Jun 4, 2021

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Car insurance companies do not look favorably on drivers who break D.C. DUI laws which is why they will charge these people the highest premiums for auto insurance. Compare DC insurance for FREE! We are here to help with our ZIP code search!

All hope is not lost if a driver has been convicted of a DUI; insurance companies have competition and because of this, it’s possible to find a company that is willing to offer even those with DUIs a good deal. The way to find these companies is to let our FREE comparison tool find the car insurance quotes for you! Use our FREE ZIP code search and start saving!

About D.C. DUI Laws

Drivers will break D.C. DUI laws if they drive their vehicles under these conditions:

  • With .08 or higher Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)
  • Any amount of alcohol at all in the system of drivers under the age of 21
  • Any amount of illicit drugs

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Consenting to Chemical Tests

When people agree to become licensed drivers in the District of Columbia, they have given their consent to be tested for the chemicals listed above if they are ever stopped on suspicion of breaking D.C. DUI laws. They are assenting to give their blood, breath or urine for the purpose of determining their BAC levels. Drivers may refuse the test, but their licenses will have to be suspended for a maximum of 365 days.

The Punishments for Breaking D.C. DUI Laws

The punishments for breaking D.C. DUI laws for the first offence deprive drivers of their freedom, money and the ability to drive. A jail sentence of up to three months, a fine between $300 and $1,000 and a suspended driver’s license for a period of six months will be the result of being convicted the first time.

The second time that drivers are convicted of breaking D.C. DUI laws causes these people to receive a jail sentence of up to one year, higher fines between $1,000 and $5,000 and a suspension of their driving privileges for one year. The third conviction results in a year spent in jail, a fine between $2,000 and $10,000 and a driver’s license suspension lasting two years.

Take the time to know your car insurance laws and make sure you are properly covered under D.C. car insurance!

The Consequences for Auto Insurance

People who break DUI laws have to pay a lot of money in fines. Because they have to spend some time in jail, they may lose their jobs. They will also have to pay a DUI attorney to represent them at their hearings. Being convicted of DUI/DWI is a very costly proposition, but it also extends to the world of auto insurance.

After people have broken D.C. DUI laws, they see their insurance companies raise their rates; the insurance companies may even cancel or refuse to renew their car insurance. In that case, these people are going to need to purchase a new auto insurance policy at a time when they are in the least likely position to receive the best rates.

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Comparing Quotes after Breaking D.C. DUI Laws

The one advantage people who have broken D.C. DUI laws have is to our FREE ZIP code search and save! Our insurance company comparison website helps people find the most appropriate insurance companies for their needs. Some insurance companies don’t offer auto insurance to people who have been convicted of DUIs which is why insurance companies will often cancel policies of people who obtain a DUI on their driving records.

We submit your needs to those insurance companies who do offer DUI auto insurance for free. These companies then offer their best quotes. Those who have broken D.C. DUI laws can look over all of the quotes they receive and choose the low cost car insurance. Because they would have asked for the same coverage of all of these companies, it wouldn’t make sense for these drivers to choose the company that is offering the highest price.

Insurance Coverage

In Washington D.C., people who have broken D.C. DUI laws will have to have their insurance companies file the SR-22 form with the DMV to have their licenses reinstated after suspension. This filing will prove that they have purchased the liability insurance required for Washington D.C. The minimum amount of insurance these people will need to purchase is:

  1. $25,000 of bodily injury liability for injuries or death to one person involved in an accident the policyholder has caused
  2. $50,000 for the entire accident to cover bodily injuries or death
  3. Property damage liability to repair all property damaged in the collision worth $10,000

Also in Washington D.C., drivers must carry uninsured motorist insurance which will pay for the policyholders’ and passengers’ injuries and property damage caused by an uninsured driver.

Optional Coverage

People who have been convicted of breaking D.C. DUI laws will have had to pay so much money in fines and court costs and possibly lost their jobs. These facts could amount to a very serious financial setback for these people. If they were to cause an accident after they had their licenses reinstated and were getting their lives back on track, they would be introduced to even more financial difficulties.

By carrying the mandatory state car insurance minimums only, they have the ability to pay the other party’s bills but not their own. They may purchase optional insurance that will pay their medical bills as well as their passengers’ and for the property damaged. When people who have broken D.C. DUI laws do a comparison search for the best car insurance rates, they have the opportunity to choose collision coverage and medical payments coverage.

DUIs won’t necessarily keep people convicted of breaking D.C. DUI laws from finding affordable car insurance. They can even purchase the optional coverage they desperately need to keep them from falling into even deeper financial difficulties. The answer is to compare the free car insurance quotes they receive from several companies; this action gives them the best chances of purchasing auto insurance for the best price they can receive. Use our ZIP code search and save INSTANTLY!

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