Auto Insurance

Each jurisdiction sets its own minimum liability limits, and they differ in important ways:

• Washington, DC: Liability of 25/50/10 ($25,000 bodily injury per person / $50,000 per accident / $10,000 property damage), uninsured motorist coverage at the same limits, and $5,000 personal injury protection (PIP).
• Maryland: Liability of 30/60/15, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage at the same limits, and $2,500 minimum PIP (can be waived in writing).
• Virginia: Liability of 30/60/20 (increased from 25/50/20 effective January 1, 2025), uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage at the same limits. Virginia’s “uninsured motor vehicle fee” option was eliminated July 1, 2024.

The state minimum is the legal floor — most drivers, especially homeowners, should carry significantly higher limits because a single serious accident can exceed those minimums. We’ll review your situation and recommend coverage that actually protects your assets.

These are the three main components of an auto policy:

• Liability pays for injuries and property damage you cause to others. Required in DC, MD, and VA.
• Collision pays to repair or replace your car after a crash, regardless of fault. Optional, but usually required if you have a car loan or lease.
• Comprehensive covers non-collision damage — theft, vandalism, fire, flood, hail, falling objects, hitting an animal. Also usually required by lenders.

Most policies also include personal injury protection (PIP), uninsured motorist coverage, rental reimbursement, roadside assistance, and gap insurance depending on the vehicle and the driver’s situation.

Yes – in all three jurisdictions, uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is required by law at the same limits as your liability coverage, and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage is also required in Maryland and Virginia. Even where it’s required, the legal minimums are usually too low. A serious accident caused by an uninsured driver can leave you covering medical bills, lost wages, and long-term care out of pocket. Most Capital Point clients carry UM/UIM at higher limits than the state minimum because the cost is small and the protection is substantial.

Because we’re independent and represent multiple A-rated carriers, we compare available discounts across companies — and which combinations produce the lowest total premium varies by driver and vehicle. Common auto discounts include:

• Multi-policy bundle (home + auto, condo + auto, renters + auto): typically 10–25%
• Multi-vehicle: 10–20% for two or more cars on the same policy
• Safe driver / claims-free: rewards 3–5+ years without an at-fault accident
• Good student: full-time students under 25 with a B average
• Defensive driving course: especially for drivers 55+
• Telematics / usage-based programs: 5–30% for safe driving habits
• Anti-theft, paid-in-full, paperless billing, advance-quote: smaller stackable discounts

We quote your policy across multiple carriers and show you the breakdown.

Most personal auto policies extend coverage to any vehicle you drive with the owner’s permission, including rental cars — but with limits:

• Liability typically follows you, so you have coverage for damage you cause.
• Collision and comprehensive on the borrowed vehicle generally only apply if you carry those on at least one vehicle on your own policy.
• Your limits are the limits — if you carry only state-minimum liability, that’s all you have in the rental.
• Some uses are excluded — long-term rentals (more than 30 days), commercial use, and exotic/high-value vehicles often aren’t covered.

If you rent often, ask us about a rental rider or whether your credit card includes secondary collision coverage.

In most cases, an at-fault accident or moving violation will increase your premium for 3–5 years, depending on the carrier and severity. A DUI can increase rates 50–100% or more, and some carriers won’t write a new policy with a DUI in the past 3–5 years. The advantage of working with an independent agency: because we represent multiple A-rated carriers, we shop your policy across companies that have different appetites for prior incidents. What’s a deal-breaker for one carrier may be acceptable to another. If you’ve had a recent accident, ticket, or DUI, call us at 301.468.9600 — we’ll find the most competitive option available.