If you own a car, you are probably familiar with buying auto insurance. Auto insurance provides you with some financial protection in the event something goes wrong. Exactly how it protects you, or what it protects you from, depends on the type of auto insurance coverage you have. Here is a list of the most common types of auto insurance coverages for the Washington, DC metropolitan area:

• Liability Coverage

  Liability coverage pays for harm that you negligently cause with your vehicle. It covers harm that you cause to other people (bodily injury) or other peoples' property. So if you legally owe someone else money because you injured them with your car, your liability coverage pays it. In addition to paying for the damage you cause, your liability coverage also provides you with an attorney, if you end up being sued.

  • Virginia: Liability coverage is not required. If you buy auto insurance, the minimum required automobile liability insurance coverage is $25,000 for one injured person, $50,000 for two or more injured people, and $20,000 for property damage. Virginia Code § 46.2-472. But you can also opt to not buy auto insurance, and remain an uninsured vehicle, by paying a $500 fee according to Virginia Code § 46.2-706.
  • Maryland: Liability coverage is required. Minimum required liability coverage is $30,000 for one person and $60,000 for two or more injured people. Additionally, there must be $15,000 in property damage coverage. Maryland Transportation Article § 17-103(b).
  • Washington, DC: Liability coverage is required. DC Code § 31-2403. The minimum required liability coverage is $25,000 for injury to one person and $50,000 for injury to two or more people. Additionally, each policy must offer $10,000 in coverage for property damage.

• Uninsured / Underinsured Motorists Coverage (UM/UIM)

  UM or UIM coverage pays you for harm caused to you by another motorist. This type of coverage becomes applicable when the motorist that injured you has no liability coverage, or insufficient liability coverage to pay for the damage he caused you.

  • Virginia: Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required, because auto insurance is not required. As with liability coverage in Virginia, if you buy auto insurance, the policy must have UM coverage equal to minimums required for liability coverage ($25,000 for one injured person, $50,000 for two or more injured people, and $20,000 for property damage) according to Virginia Code § 38.2-2206(A). If a Virginia resident opts to not buy auto insurance, he may remain uninsured by paying a $500 fee. Virginia Code § 46.2-706.
  • Maryland: Uninsured Motorist Coverage is required. According to Maryland Insurance Article § 19-509, the amount of UM coverage must be at least the minimums required of liability coverage ($30,000 for one injured person, $60,000 for two or more injured people, and $15,000 in property damage). UM Coverage may not be more than the amount of liability coverage provided by the policy.
  • Washington, DC: Uninsured Motorists coverage is required, but Underinsured Motorists coverage is optional. According to DC Code § 31-2406(f), UM coverage must be included on all DC auto insurance policies with coverage of at least $25,000 for one injured person, $50,000 for two or more injured people, and $5,000 in property damage. Paragraph (c-1) of § 31-2406 says that UIM must be offered, but it can be declined.

• Personal Injury Protection Coverage (PIP)

  PIP coverage pays you for your medical expenses and lost wages regardless of who is at fault in a motor vehicle accident. So you can collect PIP from your own auto insurance policy even when the accident was your fault.

  • Virginia: Residents of Virginia are not offered PIP (see below for Medical Payments Coverage in Virginia).
  • Maryland: Auto insurance companies in Maryland must offer you PIP coverage, but you can decline (waive) it. According to Maryland Insurance Article § 19-505(b)(2), auto insurers must include at least $2,500 in PIP to pay for medical expenses and lost wages following a collision. But if you don't want PIP coverage, you can decline it by submitting a written waiver to the insurance company. Maryland Insurance Article § 19-506.
  • Washington, DC: PIP coverage is optional in DC. According to DC Code § 31-2404, each insurance company must offer PIP coverage, but you can decline the coverage. If you opt for PIP coverage, you may choose to get PIP that covers medical and rehabilitation expenses in amounts of either $50,000 or $100,000, work loss coverage of either $12,000 or $24,000, and/or funeral benefits of $4,000.

• Medical Payments Coverage (Med Pay)

  Medical Payments Coverage (also called Medical Expense Benefits, in Virginia) is also a type of auto insurance coverage that pays for your medical costs (and sometimes other expenses) without regard to fault. In the Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC area, PIP and Med Pay have a lot of similarities, but a few differences.

  • Virginia: Med Pay or Medical Expenses Benefits coverage is optional. According to Virginia Code § 38.2-2201, Med Pay is optional for you in any amount you and the insurance company agree upon. The Med Pay coverage may be used for medical and treatment expenses, or lost wages, or both.
  • Maryland: Med Pay is optional coverage. In Maryland, there are many laws regulating PIP insurance, but no corresponding regulation of Med Pay coverage. You can have both PIP and Med Pay coverage in Maryland, too. Per the standard Personal Auto Policy in Maryland, Med Pay is intended to cover reasonable and necessary medical or funeral expenses caused by an accident.
  • Washington, DC: Med Pay is optional coverage. Like Maryland, there are numerous DC laws governing PIP insurance, but no laws mentioning Med Pay coverage. Since the amounts of PIP coverage in DC are high, Med Pay is less common in DC auto insurance policies.

• Collision Coverage

  Collision coverage pays you for physical damage to your own vehicle when it collides with another vehicle or object. If you bought this type of coverage, it will cover you regardless whether the accident was your fault.

  • Virginia: Collision coverage is optional. There is no statutory mandate or regulation of collision coverage in the Virginia Code. In the absence of laws, the coverage is determined by the language of your auto insurance policy.
  • Maryland: Collision coverage is optional. In Maryland Insurance Article § 19-512, collision coverage is defined as coverage for damage to the vehicle caused by collision with another vehicle, or object, or by upset of the vehicle. If it is offered, it will be offered with a deductible of between $50 and $250 and includes coverage for damage to rental cars, when the rental period is 30 days or less.
  • Washington, DC: Collision coverage is optional. There is no statutory mandate or regulation of collision coverage in the DC Code. In the absence of laws, the coverage is determined by the language of your auto insurance policy.

• Comprehensive Coverage

  Comprehensive coverage pays you for physical damage to your own vehicle caused by something "other than a collision." From the commonly used form auto policy, comprehensive coverage covers damage to your vehicle caused by "missiles or falling objects; fire; theft or larceny; explosion or earthquake; windstorm; hail, water or flood; malicious mischief or vandalism; riot or civil commotion; contact with bird or animal; or breakage of glass."

  • Virginia: Comprehensive coverage is optional. There is no statutory mandate or regulation of collision coverage in the Virginia Code. In the absence of laws, the coverage is determined by the language of your auto insurance policy.
  • Maryland: Comprehensive coverage is optional. There is no statutory mandate requiring comprehensive coverage to be offered. There is however, a single requirement that if an insurance policy includes comprehensive coverage in Maryland, it must also cover replacement vehicles. See Maryland Insurance Article § 19-512(b)(2)(ii).
  • Washington, DC: Comprehensive coverage is optional. There is no statutory mandate or regulation of collision coverage in the DC Code. In the absence of laws, the coverage is determined by the language of your auto insurance policy.