What Cargo and Transit Insurance Requirements Apply in District of Columbia?

Where D.C. UCC Article 7 governs a shipment, §28:7-309 permits a stated-value limit in a bill of lading or transportation agreement only when rates depend on value and the consignor gets and is told about the chance to declare more; that limit does not apply to a carrier’s conversion of goods to its own use. Section 28:7-103 makes Article 7 subject to applicable U.S. treaties and statutes and D.C. regulatory statutes, so do not assume the D.C. rule governs every route or transport mode. D.C. insurance law authorizes marine insurance for goods exposed to transportation risks and related insurable interests; ask your broker to quote your goods interest across the route instead of relying on carrier contract liability.

What Is Cargo and Transit Insurance?

Cargo coverage fits a shipper protecting goods it owns or a carrier responsible for another party’s goods. The quote needs to match who bears the loss, the shipment route and storage stops. Read the national Cargo and transit guide.

What to Watch for With Cargo and Transit in District of Columbia

Check Whether the Bill of Lading Offered Higher Value
Where D.C. UCC Article 7 applies, a term in a bill of lading or transportation agreement may set a stated-value limit only if the carrier’s rates depend on value and the consignor is given and advised of a chance to declare more; §28:7-309(c) also allows reasonable shipment-claim deadlines in those documents, so record any terms and calendar the deadlines. The value limit does not apply to the carrier’s conversion of goods to its own use; the Code’s official comment clarifies that mere failure to redeliver is not conversion. Because §28:7-103 makes Article 7 subject to applicable U.S. treaties and statutes and D.C. regulatory statutes, confirm which rules govern each route and transport mode before relying on the cap. ^1,⁴
Distinguish Mover Cargo From Your Business Goods
The D.C. insurance regulator describes a mover's cargo policy as covering furniture and household goods in transit. That is guidance about a moving company's exposure, not proof that your own commercial inventory or your contractual interest is insured; name the insured interest when you request a quote. ^3,²
List the Full Route and Your Interest
D.C. Code § 31-2502.11 recognizes marine insurance for goods and merchandise exposed to transport risks and for insurable interests in their use, profit, or legal liability. The statute identifies an authorized insurance class, not an issued policy; list each transportation stage and storage stop and confirm the policy's actual terms. ²

Providers With District of Columbia License Records

These providers publish a national listing for Cargo and transit; the license records below name the licensed entities and roles. Some records rely on company-reported information rather than independent regulator verification. A national listing does not confirm the product is available in District of Columbia. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote.

Corgi
Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28
Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.
Corgi’s company producer-license table lists 50 jurisdictions: 49 states and the District of Columbia, including DC license 3003091619. New Mexico does not appear in the table and is not included here; the omission does not establish that Corgi is unlicensed there. The company-reported table has no stated as-of date and does not establish product availability. ¹⁵
Corgi lists a cargo contractual liability product in its transportation offering.

Who Regulates Insurance in District of Columbia?

District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking

DISB licenses and supervises insurance companies and producers, enforces District insurance laws, and provides consumer complaint assistance. Its licensing search covers insurance entities and representatives; consumers can contact the agency’s complaints unit for help. ^6,^7,⁹

Website: Regulator website
License lookup: Search licensed producers
Complaints: File a complaint
Phone: (202) 727-8000

Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office in District of Columbia

Reported tax rate. Generally 2% of gross premium, including qualifying placement fees ^8,^10,^11,^12,⁵

When the District is the insured’s home state, surplus-lines agents and brokers generally owe a 2% tax on gross premium, including necessary fees incidental to placement when separately itemized. An agent or broker procuring insurance on behalf of the District government is exempt for that government business; claiming the exemption requires identifying its allocation in the required affidavit and does not waive other statutory duties. Ask the broker which taxes and fees your agreement passes through to you. DISB generally requires a diligent effort to place risks with authorized insurers. For a purchaser meeting the federal exempt-commercial-purchaser definition, the broker may skip that search only after disclosing that insurance may or may not be available from the admitted market, which may provide greater protection with more regulatory oversight, followed by the purchaser’s written request for nonadmitted placement. This record does not state a District-specific guaranty-fund conclusion.

Questions to Ask Before You Buy Cargo and Transit in District of Columbia

Does my quote insure my ownership interest, my contractual liability for another party's goods, or both?
What value and rate did the carrier use, and where did it offer me a higher-value declaration?
Does the quoted policy cover the complete D.C. route, including any storage, transfer, or movement by another carrier?

Cargo and Transit Insurance in District of Columbia: FAQ

Can a D.C. carrier cap its liability for cargo?

Yes, where D.C. UCC Article 7 governs and a term in a bill of lading or transportation agreement sets the limit, the carrier’s rates depend on value, and the consignor is given and advised of a chance to declare more. A stated-value limit does not apply to the carrier’s conversion of goods to its own use; the Code’s official comment says mere failure to redeliver is not conversion. Where applicable, D.C. law also allows reasonable shipment-claim deadlines, but a treaty, federal statute, or D.C. regulatory statute may control instead, so check the rules for your route and mode and calendar any contract deadlines. ^1,⁴

Does a mover’s cargo policy cover my company’s inventory in D.C.?

The D.C. insurance regulator describes mover cargo insurance for furniture and household goods while in transit, but that statement does not establish coverage for a company's inventory. Ask for a quote naming your ownership or contractual interest and every route stage. ^3,²

Sources for Cargo and Transit Insurance in District of Columbia

1
D.C. Code § 28:7-309 — Duty of Care; Contractual Limitation of Carrier's Liability. D.C. Law Library; Subsections (a)–(c), including §28:7-309(b) prerequisites and conversion exception; §28:7-309(c) claims terms; official UCC Comment ¶3 clarifies mere nondelivery is not conversion. Accessed 2026-09-28.
2
D.C. Code § 31-2502.11 — Kinds of Insurance Authorized. D.C. Law Library; Subsection (1), fire and marine; goods, transit risk, insurable interest, use, profit, or liability. Accessed 2026-09-28.
3
Business Insurance Fact Sheet: Moving Company. D.C. Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking; Mover's Cargo Insurance; risks in a moving business; published fact sheet. Accessed 2026-09-28.
4
D.C. Code § 28:7-103 — Relation of Article to Treaty or Statute. D.C. Law Library; Subsection (a): Article subject to applicable U.S. treaties/statutes and D.C. regulatory statutes. Accessed 2026-09-28.
5
D.C. Code §31–2502.40: License to procure policies from unauthorized companies. Council of the District of Columbia; Subsection (a): broker/agent tax and diligent effort; (c)(1)–(3): District-government procurement tax exemption, allocation statement and continuing duties. Accessed 2026-09-28.
6
Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking. District of Columbia DISB; Official insurance regulator homepage. Accessed 2026-09-28.
7
Verify a Financial Institution or Representative Licensed with DISB. District of Columbia DISB; Official license verification for companies and representatives. Accessed 2026-09-28.
8
Surplus Line Information. District of Columbia DISB; Current 2% tax base including incidental placement fees; fees must be necessary and separately itemized; diligent-effort rule. Accessed 2026-09-28.
9
File a Complaint or Report Fraud. District of Columbia DISB; Official insurance complaint information and filing form. Accessed 2026-09-28.
10
15 U.S.C. §8201: Reporting, payment, and allocation of premium taxes. U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Law Revision Counsel; §8201(a): exclusive insured home-State authority to require nonadmitted premium tax; (c): separate allocation reporting. Accessed 2026-09-28.
11
15 U.S.C. § 8205: Streamlined application for commercial purchasers. U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Law Revision Counsel; §8205(1)-(2): admitted-market disclosure about possible availability, greater protection and oversight followed by the qualified purchaser’s written request; eligibility separately defined in §8206(5). Accessed 2026-09-28.
12
15 U.S.C. §8206: Definitions. U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Law Revision Counsel; §8206(5) exempt-commercial-purchaser criteria; (6) home State and affiliated-insured rules; (13) qualified risk manager. Accessed 2026-09-28.
13
Licenses. At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21.
14
Licenses and Carriers. Coalition; Licenses and Carriers, re-read 22 September 2026: Insurance Licenses table for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc., national producer number 18419475, with producer and surplus-lines numbers for all 50 states and DC including California 0L76155, Georgia 196479, Texas 2199630 and 2205589, Pennsylvania 815731 and 817452, Colorado 539028 and Wisconsin 3000108852. Insurance Carriers table naming, with NAIC numbers, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company 36420, Arch Specialty Insurance Company 21199, Ascot Specialty Insurance Company 45055, Ascot Insurance Company 23752, Aspen Specialty Insurance Company 10717, Chaucer Insurance Company DAC, Coalition Insurance Company 29530, Fireman's Fund Indemnity Corporation 11380, Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company 16823, Lloyd's of London, MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. 34886, MS Transverse Specialty Insurance Company 41807, Steadfast Insurance Company 26387, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company 16275 and Zurich American Insurance Company 16535. Accessed 2026-09-22.
15
Insurance Producer Licenses. Corgi Insurance; Current complete Insurance Producer Licenses table for Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; 50 rows covering 49 states and DC (DC 3003091619); no New Mexico row; no NPN or as-of date shown. Accessed 2026-09-28.
16
About Hiscox US Insurance. Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16.
17
Licenses. ERGO NEXT Insurance; Current entity-by-state license table reopened 28 September 2026: 50 rows under Next First Insurance Agency, Inc., including Washington, DC; New York rows instead list Next Insurance Services PC-1423070 and AP Intego BR-1198885. Accessed 2026-09-28.
18
Insurance Licenses by State. TechInsurance; Current state table; identifies TechInsurance as a division of Specialty Program Group LLC d/b/a SPG Insurance Solutions; lists DC 3000041536 and labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses,” without an agency license number. Accessed 2026-09-28.
19
Licenses. Vouch; Effective 16 January 2025: Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, NPN 19926463; P&C table (50 states and DC); surplus-lines table includes Idaho 870820; footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses; Idaho retained as producer-only due to conflict. Accessed 2026-09-15.

What Cargo and Transit Insurance Requirements Apply in District of Columbia?

What Is Cargo and Transit Insurance?

What to Watch for With Cargo and Transit in District of Columbia

Check Whether the Bill of Lading Offered Higher Value

Distinguish Mover Cargo From Your Business Goods

List the Full Route and Your Interest