Virginia Auto Insurance

Virginia uses a Tort insurance system, which means that if you cause an accident, you will be in charge with covering all expenses, including eventual medical bills of injured people.

Minimum insurance requirements

The state of Virginia requires its residents to carry at least a 25/50/25 Liability coverage and 25/50/25 Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Insurance:

• $25,000 to cover medical expenses of one passenger in an accident caused by you or an uninsured/underinsured motorist, but not more than $50,000 for all injured passengers;
• $25,000 to cover property damage in an accident caused by you or an uninsured/underinsured motorist.

Average insurance costs in Virginia

Virginia is one of the cheapest states to be insured in, with an average quote of only $968, which is way below the country mean figure of $1,678. Rates may vary across the state though and, in general, the larger the city, the more its residents will pay for auto insurance. Here are some samples: $1,325 in Virginia Beach, $1,569 in Norfolk, $1,328 in Alexandria, $1,533 in Hampton, $1,411 in Portsmouth, $1,325 in Virginia Beach, $1,125 in Arlington, $1,461 in Newport News, $1,360 in Richmond, $1,565 in Norfolk, $1,412 in Chesapeake, $1,072 in Roanoke.

About driving and using a cellphone

The state of Virginia has passed several laws regarding the use of cellphones when driving. Drivers may not engage in text-based communication while operating a vehicle. School bus drivers, as well as new drivers in the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program, are banned from using a cellphone altogether while driving a car.

Teenage driving regulations

Aspiring teenagers may join the GDL program once they are 15 and a half years. By the time they get their unrestricted license, kids have several restrictions to face:

• they may not drive unless assisted by a licensed parent, a licensed legal guardian or a driver of legal age;
• the supervising driver must always sit in the passenger’s seat;
• they may drive between midnight and 4 am only if they are on their way to/from school, work or in case of an emergency;
• during the first six months, they may not carry passengers younger than 20, unless they are immediate family members.

Penalties for driving uninsured in Virginia

If you drive without insurance in Virginia, your driver’s license and vehicle registration privileges will be suspended. You will then get a SR-22 filing requirement for three years, charged a statutory fee of $500 and a reinstatement fee of $250.