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Virginia is an at-fault (tort) state. Drivers must carry at least 50/100/25 in coverage, and the average full-coverage premium is $2,871 a year, 2% below the national average of $2,922. This guide covers what Virginia requires, what drivers pay, the rules on fault, uninsured drivers, penalties, teen drivers and phone use, and how to pay less.
| Minimum coverage | 50/100/25 |
| Fault system | At-fault (tort) |
| Average full coverage | $2,871 a year ($239 a month), 2% below the national average of $2,922 |
| Uninsured drivers | 12.9% (2023), the 23rd highest rate of 51 |
| Filing after serious violations | FR-44 after a DUI; SR-22 in other cases |
Virginia requires $50,000 bodily injury liability per person, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 property damage liability, in force since January 1, 2025 (up from 30/60/20) (Virginia DMV, "Insurance Requirements"; Code of Virginia §46.2-472).
| Uninsured and underinsured motorist | Included at limits equal to your liability limits unless you choose lower limits, and never below the state minimums. |
Since July 1, 2024, Virginia no longer lets owners pay an uninsured motor vehicle fee instead of buying insurance. Every registered vehicle must be insured.
The minimums are a legal floor, not a recommendation. Property damage limits in particular don't go far when a new car can cost more than the limit to replace, and anything above your limits is your personal responsibility. See how limits and deductibles work and every type of coverage explained.
The average full-coverage premium in Virginia is $2,871 a year, 2% below the national average of $2,922. That makes Virginia the 18th most expensive of 49 (48 states plus D.C.; Alaska and Hawaii aren't in the data) (Experian, "Car Insurance Average Costs by State," published September 9, 2026; full coverage, 12 months to August 2026).
Within Virginia, prices still vary a lot by ZIP code, driving record and car, and 12.9% of drivers on Virginia roads were uninsured in 2023, so the coverage you choose matters as much as the premium.
Your own price depends on your ZIP code, age, driving record, car and coverage. Try our car insurance calculator with Virginia preselected for a personal estimate, and see what determines your car insurance cost.
Virginia follows pure contributory negligence, one of the strictest rules in the country: if you are even slightly at fault for a crash, even 1%, you generally can't recover damages from the other driver. (Matthiesen, Wickert & Lehrer, "Contributory Negligence/Comparative Fault Laws in All 50 States," updated June 10, 2026)
An estimated 12.9% of Virginia drivers were uninsured in 2023, the 23rd highest rate among the 50 states and D.C. (Insurance Research Council, uninsured motorist estimates for 2023, via Insurance Information Institute "Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists"). Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage protects you when one of them hits you. See coverage types.
The Virginia DMV verifies liability insurance on registered vehicles electronically. If it can't find coverage, the owner must give DMV the policy details. (Virginia DMV, "Insurance Requirements")
If DMV finds you drove uninsured, your driving and registration privileges are suspended until you pay a $600 non-compliance fee and a reinstatement fee and file an SR-22 for three years. If coverage lapses, you must insure the vehicle again, deactivate the plates or surrender them to DMV. (Virginia DMV, "Insurance Requirements")
A conviction for driving uninsured also follows you into your next policy. In CarInsurance.com's rate analysis, it raised the average full-coverage premium in Virginia from $1,469 to $1,821 a year, an increase of 24% (CarInsurance.com, "Penalty for driving without insurance in every state," updated March 24, 2026; rate analysis).
Beyond the penalties, driving uninsured leaves you personally liable for any damage you cause. See what happens if you drive without car insurance.
Virginia uses the SR-22 to prove future financial responsibility, for example after driving uninsured. After certain DUI-related convictions it requires an FR-44 instead, which certifies liability coverage of twice the minimum limits: 100/200/50. (Virginia DMV, "Financial Responsibility Certifications")
Virginia uses graduated driver licensing (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, "Graduated licensing laws" table):
Adding a teen is usually the biggest single increase in a family's premium. Keeping them on the family policy, a good-student discount and a safe, modest car help most.
A distracted-driving ticket can count against your record and your premium. (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, "Electronic device laws" table)
See how to compare car insurance quotes, or get quotes for your ZIP code.
For questions about a policy, a claim or an insurer's conduct, contact the Virginia State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Insurance. It handles consumer questions and complaints about insurers in Virginia.
AutoInsuranceQuery editorial team. Last reviewed: September 29, 2026.
