Auto Insurance in Virginia

Strategies to help you cut costs on car insurance in Virginia

Car insurance in Virginia, like gas or rent, is expensive yet necessary. It doesn't just protect your car from dents; it protects you and other drivers from both bodily harm and financial ruin. For that reason, Virginia car insurance coverage isn't just something that drivers in the "Old Dominion State" should have; it's something they must have.

Virginia auto insurance coverage doesn’t have to break the bank. You may be able to save by shopping around, declining unnecessary coverage and trading high deductibles for lower premiums. Indeed, you can cut costs, but you can't cut corners. If you drive in Virginia, you need auto insurance in Virginia. Here's what kind and how much, according to Virginia state law:

1. When buying auto insurance in Virginia, drivers must purchase bodily injury liability (BIL), property damage liability (PDL) and uninsured motorist bodily injury (UM) coverage; collision, comprehensive, personal injury protection (PIP) and uninsured property damage coverage are recommended, but not required.
2. Auto insurance in Virginia must include BIL coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for costs associated with the injury or death of others in a wreck.
3. Auto insurance in Virginia must include PDL coverage of at least $20,000 for damage to another person's property in an accident.
4. In Virginia, car insurance must include at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in uninsured motorist bodily injury (UM) coverage in the event that you’re in an accident with an uninsured or hit-and-run driver.

 

Browse Virginia auto insurance rates online

If you need Virginia auto insurance, online quotes are a good starting point. Available from all major auto insurance companies in Virginia, they offer a fast and convenient way to research and compare premiums.
Try: Get comprehensive online quotes from Virginia car insurance providers at websites like InsWeb, Insurance.com, InsuranceUSA and InsuranceFinder, or from companies like Progressive and Esurance, which quote both their own and competitors' rates.

Solicit Virginia car insurance quotes from national providers

Most major car insurance carriers offer auto insurance in Virginia and all provide competitive Virginia auto insurance rates.
Try: Among the largest and most popular car insurance companies in Virginia are AIG, Allstate, Chubb, Farmers, GEICO, The Hartford, Liberty Mutual and State Farm. National associations like AAA and AARP are also good sources for affordable auto insurance in Virginia.

Get car insurance in Virginia from local and regional companies

In Virginia, auto insurance rates can vary dramatically; for some of the most affordable, consider locally based providers.
Try: For automotive insurance in Virginia, try Virginia-based companies like Eisert Insurance Service, Rockingham Group and Northern Neck Insurance Company. Also consider local programs, like the Virginia Automobile Insurance Plan, which exists for drivers who can't easily find auto insurance in Virginia.

Use an independent agent to find Virginia car insurance bargains

Buying car insurance in Virginia via an independent insurance agent can expose you to new resources, practical advice and special rates.
Try: To find an independent agent who can sell you car insurance in Virginia, use the “find an independent agent” feature at the Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia.

Choose Virginia auto insurance companies that you can trust

Before doing business with Virginia car insurance providers, review their records with consumers to make sure they are reliable, reputable and responsible.
Try: If you subscribe to Consumer Reports, you can check up on car insurance companies in Virginia. Other good resources are the Virginia Bureau of Insurance, which licenses auto insurance companies in Virginia, and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, which compiles statistics on complaints against them.

 

• Consider buying more coverage than is required by state law; minimum Virginia car insurance might not be enough to cover car repairs or medical bills after an accident.
• Penalties for drivers who don't have Virginia car insurance include driver's license and license plate suspension, as well as cash fines.
• If you're leasing or financing your car, dealerships might require you to have more and better Virginia auto insurance than is required by state law.
• Higher deductibles typically mean lower premiums and more monthly savings on auto insurance in Virginia.
• Drivers should know that in place of Virginia auto insurance, they can pay an uninsured motorist fee of $500 that allows them to drive an uninsured vehicle at their own risk. If you don't have proper Virginia car insurance, your home, wages or other assets may be seized in order to pay valid claims against you.

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