Virginia car insurance requirements are pretty standard when compared to other states. The DMV is the agency that enforces them, since you cannot register your car without meeting these requirements. Therefore, it’s best to understand exactly how much car insurance Virginia drivers must carry. Understanding Virginia state minimums could save you money on your car insurance or help you decide the car insurance limits that best suit you.

Minimum Virginia Car Insurance Requirements

Keep in mind, these are the absolute minimum requirements for car insurance in the state of Virginia. We do not recommend carrying limits this low. It may save you a few dollars on your insurance bill, but you will be at a very high risk for losing much more if you are involved in an accident. You should do everything in your power to purchase a comprehensive Virginia car insurance plan that will protect you and the people you love.

Minimum Virginia auto insurance requirements:

• Liability for bodily injury or death of a single person: $25,000
• Liability for bodily injury or death of more than one person: $50,000
• Damage to property: $20,000

Uninsured Motor Vehicle Fee

If you cannot afford insurance or do not want to carry insurance, you can pay a $500 uninsured motor vehicle fee to the DMV. This fee is paid annually when your registration is due for renewal. This is an extremely dangerous option since it does not provide any insurance protection. You will truly be driving at your own risk. Should you injure someone or damage someone’s property, you will be fully responsible for paying their bills.

Virginia License Plates or Decals

If you want to get a license plate and decal for your car, you must show the DMV that you meet the minimum Virginia auto insurance requirements. If you don’t carry the minimum amount of insurance, you have the option of paying the uninsured motor vehicle fee. We’ll get to that fee in a moment. For those of you moving from out of state, keep in mind that your auto insurance provider must be eligible to write insurance in Virginia.

Penalty For Not Meeting the Virginia Car Insurance Requirements

If you do not carry insurance and do not pay the uninsured vehicle fee, your drivers license and registration will be terminated. It will cost you $500 to reinstate them. That may not seem like too much, but you will also be required to carry a SR-22 certificate for three years. These are extremely expensive; think thousands of dollars per year.

As you can see, you have a few options to satisfy Virginia car insurance requirements. We highly recommend discussing your options with a licensed insurance professional. Most agents can work with your budget to help you get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford. If you would like to speak with an agent regarding Virginia car insurance, call our agency at 804-744-3345 and request to speak with a car insurance expert.