What is liability car insurance?
Liability insurance pays for injuries or property damage you cause to others in an at-fault accident, up to your policy limits. States often require it, and it includes bodily injury liability and property damage liability with specific minimum-coverage limits.[1]
Virginia law requires drivers to carry liability insurance. It protects the at-fault driver up to certain limits while helping pay for the other party’s injuries or property damage.
Liability-only insurance covers your basic Virginia car insurance requirements, but it only covers the other party. Full coverage includes the minimum insurance plus collision coverage and comprehensive coverage, which can help pay for damages to your vehicle in a range of circumstances.
Cheapest liability car insurance in Virginia
The average cost of liability insurance in Virginia is $117 per month, according to Insurify data. Full coverage costs $206 per month in the Old Dominion. Multiple factors affect your policy premiums, including age, driving record, vehicle, and the neighborhood you live in.
The following table lists the insurance companies offering the lowest liability car insurance rates in Virginia, along with average monthly quotes.
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote: Liability Only |
|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $56 |
| State Farm | $57 |
| USAA | $77 |
| CSAA | $82 |
| Chubb | $85 |
| Erie | $88 |
| Mercury | $88 |
| Elephant | $89 |
| GEICO | $105 |
| National General | $105 |
| Progressive | $106 |
| Bristol West | $108 |
| Allstate | $112 |
| Direct Auto | $114 |
| GAINSCO | $115 |
| Safeco | $119 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $129 |
| Trexis | $137 |
| Liberty Mutual | $138 |
| Insurify Car | $143 |
| Dairyland | $146 |
| Root | $148 |
| The General | $148 |
| Clearcover | $158 |
| Trexis One | $158 |
| Travelers | $161 |
| Hugo | $180 |
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Minimum liability car insurance requirements in Virginia
Starting Jan. 1, 2025, liability car insurance limits in Virginia increased, according to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Virginia’s coverage requirements now include $50,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 in property damage liability.
Bodily injury liability covers medical bills for another party if you’re at fault. Property damage pays for repairs to another driver’s vehicle or property, such as a fence. Both provide coverage up to the policy limits. Additionally, drivers must have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) with minimum limits of $50,000/$100,000/$25,000.[2]
Liability insurance helps protect you against financial loss, but it doesn’t cover your own vehicle after an accident you cause. For example, if you get into a car accident or experience auto theft, a full-coverage policy with collision and comprehensive coverage can help pay for damage to or loss of your vehicle. You may also want to consider medical payments coverage for your own injuries.
The table below shows coverage types and minimum requirements in Virginia.
Auto Coverage | Minimum Coverage Limits |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 per accident |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage | $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident, $25,000 property damage |
Is minimum liability coverage enough in Virginia?
Minimum liability coverage in Virginia may not be enough if you have an auto loan or lease, or if you’d like broader protection. When financing your vehicle, lenders typically require collision and comprehensive coverage.
Liability insurance covers costs for the other driver, not you. If you want additional protection, it can make sense to go beyond the state-required minimum insurance and buy full coverage. That way, you can have coverage for damage to your own vehicle from a collision, fire, or falling objects.
You might consider more than just liability coverage if:
You have a loan or lease.
Your personal assets exceed your liability coverage limits.
You want coverage for weather events and theft.
Additionally, it can make sense to purchase higher limits of liability insurance. Severe accidents or injuries could surpass those limits and put your assets at risk. Lawsuits can also drive up costs quickly. Higher liability coverage limits may help safeguard your finances.
Penalties for driving without liability insurance in Virginia
Virginia law requires drivers to carry liability insurance. Driving without liability coverage can lead to having to:
Pay a $600 noncompliance fee
File an SR-22, or financial responsibility insurance certificate, for three years
Pay a $145 reinstatement fee
Additionally, you may face license and registration suspension until you obtain the necessary liability coverage. When you secure liability insurance, your premiums will likely be much higher due to the lapse in coverage.
The Virginia DMV has an insurance verification program to help determine whether drivers have the appropriate coverage. If a driver doesn’t have insurance, the agency will request proof of insurance.
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How to find cheap liability car insurance in Virginia
To find cheap liability-only car insurance, drivers in Virginia can:
Bundle policies. In Virginia, 67% of residents own their homes and live in owner-occupied homes, according to the latest census data. For those in this group, bundling auto and homeowners insurance may qualify you for a multi-policy discount.
Research discounts. Check out applicable discounts based on driving record, affiliation, employment, and school. For example, Virginia requires insurers to offer a discount to drivers age 55 and older who complete an eligible accident-prevention course.
Maintain a clean driving record. Virginia uses a point system for your driving history, which may affect rates. Drivers in the state may get demerit points for unsafe driving or traffic violations. Maintaining a clean record with no violations may help you earn safe points during the calendar year.
Get multiple auto insurance quotes. Compare quotes from the best car insurance companies to secure the lowest rates on state-minimum coverage. Get at least three car insurance quotes every six months.
Liability car insurance in Virginia FAQs
Find out more about minimum car insurance in Virginia and how to lower auto insurance premiums.
How much is liability insurance for a car in VA?
Liability insurance in Virginia costs $117 per month, according to Insurify data. Drivers in the state must carry minimum-coverage car insurance to comply with state law and avoid fines and penalties.
What is the meaning of liability car insurance in Virginia?
Liability car insurance in Virginia refers to the state-minimum coverage required to drive in the state. Under Virginia car insurance laws, drivers must carry $50,000 in bodily injury liability per person, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 in property damage liability. Drivers must also have uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage with the same minimum limits.
Does VA require liability insurance?
Yes. The state of Virginia requires drivers to carry liability insurance. This includes bodily injury liability, property damage liability, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage with specific minimum-coverage limits.
How can you lower your car insurance rate in Virginia?
You can get lower rates on liability insurance in Virginia by bundling your home and auto insurance and shopping around for coverage. Increasing your deductible, keeping a clean driving record, and asking your insurer about discounts can also provide meaningful savings.
Sources
- Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. "Insurance Requirements."
- Virginia.gov. "§ 38.2-2206. Uninsured motorist insurance coverage."
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 250 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 500+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
- Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
- No additional coverage
- Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
- Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
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