Cheap Car Insurance for Low-Income Drivers in Virginia

What is low-income car insurance in Virginia?

Low-income car insurance isn’t a type of policy you can buy or a program you can apply for in Virginia. Regardless of income, Virginia drivers must carry the state’s required minimum car insurance coverage.

Residents with low incomes can keep Virginia auto insurance costs down by qualifying for discounts, such as those based on their driving record. They can also choose a minimum-coverage policy instead of full coverage. Full coverage combines bodily injury and property damage liability with collision and comprehensive coverage.

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Cheapest car insurance in Virginia

The cheapest car insurance company in Virginia is Auto-Owners, with an average rate of $56 per month for liability-only car insurance. On average, liability-only car insurance costs $118 per month in Virginia — higher than the national average of $99.

Virginia’s higher minimum liability insurance requirements, which took effect Jan. 1, 2025, may contribute to its higher rates.^[1] Virginia is also more densely populated than the country overall, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

Liability-only car insurance rates tend to be lower in Virginia’s smaller communities and more rural areas than in its urban areas. For example, average rates are lower in Winchester, Bristol, and Christiansburg along the Interstate 81 corridor. Rates are higher in densely populated areas like Alexandria, Woodbridge, and Richmond along the I-95 corridor.

The table below shows the cheapest car insurance rates in Virginia.

The below rates in Virginia are estimated rates current as of: Wednesday, September 30 at 5:00 PM PDT. 

Insurance Company	Average Quote: Liability Only
Auto-Owners	$56
State Farm	$57
USAA	$76
Chubb	$84
Elephant	$88
Erie	$88
Mercury	$88
GEICO	$104
National General	$104
Progressive	$104
Bristol West	$107
Allstate	$113
Direct Auto	$114
CSAA	$115
GAINSCO	$116
Safeco	$118
AssuranceAmerica	$129
Liberty Mutual	$136
Trexis	$136
Insurify Car	$145
Dairyland	$147
Root	$147
The General	$147
Clearcover	$154
Trexis One	$157
Travelers	$160
Hugo	$184

Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time Virginia car insurance quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual car insurance quotes in Virginia may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with poor credit in Virginia

Drivers with poor credit pay higher average car insurance rates in Virginia than drivers with good credit. Virginia law allows insurers to use information from your credit history to calculate a credit-based insurance score, which can affect your rates.^[2] Not all states allow insurers to use credit information this way.

Insurers generally charge higher rates to drivers with poor credit because data shows a link between lower credit scores and a higher likelihood of filing a claim.

The table below shows liability quotes for drivers with poor credit in Virginia.

The below rates in Virginia are estimated rates current as of: Wednesday, September 30 at 5:00 PM PDT. 

Insurance Company	Average Quote: Liability Only
State Farm	$83
Auto-Owners	$84
USAA	$94
Mercury	$107
Elephant	$109
GEICO	$122
National General	$129
Erie	$129
Progressive	$130
Bristol West	$132
Chubb	$134
Allstate	$141
Direct Auto	$141
CSAA	$142
GAINSCO	$143
Safeco	$146
AssuranceAmerica	$159
Liberty Mutual	$162
Trexis	$170
Insurify Car	$181
Dairyland	$182
Root	$182
The General	$182
Travelers	$190
Clearcover	$190
Trexis One	$196
Hugo	$229

Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time Virginia car insurance quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual car insurance quotes in Virginia may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Car insurance options for low-income drivers in Virginia

Virginia doesn’t have a specialized car insurance program for low-income drivers. But if you’re having trouble finding coverage, you can apply for insurance through the Virginia Automobile Insurance Plan (VAIP), the state’s assigned risk plan.

The VAIP accepts high-risk drivers and randomly assigns applicants to participating Virginia insurers. The assigned insurer will issue and manage the policy, including handling billing and claims.

To apply for coverage through the VAIP, you’ll need to request it through a certified agent. You can find one through the AIPSO “Find a Producer” tool by selecting Virginia.

Non-standard insurance companies may be an option if you can’t get coverage in the standard market. Here are a few companies that specialize in high-risk drivers:

• Bristol West: Drivers with poor or no credit, limited insurance or driving history, or violations such as accidents and DUIs can get coverage through Bristol West.

• Dairyland: Virginia drivers who need to file an SR-22 or FR-44 can get coverage through Dairyland. The insurer can file either form with the state at no additional cost.

Virginia requires drivers to file an SR-22 as proof of financial responsibility after certain violations, including driving uninsured. Drivers with DUI-related violations may need to file an FR-44 instead.

Minimum car insurance requirements in Virginia

Virginia requires drivers to carry liability and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. The state’s minimum liability limits are 50/100/25.

• Bodily injury liability: If you or someone else driving your car causes injury or death to another person, bodily injury coverage can help pay their medical expenses and other costs up to your policy limits.

• Property damage liability: If you or someone driving your car damages someone else’s property, property damage liability helps pay for the damage up to your policy limits.

• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: If you’re in an accident (such as a hit-and-run) where the other driver is uninsured or doesn’t have enough insurance, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage helps pay for your injuries and property damage, up to your policy limits.

Choosing minimum coverage can lower your car insurance costs in Virginia, but there’s a trade-off. If you cause an accident, your liability limits may not be high enough to cover the other party’s expenses. Your minimum coverage also won’t pay to repair or replace your own vehicle.

For example, suppose you’re driving along Broad Street in downtown Richmond, heading toward the Fan, when you hit another vehicle in an intersection. The other driver is seriously injured, and their brand-new vehicle is totaled. Your liability insurance can pay up to $50,000 of their medical bills and $25,000 for their vehicle damage. You’d be responsible for paying costs above those limits.

Coverage	Minimum Requirement	What It Covers
Bodily injury liability	$50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident	Injury or death you cause to someone else
Property damage liability	$25,000 per accident	Damage to someone else’s property
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage	$50,000/$100,000/$25,000	Your injuries and property damage

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Liability policies average $118/mo.

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What affects car insurance rates in Virginia?

Several factors affect the average cost of car insurance in Virginia:

• Traffic density: Although 18% of Virginians work from home, the state’s average commute time is still higher than the national average, at more than 27 minutes. Congestion is especially significant in northern Virginia near Washington, D.C., where the average commuter spent 90 hours in traffic in 2024.^[3] In Richmond, the average commuter lost 42 hours to traffic.

• Auto theft: Virginia’s auto theft rate dropped 20% in 2025 from the previous year.^[4] But the National Insurance Crime Bureau ranked the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metropolitan area No. 8 in the U.S. for total vehicle thefts in 2025.

• Severe weather: Virginia faces winter storms, tropical storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and flooding. These events can damage vehicles and create unsafe conditions that can lead to accidents.

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