Virginia Car Insurance Requirements in 2026

Virginia car insurance requirements at a glance

Coverage	Minimum Requirement in Virginia
Bodily injury liability coverage	$50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident
Property damage liability coverage	$25,000
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage	Insurers must include UM/UIM coverage with all liability policies with matching limits; drivers can reduce coverage amounts in writing to state-minimum liability limits

Virginia car insurance requirements explained

As of Jan. 1, 2025, Virginia changed the rules surrounding minimum car insurance requirements. Now all drivers must carry 50/100/25 in liability coverage to drive legally, up from 30/60/20.^[1] This increase is meant to help offset rising medical and repair costs associated with serious accidents.

Virginia bodily injury liability insurance requirements

Virginia drivers need at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident in bodily injury liability insurance. If you cause an accident, this coverage can help pay for the other party’s injuries.

Virginia property damage liability insurance requirements

You also need at least $25,000 in property damage liability insurance. After an accident, this coverage can help pay for repairs to another driver’s vehicle. But it won’t help cover the cost to repair or replace your own vehicle.

Virginia uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage

All Virginia liability insurance policies must also include uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage equal to your liability limits.^[2] UM/UIM can help pay your costs if you sustain an injury in an accident where the other driver is at fault and isn’t carrying car insurance or their policy limits are too low to cover your damages.

You have the right to reduce UM/UIM coverage limits on your policy in writing to the state minimum.

Find Cheap Car Insurance in Virginia

Liability policies average $117/mo.

Enter your ZIP codeView My Quotes

Excellent

4.7 out of 5 based on 17,207 reviews

Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.

Are Virginia’s car insurance requirements sufficient for most drivers?

State-minimum liability insurance coverage is almost never enough to fully protect you financially after a serious crash. If you’re at fault for a multi-vehicle accident with significant property damage, injuries, or fatalities, your liability coverage may not be high enough. It also won’t cover damage to your vehicle or your injuries, regardless of fault.^[3]

Drivers who want added financial protection may want to consider raising liability limits or adding full coverage, which typically includes collision, comprehensive, liability, and medical payments (MedPay) insurance.

The table below shows suggested coverages and limits for Virginia drivers:

Coverage	Recommended Coverage Limits
Bodily injury liability coverage	$100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident
Property damage liability coverage	$100,000 per accident
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage	Same as liability limits
Medical payments	$2,000 or an amount equal to your health insurance deductible
Comprehensive and collision	$500 to $1,000 deductible

Other car insurance requirements to be aware of in Virginia

In addition to Virginia’s minimum car insurance requirements, you should note the following:

• Full-coverage requirement: In Virginia, 35% of drivers lease or finance their vehicle, according to Insurify data. Lenders and lessors typically require drivers to carry full-coverage car insurance, including comprehensive coverage and collision coverage.

• FR-44 requirement: Virginia is one of only two states that require drivers to have an FR-44. If you get a DUI in Virginia, you must obtain an FR-44 certificate, which doubles the minimum liability coverage requirement.^[4]

• Proof of insurance: The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) recommends keeping proof of insurance in your vehicle at all times.

How Virginia’s car insurance requirements influence rates

Virginia has higher-than-average car insurance rates compared to what drivers pay in other states. The average monthly cost of car insurance in Virginia is around $117 for liability-only coverage and $207 for full coverage.

Several factors influence car insurance rates in Virginia, including:

• Virginia’s high number of animal collisions

• Major highways and commute patterns throughout the state, particularly around Richmond and Washington, D.C.

• Hurricane and flood risks in coastal Virginia

• Higher-than-average vehicle repair costs

Virginia’s minimum car insurance requirements also make rates higher. In 2025, Virginia raised its minimum car insurance requirements by 67% for bodily injury and 25% for property damage.

Cheapest state-minimum required car insurance in Virginia

The below rates in Virginia are estimated rates current as of: Monday, August 31 at 5:00 PM PDT. 

Insurance Company	Average Monthly Quote
Auto-Owners	$56
State Farm	$57
USAA	$77
Chubb	$85
Erie	$87
Mercury	$87
Elephant	$88
CSAA	$95
GEICO	$104
National General	$105
Progressive	$105
Bristol West	$108
Allstate	$113
Direct Auto	$115
GAINSCO	$116
Safeco	$119
AssuranceAmerica	$128
Trexis	$136
Liberty Mutual	$138
Insurify Car	$143
Dairyland	$146
The General	$147
Root	$148
Clearcover	$157
Trexis One	$158
Travelers	$161
Hugo	$182

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.

Virginia car insurance laws and related programs

The Virginia DMV is in charge of making sure all drivers have the proper insurance. It actively uses an insurance-verification program to compare vehicle registration information with liability coverage information from insurers.

Virginia requires senior drivers 75 and older to renew their licenses every five years and may conduct a fitness and medical review when necessary. The DMV also offers a list of approved driver safety courses for seniors.^[5]

Penalties for driving without insurance in Virginia

Virginia has strict penalties for driving without insurance. If your insurer cancels your car insurance, or your coverage lapses or goes unrenewed, Virginia law requires you to immediately reinsure the vehicle. If you choose not to buy car insurance again, you must deactivate your license plates or permanently surrender them to the DMV.

If law enforcement catches you driving without insurance, the Virginia DMV will suspend your driving and vehicle registration privileges. For reinstatement, you’ll need to:

• Pay a fee. You must pay a $600 non-compliance fee. If you can’t afford the fee, you can enter a payment-plan program. You may also owe a reinstatement fee.

• File an SR-22. You must file an SR-22 certificate for three years. Virginia SR-22 insurance is typically more expensive than standard coverage since insurers will consider you a high-risk driver.

Compare Virginia Car Insurance Quotes

See quotes from top insurers in minutes

Enter your ZIP codeGet My Quotes

Excellent

4.7 out of 5 based on 17,207 reviews

Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.

Other car insurance coverages worth considering in Virginia

Consider adding these additional coverages to your Virginia auto insurance policy:

• Comprehensive coverage: Comprehensive insurance protects you from non-collision incidents, like theft or damage caused by severe weather, vandalism, or animal strikes. Coastal flooding can bring significant water damage to vehicles in Eastern Virginia, and animal collisions are common throughout the state.^[6]

• Collision coverage: Nearly 5% of Virginia drivers have an at-fault accident on their record, according to Insurify data. Given the commonwealth’s multiple major highways and commuter traffic around Richmond and D.C., collision coverage can help pay for damages to your vehicle after a crash, regardless of fault.

• Medical payments coverage: Virginia law recommends $2,000 in MedPay coverage, but it notes that Virginians and insurers can agree to any other limits.

• Loss of income benefits coverage: This add-on helps cover your loss of income up to $100 per week after a crash.

• Rental car reimbursement: Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation data shows that 70% of Virginia workers drive to work alone.^[7] If you commute, consider adding rental car reimbursement to help cover the cost of a car rental while your vehicle is in the shop after an accident.

Virginia car insurance requirements FAQs