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Like most states, Virginia requires drivers living within their borders to carry and maintain essential minimum car insurance. Until 2024, when previous laws were repealed, Virginia allowed drivers to opt out of car insurance if they paid an upfront fee. However, all drivers currently need to carry and maintain basic liability insurance, also known as minimum coverage. These essential minimum compensation restrictions were reviewed in early 2025 and increased. Here’s what you need to know about Virginia’s Auto Insurance Act.
Virginia Auto Insurance Law
Virginia’s Auto Insurance Act requires drivers to carry and maintain essential minimum insurance requirements for driving legally within the state. Virginia requirements include the following coverage types and amounts:
Like most states, drivers are required to carry proof of insurance or proof of insurance while driving. If you catch a driving without proof, you may reduce or remove the ticket fine by presenting proof of insurance in court.
Virginia Liability Insurance
Currently, all vehicles in Virginia require basic liability insurance, also known as the lowest range. However, it is important to understand how this type of car insurance works. Liability compensation does not cover damage to your injury or injury or passengers in the event of an accident. Instead, liability compensation is designed to cover accident costs for drivers without disabilities. This means that if you have an accident, you are likely to end up paying the costs from your pocket. Not only that, basic liability compensation restrictions may not be sufficient to cover the cost of damages to others. This means you can also pay from your pocket for injuries or damage to other drivers beyond the limit of liability.
These liability car insurance restrictions are a big part of why experts often recommend considering fully covered car insurance. This type of car insurance costs more, but if your car insurance fees rise slightly, you can save on costly costs.
Is Virginia disabled?
Virginia is a disability nation, also known as a tort state. This means that a driver whose legal person responsible for causing the accident is determined to be financially liable for property damage and injuries, in the tort state, requires that the driver carry a certain amount of car insurance and holds a driver responsible for costs exceeding the policy’s limits.
What is the new Virginia Auto Insurance Act?
Virginia’s Auto Insurance Act has undergone several changes in recent years, with the most notable change being that drivers are unable to waive car insurance requirements. The removal of the old law took away this option and legally required all drivers to carry at least a minimum of compensation. The state also reviewed the minimum compensation requirements and raised them. Before these changes, which came into effect in 2024 and 2025, the state enacted new laws to better protect legal drivers from state uninsured drivers.
Penalties for driving without insurance in Virginia
Virginia requires car insurance, so there are legal penalties for driving without insurance. Specific fees and penalties vary depending on the situation. One of the most important factors is the number of times you’ve been driving without insurance in the past few years. First-time offenders will be charged a $600 statutory fee and may need to pay a reinstatement fee (if the license is revoked), and they may need to maintain the SR-22 form for three years.
Additional Auto Insurance Coverage Options in Virginia
Experts often recommend purchasing essential minimum car insurance to better protect your finances. Below are other coverage options Virginia drivers may want to consider:
- Collision coverage: Collision insurance may cover claims related to the direct impact a vehicle experiences from another vehicle or another object, such as a fence or similar obstacle.
- Comprehensive coverage: Comprehensive coverage deals with a wide range of damage caused by more unusual sources. This coverage does not help with automatic conflicts, but usually covers branches, vandalism, theft and similar risks.
- Roadside support: Roadside assistance is one of the more less complicated coverage, providing access to towing services, and often offers additional benefits such as fuel delivery, battery jumping, windshield replacement, door unlocking, and more.
- Car rental refund: This coverage will help you cover the cost of your car rental if the vehicle is not in use following the covered bill.
