Virginia Auto Insurance [Rates + Cheap Coverage Guide]

As one of the original 13 states, Virginia is a state bursting with fascinating historical landmarks. People can visit George Washington’s famous plantation, stroll through the iconic Jamestown museum, or see the start of the Appalachian Trail.

For those who live in Virginia, though, there is the necessary chore of purchasing auto insurance, which is a lot less interesting. Scrolling through dozens of websites and reviews sometimes feels like a waste of time.

But it doesn’t have to be. Imagine having all the necessary information compiled for you, from insurance requirements to company reviews, from road rules to crash stats.

That’s where we come in. Our comprehensive guide covers what to know when buying auto insurance and driving in the state of Virginia. So let’s jump right into it.

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Virginia Auto Insurance Coverage and Rates

With multiple coverages and rate options available, it can be tough to know what you should be purchasing. While it can be tempting to skip out on coverages to save money, this could cost you in the long run.

That’s why we are going to cover what you NEED and what you SHOULD have. Virginia requires drivers to have certain coverages and having other coverage options is just common sense.

So keep reading to learn about Virginia’s coverages and rates, so that you can get the most recommended auto insurance coverage.

Virginia Minimum Coverage

Virginia requires more complete coverage than other states, though drivers may opt out of insurance if they wish. Drivers in Virginia must have bodily injury and property damage liability coverage, as well as uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. These coverages are the state minimums for car insurance in Virginia.

If you choose to not have these coverages, you will have to pay the $500 Uninsured Motor Vehicle (UMV) fee every year. You will still be held liable in accidents, and you drive at your own risk.

The smartest option is to carry Virginia’s minimum insurance amounts. The Insurance Information Institute (iii) lists the minimum required amounts as the following.

• 25,000 to cover bodily injury costs per person in an accident for which you are at fault
• 50,000 to cover total bodily injury costs per accident for which you are at fault
• 20,000 to cover property damages in an accident for which you are at fault

Driver’s must also have uninsured and underinsured coverage, though minimum amounts are not specified. Not having Virginia’s required coverages without paying the UMV fee is illegal and will result in the suspension of your license and registration.

Forms of Financial Responsibility

So how do you prove that you are following Virginia’s auto insurance law? Virginia requires that all drivers have a form of financial responsibility, which is simply proof of auto insurance.

Below are some acceptable forms of financial responsibility in Virginia.

• Valid Insurance ID Card
• Proof that you paid the UMV fee

Even though drivers may drive uninsured in Virginia, uninsured drivers still need to prove they are following Virginia’s UMV law. Anytime drivers are pulled over in a traffic stop, register a car, or are in an accident, they must provide proof of financial responsibility.

Virginia also has an electronic verification system to check vehicles’ insurance status.

Premiums as a Percentage of Income

In order to see how much coverage takes out of an average income, we are going to take a look at Virginia’s per capita disposable income and premiums.

Per captita disposible income is simply how much a person has to spend or save after taxes.

The table below shows how much the average Virginian pays each year for auto insurance. Luckily, Virginia’s percentages are below the countrywide average, which is about 2.4 percent.

Virginia’s percentages have remained steady throughout the years. Even though the cost of premiums went up, the disposable income also increased. The good news, too, is that Virginia’s percentages are lower than most.
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The highest percentage in the U.S. is almost four percent, whereas the lowest percentage is just above one percent. Since Virginia is firmly in between the lowest and highest percentages, it has a fairly decent percentage (though lower is always better).

Average Monthly Auto Insurance Rates in VA (Liability, Collision, Comprehensive)

Core coverage has some of the most valuable coverages in case of an accident. While Virginia requires liability, other great core coverages are a collision or comprehensive coverage.

• Collision coverage will help pay for repairs or replacement if your car is damaged because of a collision with another vehicle or object.
• Comprehensive coverage will help pay for repairs or replacement if your car is damaged by something OTHER than a collision. For example, natural disasters (fire, hail, etc.), theft, vandalism, or hitting an animal.

To see how much these coverages cost, we’ve compiled the average annual rates below.

Virginia’s averages are actually below the countrywide averages. The combined countrywide average is $1,009, which means Virginia residents pay $167 less than most people in the U.S.!

Additional Liability

Additional liability coverages are important to have. Two of the biggest additional liability coverages are medical payments (Medpay) and uninsured/underinsured coverages.

With 9.9 percent of drivers uninsured in Virginia (ranking the state as 34th in the U.S. for uninsured drivers), uninsured and underinsured coverage is necessary to protect drivers.

If you are in an accident with uninsured/underinsured drivers and they are at fault, you risk having to pay the accident bills yourself. Most uninsured/underinsured drivers will go bankrupt before being able to pay off the accident costs.

You may remember that Virginia requires uninsured and underinsured coverage unless you opt of insurance coverage, but Medpay is optional. Medpay is still a great coverage to have, as Medpay covers both your medical costs and your passengers’ medical costs from an accident.

Up next, we have the National Association of Insurance Commissioner’s (NAIC) data on these coverages’ loss ratios.

Why should you care about loss ratios? Loss ratios show how well a company is doing financially.

Companies who are paying out too many claims have loss ratios over 100 percent and risk going bankrupt. On the other hand, companies who aren’t paying out enough claims have low loss ratios and risk losing customers.

With this in mind, let’s take a look at the additional coverages’ loss ratios.

Unfortunately, Medpay’s loss ratios have dipped over the years and are below the countrywide average of 75 percent. As for the uninsured and underinsured loss ratios, they have risen over the years to match the countrywide average (which is about 74 percent).

The good news is that none of the loss ratios are terribly low or too high, meaning these coverages are functioning well.

Add-Ons, Endorsements, and Riders

Add-ons may seem excessive to you if you are already purchasing Virginia’s required amount. While these extra coverages are optional, they are affordable and allow you to create a tailored protection plan, making them well worth your money.

Below is a list of the most popular add-ons.

• Guaranteed Auto Protection (GAP)
• Personal Umbrella Policy (PUP)
• Rental Reimbursement
• Emergency Roadside Assistance
• Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
• Non-Owner Auto Insurance
• Modified Auto Insurance Coverage
• Classic Auto Insurance
• Low-Mileage Discount

Any of the above coverages would make great add-ons to policies.

Average Auto Insurance Rates by Age & Gender in VA

The most common demographics that impact rates are gender and age, though marital status and other demographics can also influence rates. We partnered with Quadrant to bring you the following information on rate changes influenced by everything from demographics to cities.

Teenage males have the highest rates at Virginia’s insurers, paying thousands more than other age groups! Teenage females also have higher rates, though generally, they pay about a thousand less than teenage males in Virginia.

These higher rates make sense, as teenage drivers are higher-risk due to lack of experience. Because the rates are so high, though, most parents will add their teenagers onto the parents’ policy where the raised rates are much more reasonable.

Curious what other demographics have increased rates? Check out the complete list of demographics below to see what your rates might be.

Married 60-year-olds and married 35-year-olds consistently have the lowest rates at most providers.

Cheapest Rates by ZIP Code

Another factor that impacts rates is where you live. Insurers may charge more in areas with a higher crime rate or areas with more traffic congestion that carry higher risks of a crash.

We’ve also included Quadrant’s data on the cheapest providers in your ZIP code in the tables below.

Between the most and least expensive ZIP codes, there is only an $853 difference. This may seem like a lot, but other states can have ZIP code increases in the thousands.

Cheapest Rates by City

Similar to ZIP codes, cities also show increases and decreases in price. Check the tables below to see rates in your city.

Annandale and Springfield are the most expensive cities, but like ZIP code rate changes, these cities are only $816 more than the cheapest cities. This means that the insurance rate increases shouldn’t be a huge concern when moving to Virginia.

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Best Virginia Auto Insurance Companies

Finding the right auto insurance is hard! With over seven million cars needing insurance in Virginia, auto insurance companies are numerous. How do you know which insurance company is right for you?

Luckily, we’ve done the hard work of sorting through companies for you so that you can find the company with the perfect rates and coverages for your needs!

Up next, we cover everything from companies’ financial ratings to changes in rates.

The Largest Companies’ Financial Ratings

If you recall, loss ratios play a large part in how secure a company is doing financially. That’s why we want to include AM Best’s ratings, which look at loss ratios to determine if a company has solid financial security.

The basic ratings AM Best gives are explained below.

• A++ and A+ have a superior ability to meet financial obligations
• A and A- have an excellent ability to meet financial obligations
• B++ and B+ have a good ability to meet financial obligations

Any company with a rating lower than a B+ should be avoided. Companies with lower AM Best ratings don’t have great financial security, meaning they may not pay out enough claims or face going bankrupt if economic conditions change in the future.

So to see how the 10 largest companies in Virginia are faring, we’ve included the AM Best ratings for each.

All of the companies on this list have decent loss ratios, which is why AM Best has given them good ratings.

Companies with Best Ratings

An important part of a company’s success is how well it takes care of its customers. JD Power is one of the leading rankers of customer satisfaction, and its 2018 study looked at 44,622 auto insurance customers’ responses in order to rate major insurance companies in Virginia.

Take a look at the table below to see where Virginia’s companies rank.

Erie insurance received a JD Power rating of “among the best,” while Geico received a “better than most” rating. If you value superb customer service, these two companies might be worth looking into.

Companies with the Most Complaints in Virginia

One part of the companies’ customer satisfaction process is dealing with customer complaints. To see how the largest companies in Virginia are handling complaints, we are going to take a look at NAIC’s complaint ratios.

Liberty Mutual and Progressive have the highest complaint ratios out of the top ten largest companies. You might be wondering why State Farm has a lower complaint ratio even though it has the most complaints.

This is because the complaint ratio is based on the overall percentage of customers — a thousand customers complaining about State Farm is only a small percentage of State Farm’s customers.

Cheapest Companies in Virginia

If you are looking to save money, take a look at Quadrant’s information below on the cheapest insurance companies in Virginia.

USAA is the cheapest provider, costing about 27 percent LESS than the state average. Quite a few other providers are also below the state average, showing that it pays to shop around for auto insurance.

Commute Rates by Companies

If you are looking to save money on auto insurance, be aware that sometimes a longer commute can add costs onto your annual premium.

At Allstate, a longer commute adds on $206 to your premium! Saving on multiple small rate changes like this can add up into a large sum at the end of the year, so make sure to check if you paying more or less because of your commute.

Commute rates don’t have nearly as much of an impact on your rates as some other factors. Take a look.

Coverage Level Rates by Companies

Most people cringe when paying for a high coverage level, even when they know higher coverage is absolutely worth it in an accident. The good news is that higher coverage doesn’t always need to strain your bank account.

Some Virginian companies offer economical increases when switching from low to high coverage, as you can see from the Quadrant data below.

An increase from low to high coverage at Allstate only costs an extra $202 a year! This amounts to only an extra $17 a month. Other companies on the list also have similar price increases, which means you can find high coverage for a reasonable price at most companies in Virginia.

Credit History Rates by Companies

In Virginia, the average credit score is 680, which is above the national average of 675! This means Virginia residents have a better chance of receiving better rates on their auto insurance. Why?

Because insurers frequently look at your credit score to determine rates.

The Quadrant data below shows just how much credit can impact your rates.

At most companies, bad credit will raise your rates over a thousand dollars. The best way to avoid dealing with huge rate increases is to maintain good credit.

Driving Record Rates by Companies

Another factor that impacts rates is a person’s driving record. DUIs, accidents, and speeding violations will all raise your rates by hundreds or thousands of dollars.

Keeping a clean driving record will save you a lot of money in the long run!

At companies like Allstate, just one DUI will add roughly $1,500 onto a premium! So make sure to drive carefully, as a bad driving record will raise your rates SIGNIFICANTLY.

Number of Insurers in Virginia

As the twelfth most populated state in the U.S., Virginia has more than a few insurers to pick from. As in every state, Virginia has a mix of both domestic and foreign insurers to choose from.

• Domestic Insurers: 19
• Foreign Insurers: 908

The difference between domestic and foreign insurers is quite simple. A domestic insurer has its home office based in Virginia while a foreign insurer is based in another state but still sells in Virginia.

Virginia State Laws

While knowing your state’s laws is important, it can often be confusing. The last thing people want is a driving ticket for breaking a law they didn’t fully understand or have never even heard of!

As well, laws change from state to state. Newcomers to Virginia may expect the laws to match that of their old state, but this isn’t always the case. Insurance laws and driving laws are different from state to state, and sometimes even a small difference may result in you unknowingly violating a law.

To help you navigate tricky state laws, we’ve covered everything from auto insurance laws to rules of the road. So stay with us, because we are going to dive straight into Virginia’s must-know state laws.

Auto Insurance Laws

By now, you know about the minimum insurance requirements for Virginia, but there are other auto insurance laws that go beyond the minimum amount, such as windshield coverage or low-cost insurance.

So hang with us, because we are going to cover all of this now.

How State Laws for Insurance are Determined

Virginia has a state filing process that is different than most U.S. states. The NAIC’s description of the process is below.

“The Bureau of Insurance is authorized to establish standard forms that insurers must use. Approval of coverage broadenings for individual insurers is also permitted.”

So what does this mean? Basically, the state insurance department doesn’t need to approve policies before drivers can use them, but insurers must fill out standard forms with the Bureau of Insurance.

Insurers can also broaden their coverages beyond the minimum amounts if the Bureau of Insurance approves it.

Windshield Coverage

Nobody wants to pay to have a tiny windshield crack repaired, but if your windshield crack meets one of the descriptions below, it is illegal according to Virginia law and needs to be repaired.

• A scratch greater than six inches by 1/4 inch in the area cleared by windshield wipers
• A crack above the bottom three inches of the windshield that is larger than 1 by 1/2 inches in diameter
• Multiple cracks in the same area if any crack is longer than 1 to 1/2 inches long
• Multiple cracks in the same area if above bottom three inches of the windshield

Though the state doesn’t require windshield coverage as per the Virginia Windshield Replacement Insurance laws, most comprehensive insurance plans will cover the costs of repair or replacement. Insurers are allowed to use aftermarket parts as long as they equal in quality to the original and insurers include a statement on the estimate.

High-Risk Insurance

If a driver is in a serious traffic accident or serious traffic violation, Virginia will label that driver as high-risk and require him or her to fill out an SR-22 form. Below is the DMV’s information on the main reasons Virginia drivers may need to fill out an SR-22 form.

• A car accident that results in a conviction of voluntary or involuntary manslaughter
• Falsifying a driver’s license, car registration, or insurance information
• A felony traffic conviction
• A hit-and-run accident
• Driving without insurance WITHOUT having paid the uninsured motor vehicle fee

The DMV explicitly states that high-risk drivers who fill out an SR-22 form are NOT allowed to purchase the uninsured motor vehicle fee. High-risk drivers are required to purchase Virginia’s minimum liability insurance and may face increased rates for a bad driving record.

If drivers are convicted of a DUI or driving with a license that’s been suspended because of a conviction, they must fill out an FR-44 form. Unlike an SR-22 form, drivers will have to purchase liability insurance that is HIGHER than the required minimum amounts. The DMV states these amounts as the following.

• $50,000 for bodily injury per person in an accident
• $100,000 for total bodily injury per accident
• $40,000 for property damages in an accident

Your average annual rates will increase with both the SR-22 and FR-44 forms, assuming you had insurance in the first place. Either way, both forms will result in significantly high rates.

Low-Cost Insurance

While Virginia doesn’t have a low-cost insurance program, there are still plenty of ways to save WITHOUT skipping out on insurance. Ask your provider about some of the common discounts listed below.

• Good driver discount
• Good student discount (usually requires a B+ average)
• Anti-theft discount
• Safety features discount
• Multi-car discount
• Homeowners’ discount

Every insurer will also have additional discounts beyond these, so ask your insurer for a full list to make sure you are getting the most out of the discounts available.

Automobile Insurance Fraud in Virginia

The Insurance Information Institute reported on a study that found $30 billion is stolen in fraudulent claims every year! Automobile fraud makes up about $4.8-6.8 billion of this number, with people attempting to commit automobile fraud through the following methods.

• Adding “extra” onto a legitimate claim by exaggerating or inventing expenses
• Creating a false claim for something that never happened, such as staging an accident

The Virginia State Police Insurance Fraud Program created a 2018 report on insurance fraud in Virginia. A total of 82 arrests were made, and below you will see the number of notifications the police department received for automobile fraud.

Insurance fraud is a serious crime, resulting in fines and/or jail time. So make sure to be honest on your claims!

Statute of Limitations

A statute of limitations is the amount of time people have to file claims after an accident, and it starts counting down the day of the accident. A statute of limitations makes sure people file claims promptly so claim proceedings don’t drag on for years or decades past the accident.

Below, you will see Virginia’s statute of limitations.

• Personal Injury — Two years
• Property Damage — Five years

The sooner you file the claim the closer you are to receiving your insurance benefits, so don’t wait!

Virginia Unique State Laws

Virginia has an unfair claim settlement law, which means insurers are legally required to disclose all information on policies. This ensures that insurers don’t “forget” benefits when you file a claim.

This law also prevents insurers from ignoring your claim or refusing to pay reasonable claims.

While insurers are ethically required to follow these practices anyways, the law places extra emphasis on these guidelines. Another unique law is Virginia’s prohibition of radar detectors.

Police officers can fine you for having a radar detector in the car, even if it is turned off or broken. To avoid a fine, the radar detector has to be completely inaccessible to drivers (such as stored in the trunk of a car).

Vehicle Licensing Laws

Virginia has state-specific laws on vehicle licensing. If you are unsure what these are, we will cover everything from penalties for driving without insurance to license renewal procedures for different age groups.

So let’s jump right into it!

Penalties for Driving Without Insurance

Unless drivers have paid the UMV fee for driving uninsured, Virginia will penalize drivers for driving without the minimum liability coverage. If you haven’t paid the UMV fee and don’t have the minimum liability insurance, you will receive an intent to suspend car registration letter.

The DMV will also suspend your driver’s license and license plates. If drivers wish to reinstate their driving privileges, they will have to complete all of the following.

• Pay fines
• Mandatory filing of SR-22 form
• Driver’s license reinstatement fee

As a reminder, here are acceptable forms of financial responsibility. Proof of financial responsibility must be provided anytime you are pulled over in a traffic stop, register a vehicle, or are in an accident.

• Valid Insurance ID Card
• Proof that you paid the UMV fee

Virginia also has an electronic verification system that authorities use to check the status of vehicles.

Teen Driver Laws

Teens must be 15 and a half to apply for a learner’s license in Virginia. This is younger than most states, which means Virginian teens can get a jump start on the learning process.

Before teens can apply for a regular license or a restricted license, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) specifies that teens must meet the requirements below.

If teens receive a restricted license, they must continue to follow the special regulations and rules set by Virginia.

Virginia allows more underage passengers to be in the car with teen drivers than other states. While Virginia allows this, bear in mind that the risk of a crash goes up with every underage passenger added to a teen driver’s car.

Older Driver License Renewal Procedures

In Virginia, older drivers have different license renewal procedures than the general population. Drivers 75 years old and older must follow the requirements listed below.

• License Renewal Cycle — Every five years
• Proof of Adequate Vision — Required at every renewal
• Mail or Online Renewal — Not permitted

Older drivers must visit in person every five years and provide proof of adequate vision at every license renewal, which means a trip to the eye doctor is necessary.

New Residents

Residents new to Virginia need to make sure their insurance is updated to meet Virginia’s minimum liability insurance. To do so, new residents will need to contact their current insurance provider to provide updated address information.

Insurers will make sure new residents have the proper coverage in the amounts below, as well as providing new residents with updated insurance ID cards.

• 25,000 to cover bodily injury costs per person in an accident for which you are at fault
• 50,000 to cover total bodily injury costs per accident for which you are at fault
• 20,000 to cover property damages in an accident for which you are at fault
• Uninsured/underinsured coverage

New residents may choose to opt out coverage, but need to pay the $500 UMV fee. This option is a lot riskier, as motorists will still be held liable for any accident costs and will have to cover all the bills themselves.

License Renewal Procedures

For the general population, license renewal procedures are fairly basic. Generally, the DMV will notify drivers well before their licenses expire, so that drivers have time to plan a trip to the DMV and prepare the necessary paperwork.

• License Renewal Cycle — Every eight years
• Proof of Adequate Vision — Required when renewing in person
• Mail or Online Renewal — Both permitted, every other renewal

Virginia’s licensing system means that drivers can go 16 years without an in-person trip to the DMV! This is quite a bit longer than most states. Just make sure to have proof of adequate vision ready when renewing in-person.

Virginia Reckless Driving Law

Any driving that endangers the driver, others, or property is deemed reckless driving. Virginia has a strict set of qualifications under which law enforcement may arrest drivers for reckless driving, such as speeding or racing other vehicles.

Even if reckless driving doesn’t necessarily endanger the drivers or others, committing certain traffic violations can result in a reckless driving charge.

• Driving with faulty brakes
• Passing on a curve or hill
• Driving with multiple people in the front seat who interfere with the driver’s ability to drive
• Passing two vehicles on a road with less than three lanes
• Driving abreast to another vehicle on a single-lane road
• Passing at a railroad or crossing on a single-lane road
• Not stopping for a school bus
• Not properly using turn signals
• Speeding at least 20 mph over the speed limit or driving over 80 mph
• Not properly stopping before entering a highway from a side street
• Entering a high-occupancy toll lane by crossing a barrier, buffer, or another separator

If law enforcement convicts drivers of reckless driving, drivers face the following penalties. Keep in mind that a reckless driving charge will also raise drivers’ insurance rates, which means that drivers will end up paying more than the fines below.

Vehicle racing is a special circumstance, with judges REQUIRED to suspend driver’s license for a minimum of six months.

Not all reckless driving charges are equal. If an infraction is less serious, drivers may receive an improper driving charge. A fine for improper driving is only up to $500, and the charge is dropped down to a traffic infraction.

A driver charged with reckless driving while drunk may also try to plea bargain the charge down to a wet reckless, which carries the same penalties as a reckless charge but requires drivers to also complete an alcohol safety program.

Rules of the Road

Drivers who are experts on the rules of the road have a better chance of staying safe in case of an accident. Keep reading to learn about Virginia’s must-know rules of the road.

Fault vs No-Fault

Virginia is a fault state. This means that whoever caused the accident is liable for costs racked up by the accident, such as medical and property damage costs.

The downside is that auto insurance is optional in Virginia, which is why Virginia requires drivers to have uninsured and underinsured coverage! If you are in an accident with an uninsured driver and they are at fault, the likelihood is that he or she will be unable to pay your bills.

This is why it is so important to have decent insurance in Virginia, as insurance will help you pay expensive bills if you’re at fault or cover you if the at-fault driver can’t pay.

Seat Belt and Car Seat Laws

One of the first things new drivers are taught is to buckle up before starting the car. Unfortunately, not enough drivers follow this rule. The following car seat laws in Virginia are in place to encourage more drivers to buckle up themselves and their loved ones.

Virginia doesn’t have primary enforcement, which means that officers can’t pull drivers over and ticket them just for not wearing a seat belt. If an officer pulls over a driver for a traffic violation and notices the driver isn’t wearing a seat belt, though, the officer can ticket the driver.

Child safety seat laws in Virginia are also enforced. Below is the IIHS’s list of requirements for children in car seats.

As for riding in the cargo area of pickup trucks, Virginia has placed restrictions on passengers. You may ride in the cargo area ONLY if you meet one of the two requirements below.

• Age 16 years old or older
• Farmers when crossing highways to reach fields

If you do ride in a pickup truck, make sure to buckle up if possible, as people can easily be thrown from the vehicle at sharp turns.

Keep Right and Move Over Laws

in Virginia, drivers who are blocking traffic by traveling slower than the average speed of the traffic around them must move over and KEEP RIGHT. Generally, the right lane is for faster traffic and passing.

Unless you are passing or turning left, stick to the right lane if driving slower.

Virginia’s move over law is also simple but is vital in saving lives. Every year, people on the side of the road are injured or killed by drivers who fail to move over.

If you see a stationary emergency vehicle, tow truck, road maintenance, or utility vehicle with FLASHING LIGHTS parked in the same direction you are driving, you must move over to a lane further away. If you can’t move over, make sure to SLOW down and drive carefully past the stationary vehicle.

Speed Limits

States all have different speed limits. Make sure to familiarize yourself with Virginia’s maximum speed limits to avoid a speeding ticket.

Remember that these are the maximum speed limits. Follow speed limit signs as speed limits will still vary from road to road in Virginia.

Ridesharing

If drivers want to work for a ridesharing company like Uber, they will need to purchase ridesharing insurance. The following insurers offer ridesharing insurance in Virginia.

• Allstate
• Erie
• Geico
• Liberty Mutual

Drivers NEED to purchase ridesharing insurance, especially in a state with numerous uninsured drivers. As well, drivers generally need to meet basic requirements for approval.

• 21 years old or older
• Driving experience
• Clean driving record
• Inspected and registered car

Ridesharing companies will differ slightly in the requirements necessary, but the above requirements are a good general guideline. If you are approved, you will then need to purchase the necessary ridesharing insurance.

Automation on the Road

At this point, Virginia doesn’t have any laws regulating automated vehicles and is still in the testing phase. There are actually several levels of automation, from automated features like lane departure warning to fully self-driving cars.

The video below explains these levels in-depth.

Safety Laws

The reason behind safety laws is in the name — to keep drivers as safe as possible on the roads. Virginia has several safety laws in place to discourage drivers from risky driving behaviors, such as drunk or distracted driving.

DUI Laws

In 2017 alone, 246 people died from alcohol-impaired driving accidents. So what has Virginia done to discourage these numbers from rising? Besides having a strict law in place, Virginia has multiple penalties that increase with each infraction.

The details of Virginia’s state DUI law are below.

As we stated, the penalties grow more severe with each infraction.

Drivers convicted of a DUI must also fill out an FR-44 form. This requires drivers to purchase liability insurance that is higher than Virginia’s required minimum amounts.

Marijuana-Impaired Driving Laws

Virginia doesn’t have a marijuana-impaired driving law, but this doesn’t mean driving while high is legal! Authorities will charge marijuana-impaired drivers with impaired-driving, which carries many of the same penalties as a DUI.

Impaired-driving charges can result in a suspended license, fines, and/or jail time.

After all, impaired drivers not only risk their own safety but the safety of everyone around them!

Distracted Driving Laws

Distracted driving can be just as life-threatening as impaired-driving. All it takes is a moment of inattention for an accident to happen. That’s why Virginia has regulated the use of cellphones in cars so that drivers pay more attention to the road.

Though Virginia allows hand-held use except in highway work zones, it is good practice to avoid cellphone use in the car altogether.

Virginia Can’t-Miss Facts

Do you know what risk factors to watch out for in Virginia? Knowing your state’s risk factors can help you stay alert for potential dangers, as the last thing anyone wants is to be in an accident!

For example, Virginia’s woods are home to a variety of wildlife including deer. The result is that Virginia is ranked 12th in the U.S for deer collisions!

Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about Virginia’s risk factors, from vehicle theft to road dangers.

Vehicle Theft in Virginia

If you see your vehicle on the list below, it is one of the top ten stolen vehicles in Virginia!

The FBI also compiled a 2013 report on vehicle thefts by cities, as crime rates can vary drastically depending on where people live.

Out of the top 10 cities, Richmond City is the worst city for vehicle theft, with almost a thousand vehicles stolen in 2013!

Road Dangers in State

To help guide drivers through what road dangers to watch out for, we’ve compiled information on Virginia’s road dangers. Let’s jump right into everything from crash stats to fatality factors.

Fatal Crashes by Weather Condition and Light Condition

Since states have different weather conditions to watch out for, we want to take a look at Virginia’s fatalities during different types of weather conditions.

Be aware that RAIN is a major contributor to fatal crashes. From hydroplaning to impaired vision, rain can make driving difficult for even the most experienced drivers.

Fatalities (All Crashes) by County

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has collected extensive data on crashes in Virginia. One of the first statistics we want to look at is how fatalities vary from county to county.

Fairfax County consistently has some of the highest fatalities from 2013 to 2017.

Traffic Fatalities

Often, road types show trends in the number of overall fatalities. Generally, rural roads have more fatal crashes because of the higher speed limits. Rural roads also carry more unique dangers, such as crashing into wildlife.

Virginia has fairly high numbers, with a total of 700 to 900 deaths each year.

Fatalities by Person Type

The type of car driven can sometimes show trends in fatalities, and car occupants aren’t the only ones at risk in a crash! Pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists die every year from vehicle accidents.

Whether a driver or pedestrian, always be careful on roadways and keep a close eye out for activity around you.

Fatalities by Crash Type

Crashes can vary in fatality rates based on the crash type.

in Virginia, roadway departure accidents have the highest fatality rates, followed by single-vehicle accidents. A roadway departure accident is simply when a driver leaves the road by crossing the center or edge line.

Five-year Trend for the Top 10 Counties

Another statistic we want to look at is the counties with the highest fatality rates in Virginia.

In 2017, Chesterfield County and Fairfax County tied for the highest fatality number.

Fatalities Involving Speeding by County

One of the riskiest behaviors numerous drivers participate in is speeding.

Out of all the counties, Fairfax County has the most speeding deaths.

Fatalities in Crashes Involving an Alcohol-Impaired Driver (BAC=.08+) by County

Drunk driving is a major contributor to fatalities each year. Too many people decide one more drink won’t hurt and put themselves and others at SIGNIFICANT risk!

Fairfax County once again ranks as first for fatalities involving an alcohol-impaired driver.

Teen Drinking and Driving

Adults aren’t the only ones included in fatality statistics. Many teens participate in underage drinking and driving every year. In the U.S., 1.2 teens per 100,000 population die from alcohol-impaired driving.

Virginia’s rate is just slightly below this. In Virginia, 1.1 teens die from alcohol-impaired driving per 100,000 population.

With teen fatalities occurring every year from drinking and driving, Virginia makes multiple arrests every year to try and keep teen drinking and driving under control.

Virginia ranks as 38th in the U.S. for its number of arrests, which means Virginia could work a little harder at its underage arrest records. Taking drunk drivers off the streets protects both them and others.

EMS Response Time

Usually, the first thing we do in an accident is to make a call for help. If you or someone else is injured, you want help to arrive as fast as possible. This is where emergency medical services come in.

Below, you will see Virginia’s EMS response times for both rural and urban areas.

Virginia’s EMS response times are little longer than most, as rural crashes take about an hour from the time of the crash to hospital arrival.

Transportation

How do you get around every day? Most likely, you own and drive a car like most Virginians.

Most of Virginians own two cars, followed by three cars.

Commute Time

The average commute time in the U.S. is 25.3 minutes. Unfortunately, Virginia’s average commute time is slightly above this at 27 minutes.

Commuter Transportation

In every U.S. state, driving alone is the most common commute option, though people are beginning to turn to other commute options.

About 10 percent of people carpool in Virginia, while others turn to public transport or working at home.

Traffic Congestion in Virginia

While Virginia residents spend a few minutes more commuting than other states, the good news is that only one of Virginia’s cities made it onto Inrix’s global traffic scorecard.

If you are planning on traveling through Norfolk city, you may want to allow a little extra time for traffic congestion.

Whew! You’ve reached the end of our comprehensive guide! Hopefully, you feel more than prepared to drive through Virginia’s beautiful and historic state. Enter your ZIP code in our FREE online tool below to start comparison shopping today.

1. https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/commercial/#insurance/generalinfo.asp
2. https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/us-states-by-population.html
3. https://crackedwindshieldlaws.com/virginia/
4. https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/commercial/#insurance/certifications.asp
5. https://www.iii.org/article/background-on-insurance-fraud#_ftn1
6. https://www.stampoutfraud.com/default.aspx
7. https://virginialawfirm.net/police-radar-detectors-in-virginia.html
8. https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/drivers/#reinstate.asp
9. https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2013/crime-in-the-u.s.-2013/tables/table-8/table-8-state-cuts/table_8_offenses_known_to_law_enforcement_virginia_by_city_2013.xls
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