Best Car Insurance in Virginia

Last Updated on December 10, 2020

Virginia has relatively cheap car insurance compared to most other states. In fact, Virginia is regularly among the top 10 cheapest states in which to insure a vehicle.

The average driver in Virginia pays roughly $1,302 per year for car insurance, lower than the nationwide average of around $1,452 per year. However, rates vary widely based on your location, driver profile, and other factors, with drivers in rural areas of Virginia often paying much less than drivers in urban areas.Best Car Insurance in Virginia

Table of Contents:

Top 10 Auto Insurance Companies in Virginia

Some of America’s best-rated and best-known car insurance companies serve drivers across Virginia. You can find car insurance for all different budgets in Virginia, although the car insurance companies below are some of the best-rated and best-value car insurance providers across the state.

1. USAA

If USAA membership is available to you, then USAA is one of the best car insurance companies in Virginia. Membership is available to active-duty members of the military and their families. If you qualify, then you can find affordable car insurance in Virginia with USAA, with drivers paying $702 per year, on average.

USAA
Company Address9800 Fredericksburg Road
San Antonio, TX 78288
Phone Number1-210-531-USAA
Website URLhttp://www.usaa.com/

2. Erie Insurance

Erie is well-rated for its claims satisfaction, customer service, discount offerings, and affordability across the United States, and the company has a particularly strong presence in Virginia. Erie charges roughly $754 per year for car insurance in Virginia, on average.

Erie
Company Address100 Erie Insurance Place
Erie, PA 16530
Phone Number1-800-458-0811
Website URLhttps://www.erieinsurance.com/

3. Virginia Farm Bureau

Virginia-based Virginia Farm Bureau is one of the best-value car insurance providers in the state, charging rates as low as $300 per year for minimum coverage car insurance policies. For full coverage car insurance, you can expect to pay a little more, with the average full coverage car insurance policy priced at $902 per year in Virginia.

Virginia Farm Bureau
Company Address12580 W Creek Pkwy
Richmond, VA 23238
Phone Number1-804-290-1000
Website URLhttps://www.vafb.com/

4. Nationwide

Nationwide insures drivers across the country, including thousands of Virginians. Nationwide charges drivers approximately $912 per year, on average, across Virginia, although drivers in rural areas may pay even less. Nationwide policyholders can save even more on their premiums by enrolling in the SmartRide program.

Nationwide
Company AddressOne Nationwide Plaza
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone Number1-877-669-6877
Website URLhttps://www.nationwide.com/

5. State Farm

State Farm is America’s largest car insurance company. They insure thousands of drivers across Virginia, offering rates of around $923 per year according to our model portfolios. Although State Farm has average ratings for customer satisfaction and claims, the company offers competitive rates and great discounts across the state.

State Farm
Company Address1 State Farm Plaza
Bloomington, IL 61701
Phone Number1-309-766-2311
Website URLhttps://www.statefarm.com/

6. GEICO

GEICO is America’s second-largest insurance company, and GEICO offers particularly low rates across the state of Virginia. Expect to pay around $934 per year, on average, for car insurance with GEICO in Virginia, similar to the rates charged by other providers in the state.

GEICO
Company Address5260 Western Avenue
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Phone Number1-800-861-8380
Website URLhttps://www.geico.com/

7. Travelers

Travelers isn’t as well-known as some of its larger competitors above, although the company continues to offer great service and claims satisfaction across the United States. Travelers charges approximately $956 per year for full coverage car insurance in Virginia, based on our model portfolios, and it may be a particularly effective option for drivers in urban areas of the state.

Travelers
Company Address485 Lexington Ave 10th Fl
New York, NY 10017
Phone Number1-866-218-5589
Website URLhttps://www.travelers.com/

8. Progressive

Progressive is another American car insurance giant, charging drivers roughly $972 per year, on average, across the state of Virginia. The company has middle-of-the-road ratings for customer service and claims satisfaction, although Progressive continues to be popular across the United States thanks to its Name Your Price tool.

Progressive
Company Address6300 Wilson Mills Road
Mayfield Village, OH 44143
Phone Number1-800-776-4737
Website URLhttps://www.progressive.com/

9. Allstate

Allstate is in line with its larger competitors above, although it may charge slightly higher rates than average. The average Allstate driver pays approximately $984 per year for full coverage car insurance in Virginia, according to our model portfolio.

Allstate
Company Address2775 Sanders Road
Northbrook, IL 60062
Phone Number1-800-255-7828
Website URLhttps://www.allstate.com/

10. Liberty Mutual

Liberty Mutual insures approximately 2.5% of drivers in Virginia. Although it’s less popular than the car insurance companies above, Liberty Mutual (which also does business under the name Montgomery Mutual in Virginia) is a cost-effective option for drivers willing to pay slightly higher premiums for much lower claims satisfaction.

Liberty Mutual
Company Address75 Berkeley Street
Boston, MA 02116
Phone Number1-888-398-8924
Website URLhttps://www.libertymutual.com/

Virginia Insurance Requirements

Virginia’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requires drivers to hold car insurance or pay an uninsured motor vehicle (UMV) fee to legally drive.

Virginia is one of two states where drivers can technically drive without car insurance (along with New Hampshire).

As a driver in Virginia, you can buy ordinary car insurance through the open marketplace, using your car insurance as you normally would. Or, you can pay an uninsured motor vehicle fee and cover your own liabilities out of pocket.

Minimum car insurance requirements in Virginia include:

  • $25,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per person
  • $50,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per accident
  • $20,000 of property damage liability coverage

Alternatively, Virginia is the only state where drivers can pay a $500 uninsured motor vehicle (UMV) fee to the DMV. You pay this fee, and you can drive your own vehicle at your own risk. The fee does not provide any car insurance, and it expires when your registration expires. You must pay this fee when renewing your license. As an uninsured driver, you can legally drive in the state after paying the fee, although you are still liable for any damages and injuries you cause.

Driving without Insurance in Virginia

Although Virginia technically does not require car insurance, drivers can still get caught driving without insurance.

If you are caught driving without insurance in Virginia, and if you have not paid the $500 UMV fee, then you will face various penalties.

Vehicle owners who are uninsured and have not paid the UMV fee will have their driver’s license and vehicle registration privileges suspended.

To reinstate your driver’s license and vehicle registration, you must pay a $600 non-compliance fee.

Drivers must also file a financial responsibility insurance certificate, also known as an SR-22 certificate, with the DMV for three years. The DMV may charge additional reinstatement fees to certain drivers, including a $145 fee for filing the SR-22 certificate.

Some drivers are eligible for a payment plan program, allowing them to break fees into installments and pay them over time.

If you need to file an SR-22 certificate, then you are considered a high-risk driver, which means you’ll pay higher insurance premiums. You might pay 40% to 60% higher insurance premiums for a 4 to 6 year period, depending on your insurance company.

Drivers caught without insurance will also face a Class 3 misdemeanor, if convicted.

Like other states, Virginia uses an electronic insurance verification program to track which drivers have insurance and which drivers have paid the UMV fee. If you cancel car insurance and do not cancel your registration, then the DMV could send a warning requiring you to prove you have car insurance.

Car Insurance in Virginia with DUI

Getting a DUI in any state will increase rates. Insurance companies in Virginia are particularly harsh towards drivers with a DUI conviction, with some companies doubling rates after a single DUI conviction.

However, not all Virginia car insurance companies treat DUIs the same way. Some insurance companies are relatively lax towards your first DUI, while others look at your overall driving record to calculate more personalized rates. The best car insurance companies in Virginia for drivers with a DUI include:

  1. GEICO: $1,323 per year
  2. Erie: $1,402 per year
  3. Allstate: $1,496 per year
  4. State Farm: $1,498 per year
  5. Travelers: $1,556 per year

Car Insurance in Virginia with At-Fault Accidents

Causing an accident in Virginia will raise car insurance rates. However, as with DUIs, car insurance companies treat at-fault accidents in different ways. Some car insurance companies have accident forgiveness for a single accident, while others are relatively lax towards drivers with a poor driving record.

If you have an at-fault accident on your driving record in Virginia, then consider requesting a quote from any of the following insurance companies:

  1. GEICO: $1,123 per year
  2. Erie: $1,322 per year
  3. Allstate: $1,294 per year
  4. State Farm: $1,398 per year
  5. Travelers: $1,446 per year

Car Insurance in Virginia with Speeding Tickets

A minor speeding ticket is unlikely to raise rates significantly with insurance companies in Virginia. However, a single severe speeding ticket – or multiple speeding tickets of any severity – could increase car insurance premiums by 5% to 15%, depending on your insurer. Request a quote from any of the following companies if convicted of a speeding violation in Virginia:

  1. Erie: $923 per year
  2. GEICO: $1,002 per year
  3. Allstate: $1,096 per year
  4. State Farm: $1,098 per year
  5. Progressive: $1,106 per year

Car Insurance in Virginia for Young Drivers

Young drivers in Virginia pay some of the highest rates in the state compared to other demographics. Insurance companies don’t hate young drivers: it’s just statistics. Statistically, young drivers are more likely to cause an accident than drivers in any other demographic.

Fortunately, some Virginia insurers welcome young drivers into their pool, charging relatively low rates compared to competing providers:

  1. Erie: $1,223 per year
  2. GEICO: $1,402 per year
  3. Allstate: $1,506 per year
  4. State Farm: $1,628 per year
  5. Progressive: $2,106 per year

Car Insurance in Virginia with Poor Credit

Car insurance companies in Virginia are allowed to check your credit score to calculate insurance premiums. If you have bad credit, then you could pay 40% higher rates for car insurance than a driver with a good credit score.

Fortunately, some car insurance companies weigh credit less heavily than others. Consider requesting a quote from the following car insurance companies if you have a bad credit score:

  1. Erie: $1,254 per year
  2. GEICO: $1,332 per year
  3. Virginia Farm Bureau: $1,606 per year
  4. State Farm: $1,702 per year
  5. Progressive: $1,998 per year

SR-22 Insurance in Virginia

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will notify you if you need SR-22 or SR-26 certification.

Certain high-risk drivers must obtain an SR-22 or SR-26 certificate to verify financial responsibility. These certificates prove you have valid car insurance coverage in Virginia. SR-22 and SR-26 are not insurance policies: they’re certificates verifying you have insurance.

Reasons you need SR-22 or SR-26 financial responsibility certification in Virginia include:

  • Failure to provide proof of insurance
  • Driving without insurance
  • Driver’s license suspension because of any number of convictions

SR-22 liability insurance has higher minimum limits in Virginia, with drivers required to maintain $25,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per person, $50,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per accident, and $20,000 of property damage liability coverage (a 25/50/20 plan).

Virginia is also one of several states with FR-44 and FR-46 financial responsibility certification requirements.

You may require FR-44 certification if you maimed another driver, were caught driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or if you forfeited your license for any type of conviction.

FR-44 liability insurance coverage limits are even higher than SR-22 and SR-26 limits. Drivers are required to have $50,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per person, $100,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per accident, and $40,000 of property damage liability coverage.

The DMV will contact you if you require SR-22, SR-26, FR-44, or FR-46 certification. You can obtain these certificates from most insurance companies, although you may pay higher rates to obtain this certification.

Conclusion: How to Find the Best Auto Insurance in Virginia

Virginia already has some of the cheapest car insurance premiums in the United States. However, drivers can save even more money by comparing providers, taking advantage of discounts, and shopping for quotes.

If you’re looking for the best car insurance in Virginia, consider requesting a quote from one of the providers listed above.