Virginia Auto Insurance
Virginia is an interesting state in that it does not require all drivers to possess automobile insurance. Any driver who does not wish to pay for auto insurance coverage has the option of paying a yearly fee of $500 to the Department of Motor Vehicles, thereby acknowledging that the vehicle will be operated at the driver’s own risk. Of course, this is not a very smart move and certainly does not remove you from personal liability in a car accident. Virginia is a tort state and drivers are required to pay for any damages caused to other drivers’ property or for any injuries sustained as a result of a car accident they caused. Medical bills and car repairs are not cheap so it’s much smarter to just pay for insurance and get adequate protection.
Most drivers realize this and do opt to carry car insurance. If you choose to carry car insurance, then it must meet the minimum standards put in place by the Virginia Department of Transportation. These minimum requirements include at least $25,000 in bodily injury liability for accidents in which one person is injured, at least $50,000 in bodily injury liability for accidents in which more than one person is injured, and at least $20,000 in general property damage coverage.
Are Virginia minimum car insurance requirements enough coverage?
Minimum car insurance requirements are established to help protect other drivers and offer affordable insurance to most families. However the fact is, no matter where you live, buying a policy which only conforms to state law is like driving around waiting for someone to bankrupt you and your family. First of all, Virginia car insurance requirements only require you to carry liability insurance. So in the event of an accident where you are at fault you still have NO Coverage for damages to your vehicle or injuries. Liability insurance only provides coverage to damages other driver’s experience. How great is that – you pay for insurance and still have no coverage? Don’t blame Virginia as the government’s responsibility is to protect the public and not your own personal property. All drivers should at least consider some form of collision and/or comprehensive coverage in addition to higher policy coverage. A few nights in a hospital or an accident with an expensive car can easily surpass $25,000 in damages and you can be held personally liable for all expenses which exceed your policy limits.
Average Auto Insurance Cost in Virginia
Virginia drivers who choose to carry car insurance will be happy to know that average auto insurance rates fall below the national average of $1,440 with most good driver paying around $1,230 per year in premiums. However, many drivers pay well below this amount by choosing their insurance providers carefully and shopping around for the best possible rates. In general though, it’s better not to simply go for the cheapest auto insurance rates but to find the best combination of coverage, cost and reputation in a provider.
Virginia Teen Driving Laws
If you are the parent or legal guardian of a teenager, you probably already know that insuring your teen driver is not a cheap endeavor. If your teen disobeys the teen driving laws put in place by the state or if he or she is involved in an accident, your auto insurance rates will go up even higher. The good news, however, is that you can reduce the likelihood of this by informing your teenager of the rules of the road and making sure that he or she follows them carefully and exactly.
In Virginia, all teenage drivers must first obtain a learner’s permit before they can even think about getting an actual license. In order to obtain this permit and to legally operate a motor vehicle, the teen must be at least fifteen and a half years old to the date. He or she will be required to keep the learner’s permit for a period of at least 9 months before testing for a license. During this nine month period, the teen is required to get at least 45 hours of supervised driving, fifteen of which are required to be at night.
Once teens have successfully held their permits and gotten in their driving times without problem, they can test for and receive a provisional license. This license will have certain restrictions that must be abided by to avoid possible loss of the license, fines and fees, and higher auto insurance premiums. During the provisional license phase, teen drivers must not drive between the hours of midnight and 4 a.m. This limitation will not be removed until the teen reaches 18 years of age. In the first year of holding their licenses, teens may not transport any more than one passenger under the age of 18. After holding a license for a year, teen drivers may not transport any more than three passengers under the age of 18 until they have reached adulthood.
Teens who follow these rules carefully should not have any problems. Also, each year that your teen successfully drives without problem and each time that he or she passes one phase of driving, such as going from having a learner’s permit to having a provisional license, your insurance premiums will go down. It can take some time for you to pay closer to the average insurance rate, but eventually, with careful adherence, it will happen. Just remember to talk to your teen about these rules.
Start your Virginia auto insurance comparison search and today and compare auto insurance quotes from multiple providers online. Simply enter your ZIP code above to find a list of Virginia auto insurance companies near you.
