Find the Best Car Insurance Quotes & Options in Virginia
The average annual cost of car insurance in Virginia this year is $1,008. This is quite a bit below the current national average car insurance rate of $1,311 annually. Overall, Virginia ranks 43rd for car insurance prices in the US, or among the top 10 cheapest states. Since car insurance in Virginia is highly affordable, it should be easier to obtain a policy that offers more than just the minimum mandated coverages.
A Virginia independent insurance agent can help you put together a car insurance policy that meets your needs. They'll get you set up with all the coverage necessary at the right price. But for starters, here's a closer look at car insurance in Virginia.
Best Car Insurance Companies in Virginia
Why waste time browsing dozens of car insurance companies in Virginia, if you could skip ahead to the very best? We went ahead and put together some of the top Virginia car insurance companies to help you do just that. We broke them down by category, too, including the best Virginia car insurance companies for minimum liability coverage, full coverage, young drivers, drivers with accident histories, and the best overall. Check out some of our top recommendations for car insurance companies in Virginia below.
- Best Virginia car insurance company overall: Travelers
- Best Virginia car insurance company for minimum liability: Travelers
- Best Virginia car insurance company for full coverage: Nationwide
- Best Virginia car insurance company for young drivers: Erie
- Best Virginia car insurance company for married drivers: Erie
- Best Virginia car insurance company for accident history: Erie
A Virginia independent insurance agent can help you choose the right car insurance carrier for you.
Best Virginia Car Insurance Company Overall: Travelers
Our top choice for the best Virginia car insurance company overall goes to Travelers. The carrier offers car insurance along with tons of other personal product options. With an extensive history of excellent financial strength and positive customer feedback combined with tons of discounts and 24/7 claims reporting, Travelers is not to be overlooked. A "full coverage" auto insurance policy starts at just $1,001 annually in Virginia.
First founded in 1853, Travelers is one of the oldest insurance companies in the country today. Travelers sells insurance mainly through a network of independent insurance agents. The insurance company's independent agent network is about 13,500 agents strong and extends through the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.
The insurance company’s extensive history and massive reach led to the carrier's reputation as a reliable, stable company. AM Best, the leading global credit rating agency monitoring the insurance industry, gives Travelers the highest possible rating of "A++," indicating that it's one of the top insurance companies around today.
| Average Monthly Insurance Cost: Full Coverage Policy | Average Annual Insurance Cost: Full Coverage Policy |
| $83 | $1,001 |
Best Virginia Car Insurance Company for Minimum Liability: Travelers
Our top choice for the best Virginia car insurance company for minimum liability coverage only goes to Travelers. The carrier offers car insurance that satisfies only the state's minimum coverage requirements for drivers in need. A minimum liability-only policy from Travelers goes for just $29 per month in Virginia.
| Average Monthly Insurance Cost: Minimum Liability | Average Annual Insurance Cost: Minimum Liability |
| $29 | $344 |
Best Virginia Car Insurance Company for Full Coverage: Nationwide
Our top choice for the best Virginia car insurance company for full coverage is Nationwide. Nationwide sells car insurance policies that embody more than just the minimum state requirements, still at highly affordable rates. A "full coverage" car insurance policy typically includes liability coverage along with other protections like collision and comprehensive. A full coverage policy from Nationwide starts at just $79 per month in Virginia.
Founded in 1925, Nationwide has been around for almost a century. The insurance company has grown from a small car insurance carrier to one of the largest insurance and financial services companies across the world.
AM Best places Nationwide in the $2 billion or greater financial size category. AM Best also awards Nationwide an "A+" or superior rating overall for financial strength. Nationwide has earned a score 829 out of 1,000 points on J.D. Power's Customer Satisfaction Survey recently.
| Average Monthly Insurance Cost: Full Coverage Policy | Average Annual Insurance Cost: Full Coverage Policy |
| $79 | $946 |
Best Virginia Car Insurance Company for Young Drivers: Erie
Our first choice for the best Virginia car insurance company for young drivers is Erie Insurance. Erie's car insurance rates for teens in Virginia are only about half of the state's average. A car insurance policy for teens and young drivers from Erie averages about $186 per month for full coverage in Virginia.
First founded in 1925, the carrier has nearly a century’s worth of experience in the insurance industry today. The insurance company has more than five million insurance policies in force now. Coverage is available in 12 states and DC.
Erie has taken the titles of the 12th largest auto insurer in the US, the 11th largest home insurer in the US, and the 12th largest business insurer in the US. Erie is also a Fortune 500 Company and has been recognized on the list since 2003. In 2016 and 2017, Erie won the Achievement in Customer Excellence Awards by Confirmit for their claims service. AM Best gives Erie an “A+” or "excellent" rating in financial strength, so Erie is pretty much solid all around.
| Average Monthly Insurance Cost: Families with Teen Drivers | Average Annual Insurance Cost: Families with Teen Drivers |
| $186 | $2,232 |
Best Virginia Car Insurance Company for Married Couples: Erie
Our first choice for the best Virginia car insurance company for married couples is Erie Insurance. Erie's car insurance rates for married drivers in Virginia are about a third lower than the state's average. Car insurance policies for married drivers start at about $140 (or $70 per car) per month through Erie.
| Average Monthly Insurance Cost: Married Couples | Average Annual Insurance Cost: Married Couples |
| $140 | $1,680 |
Best Virginia Car Insurance Company for Accident History: Erie
Our first choice for the best Virginia car insurance company for drivers with an accident history is Erie Insurance. Erie's car insurance rates for drivers with at least one at-fault accident on their records are only about half of the state's average. A car insurance policy from Erie after an accident starts at about $109 per month in Virginia.
| Average Monthly Insurance Cost: Drivers with Accident History | Average Annual Insurance Cost: Drivers with Accident History |
| $109 | $1,308 |
Virginia Car Insurance Requirements
Virginia state law requires drivers to meet minimum car insurance amounts or choose to pay a $500 uninsured motor vehicle fee instead. If drivers do purchase car insurance, the state requires minimum amounts of liability and other coverages. Here are Virginia's car insurance requirements for those who choose to purchase coverage.
- Bodily injury liability: In Virginia, this coverage is required in the amounts of $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident. Coverage pays the costs of medical treatment to another driver and their passengers after an accident you're at fault for.
- Property damage liability: In Virginia, this coverage is required in the amount of $20,000 per accident. Coverage pays the costs of repairs to a third party's personal property, like a vehicle, fences, etc., if you damage it with your car.
- Uninsured motorist coverage: In Virginia, this coverage is required in the amount of $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident, and $20,000 in property damage coverage. Coverage pays for the damage to your vehicle or medical treatments if another driver causes a collision and doesn't have any or enough insurance of their own.
Optional car insurance in Virginia:
- Comprehensive: Coverage can pay for expenses after incidents other than collision, including incidents with large animals, windshield breaks, and more.
- Collision: Pays for damage to your car from a collision with another driver, regardless of fault.
- Personal injury protection: Coverage can pay for your own medical expenses after an accident you're at fault for.
- Roadside assistance: Coverage can pay for towing services if you break down on the side of the road.
- Gap coverage: Coverage can pay the difference between what your vehicle is worth and what you owe on your remaining vehicle loan after a collision.
- Rental car reimbursement: Coverage can pay for a rental car after a covered accident.
A Virginia independent insurance agent can help you choose all the kinds of car insurance you need to build into your policy.
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Average Cost of Car Insurance in Virginia
The average annual cost of car insurance in Virginia is $1,008, which is lower than the current national average of $1,311. Virginia ranks number 43 overall for car insurance prices in the US. But remember that car insurance rates can vary based on many factors beyond the state you live in, like your credit score, driving record, car insurance carrier, and more. Full coverage auto insurance in Virginia starts at about $79 per month from more affordable carriers like Nationwide.
Average Virginia Car Insurance Costs by City
Car insurance premiums vary right down to the specific city you live in. An area's car values, crime and traffic rates, risk of inclement weather, and other factors all go into determining car insurance pricing in the area. Drivers in Richmond pay the highest car insurance rates in the state, at an average of $1,260 per year. However, drivers in Lynchburg pay just $905 per year for coverage, which is the lowest average in the state.
Finding Car Insurance Discounts in Virginia
Saving money on car insurance can be even easier when you know which discounts to apply. You might qualify for different discounts depending on which carrier you purchase coverage through. There are many car insurance discounts that are commonly offered by several different carriers, such as bundling discounts. Here are just a few car insurance discounts you might be able to score in Virginia.
- Military discounts: Applied to active or even retired military members.
- Anti-theft devices: Applied to customers whose vehicles are equipped with anti-theft devices that add to its security, such as an alarm.
- Paperless billing: Applied to customers who sign up for paperless billing statements.
- Student driver discounts: Applied to customers with households that have a student driver.
- Safe driver discounts: Applied to drivers with a clean track record with no accidents or traffic violations over the past few years.
- Other discounts: Applied if a customer belongs to a certain organization such as a union, group, or the government, or is a teacher, they may earn an additional discount on car insurance premiums.
A Virginia independent insurance agent will find any car insurance discounts you qualify for and automatically apply them to your policy.
How to Find the Best Car Insurance Quote in Virginia
To obtain the best Virginia car insurance quote, work together with a local independent insurance agent. These agents can browse multiple Virginia car insurance companies for you, and then present you with only the best results that blend coverage and cost the right way. From there, you can select the policy that works for you. Virginia independent insurance agents make it that easy.
How to File a Car Insurance Claim in Virginia
Filing a car insurance claim in Virginia is really a simple process, involving only a few steps. If you're ever involved in an accident or otherwise need to file a claim, keep this process in mind:
- Report the accident: You should ideally report any accidents to the police right from the scene.
- Get medical treatment: Tending to any injuries is also a top priority.
- Call your independent insurance agent: Your Virginia independent insurance agent can actually file your claim for you, right through your carrier.
- Schedule a rental: Your coverage may include rental vehicles after covered losses, and if you need one, you can arrange for it through your carrier.
- Schedule with an adjuster: Finally, you'll probably need to schedule a visit from an insurance adjuster to assess your vehicle's damage.
Your Virginia independent insurance agent can file auto insurance claims for you and keep you updated on every step of the process. Or you can keep these easy steps in mind to file claims yourself.
How does your city measure up to the national average?
National average time spent commuting 26.9 Min
National average car thefts per 1,000 2.3 Year
National average car insurance cost $1,311 Year
| City | Commute Time (Min) | Auto thefts / 1,000 | Annual Insurance Cost |
| Alexandria | 29.7 | 2.41 | $1,191 |
| Arlington | 27.0 | 0.98 | $994 |
| Centreville | 29.3 | 2.29 | $1,171 |
| Chesapeake | 25.5 | 1.28 | $984 |
| Hampton | 22.8 | 1.72 | $984 |
| Lynchburg | 16.6 | 2.06 | $905 |
| Norfolk | 20.1 | 3.23 | $1,081 |
| Portsmouth | 21.1 | 3.91 | $1,169 |
| Richmond | 19.8 | 5.08 | $1,260 |
| Suffolk | 29.1 | 1.67 | $1,105 |
| Virginia Beach | 22.3 | 1.28 | $970 |
Popular Questions about Virginia Car Insurance
Car insurance rates in Virginia average $1,008 per year or $84 per month.
What your Virginia car insurance covers depends on the coverages you select to put into your policy. You'll need at least bodily injury liability, property damage liability, and uninsured motorist coverage, but you may choose to add other coverages, such as collision and comprehensive.
Drivers can choose to pay a $500 uninsured motor vehicle fee or get the state's minimum car insurance requirements, which are:
- Bodily injury liability: $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $20,000 per accident
- Uninsured motorist coverage: $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident, and $20,000 for property damage per accident
A reported 9.9% of drivers in Virginia are uninsured, which is below the current national average of 13% of all drivers in the US.
Our research found that Travelers, Nationwide, and Erie are the best car insurance companies in Virginia based on many factors like customer reviews, financial strength ratings, car insurance options, rates, and more.
No, Virginia is actually an "at-fault" state for car insurance. So, drivers who get injured in car accidents seek reimbursement for the damage from the at-fault driver's insurance.
Drivers will either need to provide proof of insurance or pay the state's optional $500 uninsured motor vehicle fee if they choose not to purchase coverage when registering a car.
Drivers in Virginia can choose to pay a $500 uninsured motor vehicle fee or get the state's minimum car insurance requirements, which are:
- Bodily injury liability: $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $20,000 per accident
- Uninsured motorist coverage: $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident, and $20,000 for property damage per accident