The Risks of Driving Without Insurance in Virginia

Let’s check out what may happen to drivers who get behind the wheel without sufficient coverage in the Old Dominion and how you can build your Virginia auto insurance policy to ensure you’re protected both legally and for your own comfort.

The law for auto insurance in Virginia states that drivers must have a policy with at least 30/60/20 liability coverage and 25/50/20 UM/UIM coverage or legally opt out of the insurance system by paying an annual fee. Those who lease or finance their vehicles may be legally required to have comprehensive and collision coverages on their policies as a facet of their legally binding leasing or financing agreements. Those who fail to follow the car insurance laws may face severe legal and financial consequences. 

In the Old Dominion, an uninsured driver is any driver who lacks the minimum coverage required by law or fails to legally opt out of the insurance system by paying the annual fee. In Virginia, drivers must have at least $30,000 in bodily injury liability per person, $60,000 in bodily injury liability per accident, $20,000 in property damage liability per accident (30/60/20 liability coverage), $25,000 in uninsured or underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage (UMBI/UIMBI) per person, $50,000 in UMBI/UIMBI per accident, and $20,000 in uninsured or underinsured motorist property damage coverage (UMPD/UIMPD), or 25/50/20 UM/UIM coverage. Those who fail to maintain this coverage are considered uninsured.

Carrying the minimum legal amount of coverage required in the state will help ensure your safety behind the wheel as both an at-fault driver and the victim in an accident. Drivers in the Old Dominion carry liability coverage to help cover the accident expenses the victim incurs in an accident caused by the policyholder. Drivers carry UM/UIM coverage to cover their own expenses should they be the victim in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have enough coverage for their expenses. 

Having the minimum coverage required by state law will help cover the expenses related to an at-fault accident. Such a policy will also protect you from the financial consequences of driving uninsured. Driving without insurance can get expensive quickly, between the fines, reinstatement fees, and accident expenses. It’s often far more cost-effective to pay the premiums on a full coverage policy than forgo coverage in the name of some short-term savings. 

In Virginia, driving without insurance is illegal for those who don’t pay the uninsured motorist fee and is considered a misdemeanor. Drivers can opt out of the insurance system legally by paying an annual fee, but without opting out legally, driving without adequate coverage is illegal. The penalties for driving illegally uninsured vary based on the severity and frequency of the offense but typically range from fines to license and registration suspension to jail time. 

A driver caught driving uninsured because their insurance policy lapsed a week prior to a routine traffic stop will likely face a less severe penalty than a driver who’s never held an insurance policy or has spent a long time without coverage. 

The average full coverage policy in the Old Dominion costs about $1,340 annually, or possibly even less when bound with one of the top insurers in the state. While skipping out on coverage illegally in the name of savings can be tempting, the reward generally isn’t worth the risk. The penalties for driving illegally uninsured can far surpass the state’s annual cost of a full coverage premium. 

Illegally driving without insurance in Virginia can result in severe penalties like fines, license and registration suspension, and even jail time. While Virginians may opt out of the insurance system legally by paying an annual fee, those who fail to maintain adequate coverage without the fee are considered uninsured motorists.

While the legal consequences for driving uninsured can get pretty severe, the long-term financial risks are even more serious. Those caught illegally driving uninsured may require SR-22 insurance if the offense causes them to have their license or registration revoked. SR-22 insurance isn’t actually a type of policy or coverage but rather a form an insurer files on behalf of a high-risk driver that certifies with the state that the driver has an active and adequate car insurance policy. Drivers may require this form to be filed before their license or registration can be reinstated. 

While an SR-22 form itself isn’t costly to file, the form existing on one’s record may cause a significant increase in the cost of one’s auto insurance premiums for several years. High-risk drivers and those previously uninsured have a tough time binding a cheap policy in the state, as insurance for high-risk drivers is typically double or triple the average premium in the state.

The uninsured motorist fee in Virginia is $500 annually. To legally opt out of the car insurance system in the Old Dominion, drivers can pay this annual fee instead of paying for an insurance premium. While drivers who legally opt out of the insurance system won’t face legal consequences for driving uninsured, they’re completely unprotected in every accident scenario. 

While there are significant financial consequences related to driving uninsured illegally, there are also financial risks to driving as a legal uninsured motorist. Virginia isn’t a no-fault state but, instead, a tort state, so drivers who cause accidents are liable for their victim’s expenses. This means that those who cause an accident, even if they’re legally uninsured, will have to pay the entirety of their victim’s expenses out of pocket, not to mention their own. Plus, Virginia is a contributory negligence state, which means that unless the at-fault driver is 100% at-fault, there are significant restrictions to the claims for which a victim can sue the at-fault party.

While it’s always in the driver’s best interest to make a choice about insurance that best suits their needs, it‘s typically much safer to drive with an insurance policy than without. The average minimum coverage policy in the Old Dominion typically costs about $670, which isn’t much more than the uninsured motorist fee. Plus, budgeting for an insurance premium is much easier than doing so for the costs related to an uninsured at-fault accident. 

Auto insurance for high-risk drivers in Virginia can be tough to find, but not impossible. The best way to find a policy that matches your lifestyle and falls within your budget is to get and compare quotes online. Getting and comparing quotes from several insurers is an excellent way to build your policy to meet your needs and ensure your premiums don’t break the bank.

Lucky for you, quotes are our specialty here at Clovered. We even have a free quoting tool you can use to access your unique quotes in minutes. If you prefer to chat with a professional about your quote, you can contact one of our licensed agents at 833-255-4117 or agent@clovered.com.