Best car insurance in Richmond, VA (2024)

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Headshot of Rachael Brennan

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Meredith NapolitanoFreelance contributorAs a content writer, Meredith has written most extensively about home renovation, vocational training, the automotive industry, real estate, family law, and data protection.&Rachael BrennanSenior Editor & Licensed Auto Insurance ExpertRachael Brennan is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.

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Anna SwartzAnna SwartzSenior Managing EditorAnna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.
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Ian Bloom, CFP®, RLP®Ian Bloom, CFP®, RLP®Certified Financial PlannerIan Bloom, CFP®, RLP®, is a certified financial planner and a member of the Financial Review Council at Policygenius. Previously, he was a financial advisor at MetLife and MassMutual.

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The average cost of full coverage car insurance in Richmond is $1,467, which is $118 more expensive per year than the average cost of insurance in Virginia. We found that the cheapest car insurance companies in Richmond are USAA, State Farm, Main Street America, Travelers, and Farm Bureau — but rates can vary a lot based on factors like driving history, age, and ZIP code.

Ready to shop car insurance?

Policygenius can compare quotes to find you the cheapest coverage, and our experts will make sure that the policies you’re comparing fit your needs the most.

Key takeaways

  • USAA has the lowest average rate for full coverage car insurance in Richmond, at $872 per year.

  • USAA also has the lowest rates for drivers with bad credit, at $1,602.

  • Instead of car insurance, you can pay the Virginia DMV a fee of $500 to drive uninsured, but you will be financially responsible for any at-fault accidents you are involved in, which could end up costing you thousands of dollars.

Methodology & why you can trust our rates

Policygenius has analyzed car insurance rates provided by Quadrant Information Services for every ZIP code in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. For full coverage policies, the following coverage limits were used:

  • Bodily injury liability: 50/100

  • Property damage liability: $50,000

  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist: 50/100

  • Comprehensive: $500 deductible

  • Collision: $500 deductible

In some cases, additional coverages were added where required by state or insurer.

Rates for overall average rate, rates by ZIP code, and cheapest companies determined using averages for single drivers ages 30, 35, and 45. Our sample vehicle was a 2017 Toyota Camry LE driven 10,000 miles/year.

Rates for driving violations and “Poor” credit determined using average rates for a single male 30-year-old driver with a credit score under 578.

Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.

Cheapest car insurance companies in Richmond, VA

Car insurance companies may consider everything from age, location, driving history, and credit score, but rates can vary from one company to the next. To get the best rate, you should compare rates before choosing a policy. Here are the cheapest companies in Richmond:

Company

Average cost

JD Power Rating

USAA

$872

890

State Farm

$983

882

Main Street America

$1,007

--

Travelers

$1,104

854

Farm Bureau

$1,125

--

Cheapest car insurance rates by ZIP code in Richmond, VA

An insurance company will look at data that shows frequency of car theft and accidents, available secured parking, and other relevant data to determine the potential risk of the ZIP code where your car will spend the most time. The safer the area, the lower your premiums will be.

ZIP code

Average cost

23236

$1,417

23226

$1,428

23173

$1,428

23237

$1,430

23232

$1,434

23230

$1,435

23221

$1,437

23227

$1,444

23225

$1,464

23220

$1,489

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Choosing the right car insurance company in Richmond, VA

The policy that works best for you should be affordable and offer the most coverage for your needs. Each insurance company will assess your premium rate based on numerous factors, and by comparing insurers, you can choose the one with the lowest rates.

Policygenius makes it easy to compare rates from top car insurance companies, so you can be sure you’re making the right choice for your needs.

Car insurance rates for drivers with driving violations in Richmond, VA

Any accidents or moving violations will raise your rates, but each insurance company weighs violations in their own way. If you’ve committed a traffic violation or gotten a ticket, shopping for different quotes may help you find the most affordable coverage.

Violation

USAA

State Farm

Main Street America

Travelers

Farm Bureau

At-fault accident

$1,312

$1,188

$1,642

$1,665

$1,568

DUI

$1,713

$1,092

$2,580

$1,838

$1,678

Suspended license

$1,672

$1,092

$2,580

$1,838

$1,678

Open container

$1,546

$1,092

$2,580

$1,193

$1,678

Expired registration

$1,112

$1,092

$1,618

$1,193

$1,570

Driving without lights

$915

$1,092

$1,618

$1,573

$1,570

Running a red light

$1,112

$1,092

$1,767

$1,590

$1,570

Following too closely

$1,112

$1,092

$1,767

$1,193

$1,570

Hit and run

$1,750

$1,092

$2,580

$1,838

$1,678

Not-at-fault accident

$915

$996

$1,304

$1,496

$1,522

Passing a school bus

$1,331

$1,092

$2,580

$1,838

$1,570

Reckless driving

$1,212

$1,092

$2,580

$1,838

$1,678

Speeding

$1,112

$1,092

$2,580

$1,838

$1,487

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Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI in Richmond, VA

Drivers in Richmond could see a significant increase in their car insurance with a DUI or DWI on their record. The average annual cost for car insurance in Richmond is $1,467 per year, but drivers in Virginia can expect to pay an average of $2,810 per year if they have a DUI, which is a 92% increase over the average rate in Richmond.

But even Richmond drivers with a DUI on their record can save money on car insurance by comparing quotes from multiple companies. Our research shows that State Farm, Farm Bureau, and USAA have the lowest rates for drivers with a DUI in Richmond.

Company

Rates for drivers with DUIs

State Farm

$1,092

Farm Bureau

$1,678

USAA

$1,713

Travelers

$1,838

Main Street America

$2,580

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket in Richmond, VA

You will likely also increase your car insurance rates with a speeding ticket or other moving violation. Drivers in Richmond will pay an average of $2,031 per year for car insurance if they get a speeding ticket.

Speeding tickets can raise your insurance rates, but comparing quotes from multiple companies can help you save money on your car insurance, even if you have a speeding ticket on your record. We found that State Farm, USAA, and Farm Bureau offer the lowest rates for drivers with a speeding ticket in Richmond.

Company

Rates for drivers with speeding tickets

State Farm

$1,092

USAA

$1,112

Farm Bureau

$1,487

Travelers

$1,838

Main Street America

$2,580

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with bad credit in Richmond, VA

One of the factors used to calculate your rate is your credit score. A low credit score is considered a higher risk to insure, so the higher your score, the lower your premiums will be.

Company

Rates for drivers with bad credit

USAA

$1,602

Nationwide

$1,729

GEICO

$1,813

Auto-Owners Insurance

$1,958

Farm Bureau

$1,997

Ready to shop car insurance?

Buying car insurance in Richmond, VA

Drivers in Richmond must have the minimum amount of car insurance coverage per Virginia state law. Those minimums are:

  • Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $30,000

  • Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $60,000

  • Property damage liability coverage: $20,000

  • Personal injury protection: Optional

  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Coverage must match your liability limits, so $30,000 per person and $60,000 per incident

While you do have the option to pay the Virginia DMV $500 to legally opt of out buying car insurance, this will not give you any financial protection in case of an accident, and you could be on the hook for thousands of dollars if you cause an accident.

Virginia is an at-fault state, meaning that the driver who caused the violation will be responsible financially for damages caused to all parties. Depending on your needs, the minimum coverage amounts may not be enough, so consider using higher levels of coverage when you compare rates.

How to get cheap car insurance in Richmond, VA

Multiple discounts are available when searching for car insurance in Richmond, including:

  • Bundling discount: drivers who have car, home, and other insurance coverage with the same company are often able to get bundling discounts.

  • Safe-driver discount: drivers with a clean MVR may be eligible for discounts.

  • Good-student discount: young drivers who maintain a high GPA can get discounts on their insurance.

  • Employer/professional discount: many companies and industries offer discounts for certain insurance companies.

  • Low-mileage discount: drivers with low mileage can often get discounts for driving less.

  • Military discount: both active duty and veterans are often eligible for discounts.

By comparing rates, you can still find the least expensive insurance for you, even if you don’t qualify for any discounts.

Frequently asked questions

Is insurance required in Virginia?

In Virginia, you can pay the DMV $500 to legally drive uninsured. This means, however, that you will personally be responsible for any damages from any at-fault accidents, both to your car and the other vehicles involved.

Which insurance company has the lowest average rates in Richmond?

USAA has the lowest rates for coverage for drivers in Richmond.

Which violations will raise my rate the most in VA?

A DUI will usually cause your rates to increase the most. After a DUI, assuming you are able to keep your license, you can expect high rates for at least a few years.

How much is car insurance per month in Virginia?

The average monthly cost of car insurance in Virginia is $112, or $1,349 per year.

Authors

As a content writer, Meredith has written most extensively about home renovation, vocational training, the automotive industry, real estate, family law, and data protection.

Rachael Brennan is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.

Editor

Anna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.

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