The best car insurance in Virginia for 2023

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Jessica OlivoFreelance contributorJessica Olivo is a writer living in Connecticut. She specializes in web and blog content in a variety of topics such as parenting, business, and culture, as well as serialized and short fiction.After working in publishing and book publicity for many years, she transitioned to freelance writing full time.&Andrew HurstSenior Editor & Licensed Auto Insurance ExpertAndrew Hurst is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. His work has also been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, NPR, Mic, Insurance Business Magazine, ValuePenguin, and Property Casualty 360.

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Anna SwartzAnna SwartzSenior Managing Editor & Auto Insurance ExpertAnna Swartz is a senior managing editor and auto insurance expert at Policygenius, where she oversees our car insurance coverage. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic.com, as well as an associate writer at The Dodo.

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Drivers in Virginia pay an average of $1,349 per year for a full coverage policy, making it one of the cheaper states for car insurance. But that doesn’t mean that Virginia drivers can’t still save even more — the best way to find affordable rates is to compare quotes before you buy.

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Policygenius makes it easy to see quotes from top companies and compare rates, so you can choose a policy that offers you the coverage you need at a price you feel good about.

Key takeaways

  • State Farm offers the lowest average rate in Virginia at $838 per year 

  • Nationwide has the lowest rates for Virginia drivers with bad credit

  • Virginia allows drivers to pay a fee of $500 to drive uninsured, but drivers are still financially responsible for any injuries or damage they cause

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 Virginia

Car insurance costs vary based on details like your age, address and driving history, but rates can also vary widely from company to company.

Company

Average cost

JD Power Rating

State Farm

$838

882

USAA

$881

890

Main Street America

$965

--

Travelers

$1,036

854

Auto-Owners Insurance

$1,052

865

Cheapest car insurance companies by age in Virginia

Teenage drivers are inexperienced behind the wheel and more likely to get in an accident, which is why they pay more for car insurance coverage than any other age group. But rates for young drivers typically fall as they age, until they level out at age 25.

Age

Cheapest company

Average cost

16

Farm Bureau

$2,470

18

Farm Bureau

$2,291

21

USAA

$1,397

25

State Farm

$998

30

State Farm

$852

35

State Farm

$834

45

USAA

$827

55

USAA

$776

60

State Farm

$765

65

State Farm

$758

70

State Farm

$799

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Choosing the right car insurance company in Virginia

Since rates in Virginia are already lower than in surrounding states, drivers are in a good position to find affordable coverage. Even if you have a speeding ticket on your record or a less-than-stellar credit score, chances are you can still find a reasonable rate.

The best way to ensure you’re getting the best deal on a car insurance policy is to shop around and compare rates before buying. Policygenius can help you see options from top companies, so you can feel confident in your choice.

Car insurance rates for drivers with driving violations in Virginia

Accidents and violations on your record will mean higher car insurance rates, and the more serious the violation, the more you’ll pay for coverage.

Violation

State Farm

USAA

Main Street America

Travelers

Auto-Owners Insurance

At-fault accident

$1,002

$1,322

$1,556

$1,550

$1,442

DUI

$927

$1,730

$2,450

$1,708

$1,751

Suspended license

$927

$1,690

$2,450

$1,708

$1,751

Open container

$927

$1,567

$2,450

$1,120

$1,079

Expired registration

$927

$1,124

$1,533

$1,120

$1,079

Driving without lights

$927

$926

$1,533

$1,470

$1,079

Running a red light

$927

$1,124

$1,676

$1,485

$1,079

Following too closely

$927

$1,124

$1,676

$1,120

$1,079

Hit and run

$927

$1,766

$2,450

$1,708

$1,751

Not-at-fault accident

$852

$926

$1,240

$1,397

$1,079

Passing a school bus

$927

$1,349

$2,450

$1,708

$1,180

Reckless driving

$927

$1,228

$2,450

$1,708

$1,751

Speeding

$927

$1,124

$2,450

$1,708

$1,751

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→ Read more about SR-22 and FR-44 insurance in Virginia

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with bad credit in Virginia

A bad credit score can mean you’ll pay more for car insurance coverage. If you have a poor credit score but maintain a clean driving record, you should still be able to find affordable coverage by shopping around and comparing quotes before you buy.

Company

Rates for drivers with bad credit

Nationwide

$1,517

GEICO

$1,628

USAA

$1,630

State Farm

$1,723

Auto-Owners Insurance

$1,786

Car insurance costs in Virginia cities

Where you live also has an effect on what you’ll pay for car insurance coverage. Drivers in cities with crowded streets or higher rates of car theft and vandalism will pay more for a policy than drivers in smaller cities with lower crime rates. Here’s what drivers pay, on average, in the 10 biggest cities in Virginia.

  • Virginia Beach: $1,468

  • Chesapeake: $1,464

  • Norfolk: $1,558

  • Richmond: $1,467

  • Newport News: $1,422

  • Alexandria: $1,494

  • Hampton: $1,445

  • Roanoke: $1,229

  • Portsmouth: $1,519

  • Suffolk: $1,347

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Buying car insurance in Virginia

Virginia, like most states, requires drivers to have a certain amount of car insurance coverage. However, unlike most other states, Virginia gives drivers the option to pay a $500 fee to the DMV in order to drive uninsured.

Making this payment doesn’t count as financial protection though — if you cause an accident, you’re still liable for the related damage and injuries. And the best way to cover your financial obligations after a car accident is to have car insurance. For Virginia drivers who carry car insurance, the minimum required amounts are:

  • Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000

  • Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000

  • Property damage liability coverage: $20,000

  • Personal injury protection: Optional

  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Coverage must match your liability limits, so $25,000 per person and $50,000 per incident

How to get cheap car insurance in Virginia

Finding cheap insurance doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are some easy tips for finding affordable rates:

  • Ask about discounts. Most companies offer discounted rates for safe drivers, good students, military families, seniors, and more.

  • Bundle policies. Get your auto insurance from the same company that insures your home, boat or motorcycle and you’ll save on all your coverage.

  • Shop around. Just because one company charges more to drivers with poor credit doesn’t mean they all will. Find the company that offers you the most affordable coverage.

Find car insurance in your city:

Frequently asked questions

How much is car insurance per month in Virginia?

Car insurance costs an average of $112 per month in Virginia. Getting a minimum-coverage policy will be cheaper, but you could leave yourself unprotected after an accident.

Could I save money by paying to drive uninsured?

Virginia allows drivers to drive uninsured after a $500 payment to the DMV. However choosing to drive uninsured is a major risk — if you’re at fault in an accident, you could be on the hook for tens of thousands of dollars in repair costs and medical bills.

If insurance in Virginia is inexpensive, why am I paying so much for my teen driver?

Teens across the country pay more for insurance and Virginians are no exception. New drivers are more likely to cause an accident than any other group and because of that, they pay more for coverage until they age out of the highest-risk age group.

Why does insurance cost more in Norfolk than Virginia Beach if Virginia Beach is more populated?

Insurance companies factor in both the size of a city and other details, like crime rate, accidents, claims and car repair costs. That’s why rates can vary from city to city, and even from neighborhood to neighborhood.

Authors

Jessica Olivo is a writer living in Connecticut. She specializes in web and blog content in a variety of topics such as parenting, business, and culture, as well as serialized and short fiction.

After working in publishing and book publicity for many years, she transitioned to freelance writing full time.

Andrew Hurst is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. His work has also been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, NPR, Mic, Insurance Business Magazine, ValuePenguin, and Property Casualty 360.

Editor

Anna Swartz is a senior managing editor and auto insurance expert at Policygenius, where she oversees our car insurance coverage. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic.com, as well as an associate writer at The Dodo.

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