Best Car Insurance in Virginia

Insurance companies in Virginia do not have a specific amount of time in which they must settle an insurance claim. Instead, state law requires them to settle claims "reasonably promptly".

Even though Virginia does not require a specific timeframe for the resolution of insurance claims, you still have the right to an efficient settlement. If you think that your insurance company is violating the law or operating unethically, you can file a “bad faith” lawsuit, which can award you the original settlement amount with added interest and penalties.

With that being said, it's important to remember that several factors can affect exactly how long it takes for an insurance company to settle a claim. For example, severe accidents, claims involving bodily injury, and poor communication between involved parties can all slow down the process.

You can get car insurance discounts in Virginia based on how you drive, the car you own, and your relationship with your insurance company. In Virginia, car insurance companies are allowed to consider factors like employment, residential, and marital status when setting premiums. That means there are also discounts available for being married, owning a home, or being affiliated with certain employers or educational institutions.

Almost anyone can get a discount on car insurance in Virginia because most insurance companies make it easy to qualify for a variety of savings. Virginia insurers typically offer discounts that fall into one of three categories—policy discounts, driver discounts, and vehicle discounts.

Policy discounts typically reward customer behavior that is desirable to the insurance company. For example, most Virginia drivers can save by registering for paperless billing or getting both home and auto policies from the same company. Driver discounts are available to Virginia residents who are lower-risk to insure, like those with clean driving records. And vehicle discounts help drivers save if their car has certain safety features or anti-theft systems.

Car Insurance Discounts in Virginia

Remember, discounts vary among different insurance companies, so it's always best to contact the provider directly to determine which discounts you qualify for.

Virginia is an at-fault state, which means that the at-fault driver is responsible for paying for everyone injured in the accident. There are no restrictions on the right to sue after an accident in at-fault states, even if the insured buys personal injury protection (PIP). In Virginia, you are also required to carry uninsured motorist protection, which replaces the liability coverage another driver should have had and pays for your costs up to policy limits. Virginia state law allows drivers to opt out of state minimum car insurance if they pay a $500 fee with the state every time they renew vehicle registration. This fee avoids the penalties of driving without insurance, but drivers are still financially responsible if they cause an accident.

Drivers in Virginia are required to carry at least $25,000 in bodily injury liability insurance per person, up to $50,000 per accident, and $20,000 in property damage liability insurance. When an insured driver is responsible for an accident, liability insurance covers the other driver's expenses.

On average, state minimum coverage costs $381 per year in Virginia, but there are many factors that can affect how much you pay for a policy. Any coverage above and beyond what is required by Virginia law is optional, but it's usually worth the money to get some additional protection. The biggest reason is that state minimum coverage doesn't protect your personal vehicle. For insurance to pay for damage to your car, you'll need full coverage.

In Virginia, full coverage refers to a policy that includes collision and comprehensive, plus higher coverage limits than what is required by state law. Full coverage car insurance costs about $1,009 per year in Virginia. There may be cases when you don't need full coverage insurance, but Virginia drivers should buy as much coverage as they can afford as a general rule.

Most policies offer coverage for six months to one year at a time and can be paid in a variety of ways, including monthly payments. The best car insurance companies in Virginia balance affordability with quality coverage and strong customer service. You can easily get a quote from top companies like Geico, State Farm, Erie Insurance and The Hartford online or over the phone, or use WalletHub's comparison tools to find the best car insurance policy for your needs.

Car insurance usually follows the car in Virginia. The types of car insurance that follow the car in Virginia are bodily injury liability, personal injury liability, uninsured motorist protection, collision, and comprehensive. You're required to carry bodily injury liability, property damage liability, and uninsured motorist protection in Virginia.

If you let someone borrow your car and they cause an accident in Virginia, bodily injury liability insurance pays for injuries to the other driver and their passengers. Property damage liability insurance will pay for damage to the other driver's car. If the person who borrowed your car causes damage that exceeds your coverage limits, their liability policy can act as secondary coverage. But their coverage only kicks in after yours is tapped out.

You won't need to use your PIP or MedPay coverage if someone caused an accident while driving your car because PIP and MedPay follow the driver. You will have to use your collision and comprehensive insurance to pay for damage to your car, though. These optional coverage types pay for your car to be fixed no matter who was driving, but it is a claim on your policy.

It's always a risk to lend your car to someone else, because you could definitely end up filing a claim using your own insurance in Virginia. When someone borrows your car, they also borrow your insurance coverage in most cases.

No, personal injury protection insurance (PIP) is not required in Virginia. Virginia drivers are not required to buy car insurance at all. If a driver chooses to buy insurance, Virginia policies have medical payments insurance (MedPay) instead of PIP.

MedPay is available with your Virginia policy. This coverage helps with injuries or rehab that you may deal with after a car accident, even if you cause the accident. In that way, it's almost identical to PIP. But unlike PIP, MedPay doesn't usually cover extra categories of assistance like lost wages or household services if you're injured.

PIP & Insurance in Virginia:

Virginia's unique car insurance laws affect the annual cost of car insurance for drivers. For comparison, New Hampshire pay about $1,320 for car insurance every year. Car insurance in New Hampshire is fairly average compared to the rest of the country - it's a small but densely populated state. Insurance costs a little bit less in Virginia, if drivers choose to buy an insurance policy.