Virginia Car Insurance Laws (2022): Minimums Have Changed

Virginia's minimum liability insurance requirements are increasing slightly starting in 2022 — that means more coverage when you're financially liable in a car accident. Driving without car insurance is still illegal in Virginia. This guide on Virginia car insurance laws can help ensure you're cruising safely and legally compliant into 2022 and beyond.

Car Insurance Coverage Limits Required by Virginia Law in 2022

Virginia Car Insurance Minimum Coverage Limits
Required Coverage	2022 Requirements	2021 Requirements
Liability	$30,000 for bodily injury per person $60,000 for bodily injury per accident $20,000 for property damage per accident	$25,000 for bodily injury per person $50,000 for bodily injury per accident $20,000 for property damage per accident
Uninsured/underinsured motorist	$30,000 for bodily injury per person $60,000 for bodily injury per accident $20,000 for property damage per accident	$25,000 for bodily injury per person $50,000 for bodily injury per accident $20,000 for property damage per accident

Liability Coverage: (30/60/20)

Liability insurance coverage kicks in when you're at fault for another person's property damages or injuries. 

Starting in 2022, the minimum insurance requirements are increasing to $30,000 for injuries to one person ($25,000 in 2021) and $60,000 for injuries per accident ($50,000 in 2021). Property damage requirements are $20,000 per accident, unchanged from 2021.

Starting in 2022, the minimum insurance requirements are increasing.

(You can review Code of Virginia § 46.2-472 directly to learn more.)

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: (30/60/20)

Uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance coverage applies when the other driver is at fault for the auto accident but they:

1. Don't have any insurance (uninsured motorist) or 
2. Don't have enough insurance coverage to pay for your property damages or medical bills (underinsured motorist).

In Virginia, the minimum requirements for uninsured/underinsured coverage and liability coverage are the same: $30,000 for injuries to one person ($25,000 in 2021); $60,000 for injuries per accident ($50,000 in 2021); and $20,000 for property damages per accident (same as 2021).

Drivers with FR-44 Certifications

FR-44 Insurance Coverage Minimum Requirements
Minimum Liability	Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist
$60,000 for bodily injury per person $120,000 for bodily injury per accident $40,000 for property damage per accident	$60,000 for bodily injury per person $120,000 for bodily injury per accident $40,000 for property damage per accident

The state of Virginia raises the minimum liability requirements for Virginians with driving-related convictions. Not just a little bit either — drivers with FR-44 certification must obtain twice the minimum coverage as ordinary drivers.

To recap, a driver with an FR-44 certification is a driver with the following convictions:

• Maiming while under the influence
• Drivingwhile  intoxicated (e.g., drugs, alcohol)
• Driving while driver's license was suspended due to conviction
• Violating federal or state laws similar to any of the above convictions

Are Virginia State Requirements Enough?

Virginian drivers are required to purchase car insurance for liability and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage only. The minimum liability requirements were boosted only slightly from 2021 to 2022 but the extra $5,000 in bodily injury per person and $10,000 per accident can certainly help when you're responsible for a car accident.

If you’re carrying only the required minimum, you’re vulnerable to losses like theft and some collision-related damages.

If you're carrying only the required minimum, you're vulnerable to losses from a wide range of perils, including theft and collision-related damages. For extra protection, consider purchasing these optional coverages from your insurance company:

Optional Car Insurance Coverages in Virginia
Coverage	Description
Collision	Covers damages or losses that arise after hitting another vehicle or stationary object.
Comprehensive	Pays for any damages or losses not covered by collision coverage (e.g., weather perils, falling objects, vandalism, theft).
Medical payments	Pays for the medical expenses of yourself or your passengers after suffering an accident.
Rental car reimbursement	Pays for a rental car if your car is inaccessible (e.g, your vehicle is undergoing repairs at a shop).
Roadside assistance	Your insurance company arranges various roadside services (e.g., lockout services, flat tire replacement, fuel delivery, jumpstarts, towing).

Penalties for Not Showing Proof of Insurance in Virginia

Driving without proof of insurance is illegal in most states and Virginia is no exception. Getting pulled over as an uninsured driver can incur fees and penalties, such as having your driving and vehicle registration privileges suspended. Getting these reinstated would require the following steps:

• Pay a $600 noncompliance fee
• File a Financial Responsibility Insurance Certificate (SR-22) with DMV for three years
• Pay a reinstatement fee

Although the state of Virginia offers a payment plan for drivers required to pay these fees, you're better off having car insurance and not incurring them in the first place. Fortunately, many carriers offer car insurance discounts that can lower your premiums.

Alternative to Getting Car Insurance in Virginia

An alternative to obtaining car insurance in Virginia is to pay a $500 Uninsured Motor Vehicle (UMV) fee to the DMV. Yes, you can legally drive but in an uninsured vehicle with zero coverage. This pass expires with your registration and you must pay another UMV fee alongside your registration fees to renew it.

Meeting Virginia car insurance requirements costs, on average, $655.84 per year (with 25/50/20 requirements in 2021). Although it costs a bit more than the $500 UMV fee, you're still financially liable during an accident — the cost to repair or replace another driver's vehicle could quickly outweigh any potential savings from driving uninsured.

Opting to pay a UMV fee instead of obtaining car insurance also counts as a lapse in coverage. Insurers will therefore charge higher auto insurance rates if you decide to purchase auto insurance in the future.

Virginia Is a "Diminished Value" State

"Diminished value" refers to the difference in a car's worth before and after an accident. Since motor vehicles often drop in resale value after a car accident, drivers can file a diminished value claim against the at-fault driver. If you can prove your claim, you can recover the amount your vehicle's market value decreased from the other driver's car insurance company. 

Virginia does not have any official legislation that drivers or insurance companies must use to calculate diminished value so the process may vary by the accident.

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