F.J. Jimenez/ Getty Images; Illustration by Austin Courregé/Bankrate
Virginia drivers used to be able to circumvent minimum insurance coverage by paying a $500 uninsured motor vehicle (UMV) fee. However, this is no longer the case. Drivers are now mandated by law to carry a certain amount of bodily injury liability and property damage liability insurance. Because driving without minimum auto insurance coverage is now illegal, being caught uninsured can result in serious consequences. In short, it’s better to make sure you have the right coverage than to roll the dice on the road without a policy.
Do I need insurance to drive in Virginia?
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requires all drivers to carry minimum liability insurance. When you register a new vehicle, you must comply with state laws by purchasing a policy that carries the following minimum insurance coverage:
- $50,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $25,000 property damage liability per accident
This coverage typically reads as 50/100/25 on your policy. Keep in mind that these are just the minimum amounts of coverage. Experts recommend increasing coverage limits to protect yourself financially.
Considering the low average cost of insurance in Virginia — $694 per year for minimum coverage, as of February 2025 according to premium data from Quadrant Information Services — this type of insurance may sound appealing. But liability coverage can only be used to help you cover the costs of injuries to other drivers or damaged property in an accident. Minimum coverage doesn’t help you pay for the damage to your vehicle or for your medical bills if you cause an accident.
Plus, Virginia is an at-fault state. That means the driver who is found responsible for the accident must pay all expenses that result. For these reasons, experts recommend carrying more than the state-mandated minimum coverage.
Once you’ve signed a policy, you should carry proof of insurance when you drive. Virginia does allow drivers to show electronic proof of insurance.
New car insurance laws in Virginia
As of January 1, 2025, a law passed in 2021 is in effect which increased the minimum insurance requirements to those listed above. When the law first changed in 2024, drivers could carry:
- $30,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $60,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $20,000 property damage liability per accident
If you still have that level of insurance, your minimum coverage policy will increase your limits (and your rate) at your next renewal.
Penalties for driving without insurance in Virginia
If you’re wondering how long you can go without car insurance before being penalized in VA, the answer is not promising. If the police or DMV discover that you’re driving uninsured, you have 30 days to provide proof of coverage. To encourage motorists to only operate an insured vehicle, Virginia imposes strict penalties on uninsured drivers after that period. You can incur expensive fees and even lose your license. Penalties for driving without insurance in Virginia include:
- Paying a $600 noncompliance fee to the DMV
- Obtaining an SR-22 certificate for three years
- Paying a reinstatement fee of $145, if applicable, on your license, registration and plates
- License, license plate, and registration suspension until you obtain insurance
Additionally, insurance companies usually consider a lapse of insurance as a high-risk rating factor. As such, failing to maintain continuous coverage could result in an increase in average premiums.
What is an SR-22?
Being mandated to carry SR-22 is one of the penalties you can face for driving without insurance in Virginia. Although often called SR-22 insurance, an SR-22 is not actually an insurance policy. It’s a document sent from your insurance company to the Commonwealth of Virginia that proves you have the minimum insurance coverage required.
Most drivers do not need SR-22s. The certificate is mainly required for drivers who are in the high-risk category, such as those convicted of a DUI or driving uninsured. Drivers with an SR-22 requirement may need to switch carriers to find one that files SR-22s and will likely pay above-average rates for coverage based on their driving record.
Virginia is also one of two states with an FR-44 requirement for certain high-risk drivers (Florida is the other). An FR-44 is similar to an SR-22, but in addition to proving that you meet minimum coverage requirements, you are required to carry at least double the state minimum amount of liability coverage. Whether you need an SR-22 or FR-44 in Virginia will depend on the severity of your offense and conviction specifics. You can check with the Virginia DMV for more details.
What happens if you get into an accident without insurance in Virginia?
If you cause an accident while driving uninsured, you’re responsible for paying for the other party’s injuries and property damage, as well as your own. Even if you have insurance, whether it’s full coverage or liability only, you’re still on the hook for costs that exceed the limits of your policy. Full coverage insurance can pay for damage to your own vehicle up to its actual cash value (ACV), while drivers with liability-only insurance must pay out of pocket for their own repairs.
Even if you cause a minor accident, the other driver may report you to the state for driving uninsured. This could trigger additional penalties such as fines, a license suspension or an SR-22 requirement.
Here are some ways that having at least minimum liability coverage or full coverage, which includes comprehensive and collision, can help protect you from major out-of-pocket costs:
| Situation | Full Coverage | Liability Only | No Insurance |
| Damage to your own car | Covered up to your vehicle’s ACV | Not covered | Not covered |
| Injuries to you or your passengers | Covered up to your MedPay/PIP limits if purchased | Covered up to your MedPay/PIP limits if purchased | Not covered |
| Damage to others’ car(s) or property | Covered up to your liability limits | Covered up to your liability limits | Not covered |
| Injuries to other drivers or passengers | Covered up to your liability limits | Covered up to your liability limits | Not covered |
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