Virginia and New Hampshire are currently the only states that don't require car insurance. Your own car insurance policy can also protect you if an at-fault driver injures you and you don't have enough insurance coverage. You'll also find helpful tips to make sure you get the right car insurance for your situation. If you get insufficient insurance coverage, you could be stuck shouldering the costs of your own injuries from a car accident.
Virginia's low insurance limits make it extremely important to select enough car insurance to protect your financial well-being. If you decide not to take out car insurance, Virginia's car insurance laws state that you must pay an additional fee each year, along with the registration of your vehicle. The Virginia Insurance Office recommends that drivers review their individual circumstances and obtain additional insurance coverage to provide true protection. If you get the minimum mandatory insurance coverage, you won't have insurance protection for you, your family, or your vehicle.
Brooke worked for five years in private practice at a law firm specializing in insurance defense litigation before becoming the litigator for Allstate Insurance Company in the greater Richmond area. While you can drive legally without car insurance in Virginia, you run a significant risk of legal and financial liability if you cause a car accident. If you cause a car accident and the other person's claim exceeds the limits of your liability insurance coverage, then you are “exposed” to the difference between the limits of your coverage and the amount of the claim. Under Virginia auto insurance laws, auto policies must also include coverage for uninsured or underinsured motorists, with limits equal to the policy's liability limits.
If you are injured in a car accident that wasn't your fault, the biggest concern will be whether the at-fault party has car insurance. A car insurance deductible is simply the amount you'll have to pay before the insurance company assumes the rest of the costs.