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According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), car insurance in Virginia is much less than the national average. The average driver pays $785 per year.
Every insurance policy is different, as is everyone’s premium or cost to maintain coverage. Car insurance companies consider your location, age, gender, and driving record to calculate rates for premiums. Other factors like credit score, marital status, vehicle type, previous coverage, and miles driven can all play a role in the amount you’ll pay for coverage.
It’s essential to shop around and find the right coverage for you.
Minimum car liability insurance requirements in Virginia
In the US, all drivers must have liability coverage. If you’re involved in an accident, liability insurance covers damage you cause to the other vehicle, driver, and its passengers. If you finance or lease your car, your lender probably requires comprehensive and collision coverage.
The two main components of liability insurance are bodily injury and property damage, which most states require. Liability insurance also includes uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage. This policy protects you when an at-fault driver hits you and they have no coverage or not enough coverage.
According to the III, Virginia requires bodily, property, uninsured, and underinsured coverage. Virginia’s minimum liability requirements are 25/50/20 — up to $25,000 of injury protection for each person involved in an accident, up to $50,000 worth of injuries per incident, and up to $20,000 of property damages per incident.
| Types of liability coverage | Definition |
| Bodily injury (BI) | Injury you cause to others, includes medical expenses, lost wages, and funeral expenses |
| Property damage (PD) | Damage you cause to others’ vehicle or property |
| Uninsured motorist (UM) | Protects you when an at-fault driver hits you with no insurance |
| Underinsured motorist (UIM) | Protects you when an at-fault driver hits you with not enough coverage |
Best cheap car insurance in Virginia based on credit score
Consumer Reports compiled a list of the best cheap car insurance in each state, gathering pricing information from every insurance company. Here are the three best insurance companies offering the best rate at each credit level, along with the average yearly premium for each:
| Excellent credit (FICO 800+) | Good credit (FICO 670-739) | Poor credit (300-579) |
|
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Best car insurance for Virginia drivers with a clean record
For a driver in Virginia age 25 or older with no accidents and one vehicle, the following companies provide the best average rates:
| Company | Average monthly insurance premium |
| State Farm | $114 |
| GEICO | $123 |
| Nationwide | $135 |
| Progressive | $138 |
| Travelers | $141 |
| USAA* | $144 |
| Root | $147 |
| Allstate | $151 |
| Liberty Mutual | $155 |
| Esurance | $160 |
*USAA is only for active military, veterans, and their families.
Above data obtained from Savvy, based on 2,812 policyholders in the state of Virginia
Best car insurance for Virginia drivers one or more accidents on record
For a driver in Virginia age 25 or older, with one or more accidents and one vehicle, the following companies provide the best average rates:
| Company | Average monthly insurance premium |
| Bristol West | $101 |
| GEICO | $130 |
| Progressive | $157 |
| Allstate | $161 |
| Esurance | $184 |
| Farmers | $198 |
Above data obtained from Savvy, based on 2,812 policyholders in the state of Virginia
Average premiums for seniors and teen drivers in Virginia
The table below shows the average senior and teen drivers can expect to pay in Virginia. Because teen drivers are new drivers with little driving history and more prone to accidents, their rates are high. Most insurance companies offer discounts to teen drivers for good grades or taking driving safety classes.
Senior drivers typically see an uptick in car insurance premiums as they age, but not as much of an increase as new or teen drivers. If you’re still driving in your 60s and 70s, there are ways to negotiate cheaper auto insurance rates, like pay-per-mile usage.
| Average premium for seniors | Average premium for teens |
|
$1,261 per year
|
$2,764 per year |
Data provided by Goosehead Insurance
Virginia car insurance rates by city
Below is the estimated average annual premium of auto insurance policies per household in Virginia’s most populous cities:
| City | Average annual insurance premium |
| Virginia Beach | $1,495 |
| Norfolk | $1,304 |
| Chesapeake | $1,492 |
| Arlington | $1,553 |
| Richmond | $1,299 |
| Newport News | $1,347 |
| Alexandria | $1,493 |
| Hampton | $1,348 |
| Roanoke | $1,223 |
| Portsmouth | $1,339 |
| Suffolk | $1,456 |
| Lynchburg | $1,274 |
| Centreville | $1,637 |
| Dale City | $1,554 |
| Reston | $1,612 |
| Harrisonburg | $1,280 |
| Ashburn | $1,689 |
| Leesburg | $1,650 |
| McLean | $1,772 |
| Charlottesville | $1,339 |
| Tuckahoe | $1,503 |
| Blacksburg | $1,304 |
| Linton Hall | $1,762 |
| Lake Ridge | $1,553 |
| Annandale | $1,506 |
| Manassas | $1,510 |
| Burke | $1,711 |
Data from S&P Global Market Intelligence
Best car insurance in Virginia based on customer satisfaction
Customer satisfaction with car insurance providers may factor into your decision. Five factors make up customer satisfaction: billing process and policy information; claims; interaction; policy offerings; and price. According to a 2021 survey by J.D. Power, a consumer research company that surveys customers, these are the top car insurance companies in the Mid-Atlantic region (which includes Virginia):
Most popular car insurance companies in Virginia based on market share
The following are the most popular car insurance companies in Virginia, based on the percentage of insured Virginia drivers who use them:
| Company | Market share (%) |
| GEICO | 19.64 |
| State Farm | 14.88 |
| USAA* | 13.39 |
| Progressive | 11.07 |
| Allstate | 9.67 |
| Nationwide | 6.60 |
| Erie Insurance | 4.10 |
| Liberty Mutual | 2.41 |
| Travelers | 2.30 |
| VA Farm Bureau | 2.20 |
| National General Holdings | 2.12 |
| Elephant Insurance | 1.27 |
| Farmers Insurance | 0.87 |
| American Family | 0.85 |
| The Hartford | 0.65 |
| Agency Insurance Co. of MD | 0.62 |
| MetLife | 0.61 |
| Alfa Mutual Group | 0.60 |
| Auto-Owners Insurance | 0.55 |
| The Hanover Insurance | 0.39 |
| Northern Neck Insurance | 0.35 |
| Rockingham Insurance | 0.34 |
| Grange Insurance | 0.33 |
| Donegal | 0.32 |
| Amica | 0.30 |
*USAA is only for active military, veterans, and their families.
Data from S&P Global Market Intelligence
Who gets the best cheap car insurance in Virginia?
The better the credit score, the more affordable the car insurance.
Another way to save is to shop around. Every insurance company prices policies differently, and no two policies are the same. Prices vary greatly depending on whether you get liability, comprehensive, or collision coverage.
Consider the amount of coverage and the types of coverage listed on your quote. Remember, you’re looking for the most coverage for your money. Don’t forget to look at the deductible or the amount you’ll pay out of pocket if you get into an accident.
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