Cheap Car Insurance Quotes in Virginia Starting at $39 (2024)

One of the most historic U.S. states, Virginia is home to portions of the Chesapeake Bay, Appalachian Mountains, and Atlantic coastline. The overall average monthly cost for car insurance in Virginia is $133, which is less than the national average of $160. And, Virginians pay less than drivers in Washington, D.C., where the overall monthly average rate is $156.

Of the employed residents commuting to work in or outside of Virginia, 76.7% of them drive alone. And on average, Virginia drivers travel 40.9 miles per day in their vehicles, whereas drivers in the U.S. overall travel just 36.1 miles per day.^[1] The commonality of commuting in Virginia may result in higher average rates in the state.

Auto-Owners, State Farm, and USAA offer some of the cheapest average car insurance rates in Virginia. But you may be able to find lower rates by comparing quotes from multiple insurance companies. Here’s what you need to know about finding affordable car insurance in Virginia.

Cheapest car insurance companies in Virginia

As you shop for the best deal, you should consider your financial situation and insurance needs. Car insurance rates vary based on your age, driving record, credit history, chosen coverage, and other factors. Some insurance companies offer more competitive rates than others, so you should always compare quotes from multiple insurers.

Here are three of the cheapest car insurance companies in Virginia.

Best insurer for cheap rates: Auto-Owners

Best insurer for teen drivers: State Farm

Best insurer for drivers with a DUI: GEICO

How to get the cheapest car insurance in Virginia

Various factors affect your car insurance rates, including your driving record, age, credit history, location, and more. But you can lower the cost of coverage in a few different ways:^[2]

• Bundle your policies. If you need different types of insurance coverage, like auto and home, you can typically save money by getting both from the same insurer.

• Utilize insurance discounts. Most companies offer a number of insurance discounts that reward safe driving, customer loyalty, and more.

• Increase your deductible. Your collision and comprehensive deductible is the amount you need to pay out of pocket when you file a claim. A higher deductible usually results in a lower premium.

• Shop around. The age, safety features, and type of vehicle you own influence how much you pay for car insurance. Shop for quotes before you buy a car to secure the best rates.

Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Virginia: Auto-Owners

Like most states, Virginia mandates liability car insurance. If you cause an accident, this insurance typically covers the costs of medical expenses and vehicle repairs for the other driver. It won’t cover the costs of any of your bodily injuries or property damage.^[3] This coverage typically makes the most sense for drivers of older or inexpensive vehicles with lots of mileage.

The average cost for this coverage in Virginia is $94 per month. The following insurers offer the cheapest liability-only quotes in Virginia.

Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Virginia: Auto-Owners

Full-coverage car insurance offers you more vehicle protection. Specifics vary by insurer, but the policies typically include liability, comprehensive, and collision coverages. Comprehensive coverage kicks in for damages from non-collision incidents, like fire, severe weather, car theft, and vandalism.^[4]

Virginia drivers pay, on average, $171 per month for full coverage. The following insurers offer some of the cheapest quotes for Virginia drivers.

Car insurance requirements in Virginia

Virginia is an at-fault state, which means that the driver who causes an accident is responsible for paying the claims. Drivers in Virginia must have a minimum amount of bodily injury liability, property damage liability, and underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage to drive — the latter of which provides financial protection if the other driver doesn’t have coverage.

Previously, Virginia allowed drivers to forgo car insurance if they paid a $500 uninsured vehicle fee. However, beginning July 1, 2024, all drivers in Virginia will have to purchase an insurance policy that meets the state's minimum requirements. The following minimum requirements for Virginia drivers are effective through the end of 2024. Starting in 2025, the minimum coverage requirements will increase.^[5]

Though you only need to purchase the minimum coverage requirements, it’s often a good idea to add more coverage to protect your vehicle and finances.

“I’d never recommend state minimum limits. It typically isn’t a huge price difference to increase those coverages, and it significantly helps protect your assets in case of an accident,” says Dominic Frey, an insurance professional with Hitchings Insurance Agency. “You don’t want to cause a claim and then get sued because your policy didn’t pay out enough.”

If you want additional financial protection, you can consider the following optional policies:

• 

  Comprehensive coverage

  If your car is damaged in a non-collision incident, like vandalism, severe weather, theft, or fire, comprehensive coverage kicks in.

• 

  Collision coverage

  This policy covers the cost of repairs for your vehicle after an auto accident, regardless of fault. It can also pay for collision with objects, such as a tree, fence, or light pole. And, it covers rollover accidents.

• 

  Medical payments coverage

  Following an injury from an accident, this coverage can pay for some of your medical expenses.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident

Your driving record affects your car insurance rates. Insurance companies may classify you as a high-risk driver with a greater likelihood of filing a claim if you have certain driving incidents on your record. Incidents that can increase your rates include driving under the influence (DUI), speeding tickets, and at-fault accidents.^[6]

To find the best deal, drivers should always compare quotes from multiple insurance companies.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: Auto-Owners

If you get a speeding ticket, your car insurance premium will likely increase. Having only one speeding ticket likely won’t increase it too much. Virginia drivers can still find competitive rates after a speeding ticket.

The cheapest insurance company for drivers with a speeding ticket is Auto-Owners, with monthly liability rates averaging $50.

The following insurers offer the cheapest average monthly quotes for Virginia drivers with a speeding ticket.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: Auto-Owners

If you cause an auto accident, insurance companies will typically increase your car insurance premium. Most car insurers consider the previous three to five years of your driving record when determining rates, so your car accident can affect your premium during that time.^[7] And if you have at least three years with a clean driving record, you may qualify for accident forgiveness coverage, which ensures your rates won't rise after your first at-fault accident.

An at-fault accident in the commonwealth pushes overall average rates from $133 per month to $190. In Virginia, the following insurers offer the cheapest car insurance quotes for drivers with an at-fault accident.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: Auto-Owners

Driving under the influence is a serious violation that can significantly affect your car insurance rates and even lead to non-renewal of your current coverage. Because of that, you might need to consult with multiple insurers to find a competitive rate.

Virginia drivers with a DUI pay, on average, $278 for full coverage and $153 for liability-only insurance. Consider the following insurance companies if you have a DUI and want coverage in Virginia.

Cheapest car insurance for seniors: Auto-Owners

Your age influences what you pay for car insurance and fluctuates throughout your life. Teenage drivers typically pay the highest premiums, but costs tend to decrease steadily for drivers between 35 and 70.

Most drivers earn the lowest premiums around retirement age due to years of experience and safer driving habits. But around the age of 70, the price of car insurance for seniors increases a bit to correspond with increased risk factors associated with aging.^[8]

On average, car insurance for senior drivers costs $68 per month for liability coverage and $124 for full coverage in the commonwealth. And the cheapest insurance company for seniors is Auto-Owners, with liability-only rates averaging $29 per month.

The following insurers offer the best monthly quotes for senior drivers in Virginia.

Cheapest car insurance for teens: Auto-Owners

Due to inexperience behind the wheel, unsafe driving habits, and a greater likelihood of speeding or at-fault accidents, teens are one of the riskiest and most expensive groupsto cover. Because of that, teenagers typically face the highest auto insurance rates.^[9]

You can take steps to reduce the costs by setting your teen up on your car insurance plan for as long as possible, choosing a safe vehicle for them to drive, and checking if your teen qualifies for a good student discount.

Teen car insurance in Virginia costs an average of $303 per month for full coverage and $167 for a liability-only policy. Auto-Owners is the cheapest car insurance company for teen drivers, averaging $67 per month for liability-only coverage.

Here are the cheapest car insurance companies in Virginia for young drivers.

Virginia car insurance quotes by credit tier

Virginia insurance companies consider your credit history to generate a credit-based insurance score that they use as a factor when determining insurance rates. A few states don’t allow this practice, but Virginia permits it.

Drivers in Virginia can expect their credit score to influence their car insurance premiums. Excellent or good credit scores typically correlate to lower rates. Poor credit scores usually lead to higher rates.

Here’s what you can expect to pay for full-coverage insurance by credit tier.

Virginia car insurance FAQs

Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 50+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.

Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).

Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:

• Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
• Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
• No additional coverage

Full-coverage premium averages correspond to the same bodily injury and property damage limits in addition to:

• Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
• Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible

Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.

1. U.S. Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Statistics. "Virginia Transportation by the Numbers."
2. Insurance Information Institute. "How to save money on car insurance."
3. Insurance Information Institute. "Auto insurance basics—understanding your coverage."
4. Insurance Information Institute. "What is covered by collision and comprehensive auto insurance?."
5. Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. "Insurance Requirements."
6. Insurance Information Institute. "What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?."
7. Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. "Moving Violations and Point Assessments."
8. Insurance Information Institute. "Senior driving safety and insurance tips."
9. Insurance Information Institute. "Auto insurance for teen drivers."

Taylor Milam-Samuel is a writer and credentialed educator who is fascinated by how people earn, save, and spend their money. When she's not researching financial terms and conditions, she can be found in the classroom teaching.