Driving Without Insurance in Virginia

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

Frequently asked questions

The Virginia DMV utilizes an online reporting system in which auto insurance carriers notify the DMV of new or canceled policies, which means the state will know if you do not have insurance or have submitted false information. You will have 30 days from the date of your citation to submit proof of an active insurance policy. Additionally, providing false insurance information is a Class 3 misdemeanor in Virginia. The consequences for this offense are an immediate suspension of your driver’s license, registration and plates until you pay a $600 non-compliance fee. The earliest you can get your license back after you lose it is 30 days.
The average cost of car insurance in Virginia is $753 annually for minimum liability coverage and $2,070 for full coverage, as of November 2025. However, the cost of car insurance in Virginia varies based on several factors, including, but not limited to, the type of coverage you purchase, the amount of coverage you purchase, the type of vehicle you are insuring, your prior insurance history and your driving record. Car insurance companies have different discount offerings and rating algorithms, so shopping around will help you find the best rate for your circumstances.
Prior to July 2024, drivers could operate a vehicle without car insurance in Virginia if they paid an uninsured vehicle fee of $500 to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). That law has been replaced by mandatory insurance, making driving without insurance in VA a crime. Currently, all drivers are required to purchase at least the state’s minimum amount of liability insurance. If you are stopped by law enforcement and cannot prove that you have coverage, you will have 30 days to respond by providing proof of insurance before you are subject to penalties. If you cause an accident without insurance in Virginia, you will have to pay for the damage you cause out of pocket. Because Virginia is an at-fault state, you are responsible for all damage related to the accident if you are found liable.
Finding the best car insurance company for your needs means first deciding on your priorities. If affordable coverage is your top interest, for example, you may want to consider a company that is known for consistently writing cheap car insurance policies. If you have a teen driver in your house, you may be more interested in a company that offers discounts for young drivers. If you’re retired or work from home, you may want to pursue a company that offers low-mileage coverage. If you’re looking for the best car insurance for Virginia drivers, comparing quotes, coverage options and customer service reviews is a good place to begin your search.