Cheapest Car Insurance in Virginia (2024)
Erie has the cheapest car insurance in Virginia, charging drivers with a clean record $38 a month for minimum-liability. However, State Farm’s rates are cheapest for those with a prior ticket or accident.
Savings Tips
You can save around $500 a year by comparing full-coverage car insurance quotes.
Erie, Virginia Farm Bureau and State Farm offer liability-only policies under $500 a year on average.
State Farm offers the cheapest rates on average for drivers who have a speeding ticket or have been in an accident.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Virginia: Erie
Erie has Virginia’s cheapest full-coverage car insurance for most consumers. Its rates average around $1,086 a year, or $91 a month, which is 32% less than the state average of $133 a month.
USAA’s rates are cheapest overall, but it’s only available to current and former members of the military and their families.
| Company | Annual rate | LendingTree score | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Erie | $1,086 | Not rated |
 | State Farm | $1,136 |  |
| Virginia Farm Bureau | $1,241 | Not rated | |
 | Geico | $1,363 |  |
 | Travelers | $1,465 | |
 | Progressive | $1,790 |  |
 | Nationwide | $2,057 |  |
 | Allstate | $3,188 | |
 | USAA* | $1,057 | |
*Only available to the military community.
Full-coverage auto insurance includes collision coverage and comprehensive (comp) coverage, in addition to the other coverages required by state law.
Collision and comp cover your car for damage and theft. Neither is required by law, but both typically are required for a car loan or lease.
Cheapest minimum-liability car insurance in Virginia: Erie
Erie has the cheapest minimum-liability car insurance in Virginia. Its rate of $450 a year, or $38 a month, is roughly 37% less than the $60-a-month state average.
| Company | Annual rate |
|---|---|
| Erie | $450 |
| Virginia Farm Bureau | $456 |
| State Farm | $467 |
| Geico | $593 |
| Travelers | $617 |
| Nationwide | $970 |
| Progressive | $1,031 |
| Allstate | $1,445 |
| USAA* | $407 |
Minimum-liability auto insurance only has the coverages you need to drive legally in Virginia. This includes liability and uninsured motorist coverage.
- Liability covers injuries and property damage you cause to others in a car accident.
- Uninsured motorist covers injuries to you and your passengers, as well as damage to your car, in an accident caused by a driver with no insurance.
Cheapest car insurance for young drivers in Virginia: Erie
Erie also has Virginia’s cheapest car insurance for young drivers. Its minimum-liability rates for 18-year-olds average $1,013 a year, while its full-coverage rates average $2,560 a year.
Teens tend to have higher accident rates than other age groups. This is a main reason why insurance companies charge teens more for car insurance than older drivers.
In Virginia, the average price of car insurance for an 18-year-old is nearly triple the rate that a 30-year-old pays. However, teens usually get lower rates when added to a parent’s car insurance than they do on their own.
| Company | Annual rate (minimum coverage) | Annual rate (full coverage) |
|---|---|---|
| Erie | $1,013 | $2,560 |
| Virginia Farm Bureau | $1,247 | $2,690 |
| Geico | $1,456 | $3,215 |
| State Farm | $1,550 | $3,472 |
| Travelers | $1,642 | $3,862 |
| Nationwide | $2,986 | $6,979 |
| Allstate | $3,161 | $7,537 |
| Progressive | $4,049 | $8,601 |
| USAA* | $1,076 | $2,691 |
Cheapest rates after a speeding ticket in Virginia: State Farm
State Farm has the cheapest full-coverage auto insurance in Virginia for drivers with a speeding ticket at an average rate of $1,222 a year, or $102 a month.
In Virginia overall, a prior speeding ticket bumps the average cost of full-coverage auto insurance by 21% to $1,937 a year.
| Company | Annual rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $1,222 |
| Erie | $1,234 |
| Travelers | $1,465 |
| Virginia Farm Bureau | $1,575 |
| Geico | $1,745 |
| Progressive | $2,248 |
| Nationwide | $2,552 |
| Allstate | $4,106 |
| USAA* | $1,283 |
Cheapest rates after a accident in Virginia: State Farm
State Farm has the cheapest full-coverage car insurance for Virginia drivers with a prior at-fault accident, averaging $1,320 a year, or $110 a month.
Virginia drivers with a prior accident pay an average of 57% more for car insurance than those with a clean driving record.
| Company | Annual rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $1,320 |
| Erie | $1,545 |
| Virginia Farm Bureau | $1,576 |
| Travelers | $2,068 |
| Geico | $2,377 |
| Progressive | $2,664 |
| Nationwide | $3,086 |
| Allstate | $6,409 |
| USAA* | $1,512 |
Best rates for Virginia drivers with a DUI: State Farm
State Farm has the best car insurance rates for Virginia drivers with a DUI (driving under the influence) conviction, at $1,222 a year, or $102 a month.
A DUI increases the average price of full-coverage car insurance in Virginia by 59% to $2,547 a month.
| Company | Annual rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $1,222 |
| Virginia Farm Bureau | $1,672 |
| Erie | $1,855 |
| Progressive | $2,220 |
| Travelers | $2,237 |
| Geico | $3,185 |
| Nationwide | $3,868 |
| Allstate | $4,679 |
| USAA* | $1,982 |
Best rates for Virginia drivers with bad credit: Geico
Geico has Virginia’s best full-coverage car insurance rates for drivers with bad credit, at $2,062 a year, or $172 a month.
The credit info insurance companies use to set your rate is different from the info lenders use to determine your loan qualifications.
Insurance companies focus on the type of credit you use and your payment history, but not your income. Fortunately, credit pulls for insurance quotes don’t affect your credit score.
In Virginia, drivers with bad credit pay an average of 76% more for car insurance than those with good credit.
| Company | Annual rate |
|---|---|
| Geico | $2,062 |
| Farm Bureau | $2,204 |
| Erie | $2,503 |
| Travelers | $2,613 |
| Progressive | $2,797 |
| Nationwide | $2,907 |
| Allstate | $3,882 |
| State Farm | $4,455 |
| USAA* | $1,873 |
Virginia car insurance rates by city
In Virginia’s cities, car insurance rates range from $1,354 a year ($113 a month) for Harrisonburg in the central Shenandoah Valley region, up to $1,864 a year, or $155 a month, for Burke in Fairfax County.
Meanwhile, Virginia Beach residents pay an average of $1,686 a year, or $141 a month, for car insurance. In Richmond, rates average $1,752 a year, or $146 a month.
| City | Annual rate |
|---|---|
| Alexandria | $1,843 |
| Arlington | $1,746 |
| Ashburn | $1,653 |
| Blacksburg | $1,355 |
| Burke | $1,864 |
| Centreville | $1,801 |
| Charlottesville | $1,577 |
| Chesapeake | $1,667 |
| Dale City | $1,793 |
| Hampton | $1,691 |
| Harrisonburg | $1,354 |
| Lake Ridge | $1,813 |
| Leesburg | $1,615 |
| Lynchburg | $1,467 |
| McLean | $1,802 |
| Newport News | $1,630 |
| Norfolk | $1,808 |
| Portsmouth | $1,739 |
| Reston | $1,746 |
| Richmond | $1,752 |
| Roanoke | $1,469 |
| Suffolk | $1,609 |
| Tuckahoe | $1,665 |
| Virginia Beach | $1,686 |
| Woodbridge | $1,810 |
How much is car insurance in Virginia?
The average cost of car insurance in Virginia is $1,598 a year ($133 a month) for full-coverage. Minimum-liability policies average $715 a year ($60 a month).
The actual price you pay depends on several factors including:
- Your age and location, by ZIP code
- The type of vehicle you drive and any safety features it may have
- Your driving record and insurance history
- Your credit
- Any discounts you may be eligible to receive
Since insurance companies weigh these factors differently, you may qualify for a significantly lower rate from one company than you do from others.
This is why you should compare quotes from multiple companies when you shop.
Auto insurance laws in Virginia
Virginia requires registered auto insurance for registered vehicles. However, you can avoid this requirement by paying a $500 uninsured motorist fee when you register your vehicle or renew your tabs.
Even if you pay the uninsured motorist fee, you’re still financially responsible for injuries or damage you cause in an at-fault accident.
The state also uses an electronic system to verify the insurance status of registered vehicles. Insurance companies report new policies and cancellations to the state.
If you cancel your policy without a new one in place, the state contacts you for proof of insurance.
Unless you’ve already paid the uninsured motorist fee, the penalties for driving without insurance in Virginia include:
- A possible suspension of your driver’s license and vehicle registration
- A $600 fine
- An SR-22 filing requirement
- Reinstatement fees for your license and registration
Virginia’s minimum coverage car insurance requirements
Unless you pay the uninsured motorist fee when you register your vehicle or renew your tabs, Virginia requires these car insurance coverages and limits:
- Bodily injury liability: $30,000 per insured person/$60,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $20,000
- Uninsured motorist bodily injury: $30,000 per injured person/$60,000 per accident
- Uninsured motorist property damage: $20,000
On Jan. 1, 2025, the minimum bodily injury limits for both liability and uninsured motorist coverage will increase to $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident. The minimum property damage limit for both coverages will increase to $25,000.
These additional car insurance coverages are available on an optional basis:
- Collision: Covers damage to your vehicle from a collision with another vehicle or object, or if it overturns.
- Comprehensive: Covers your vehicle for theft and damage from noncollision causes such as fire, flood, falling objects and vandalism.
- Medical payments: Covers injuries you and your passengers suffer in a car accident, regardless of fault.
- Underinsured motorist: Covers you and your passengers for medical costs that exceed an at-fault driver’s liability limits. Underinsured motorist coverage is usually packaged with uninsured motorist coverage.
SR-22 and FR-44 requirements in Virginia
Virginia requires you to file an SR-22 or FR-44 certificate with the DMV after a conviction for certain offenses.
SR-22s are required for offenses such as driving without insurance, vehicular manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident. FR-44s are required for offenses such as DUI.
You only need to meet the state’s minimum insurance requirements to get an SR-22. An FR-44 requires you to get liability limits that are double the minimum requirements.
The actual rate you pay for SR-22 or FR-44 insurance depends on your driving record. You usually have to shop around to find the cheapest rate.
Let the insurance companies you contact for quotes know about an SR-22 or FR-44 requirement. When you purchase your policy, the insurance company files the certificate for you. Some companies add a $20 to $50 processing fee to your rate for this service.
Methodology
LendingTree uses insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services using publicly sourced insurance company filings. Rates are based on an analysis of hundreds of thousands of car insurance quotes for a typical driver. Prices are shown for comparative purposes only. Your own rates may be different.
Unless noted otherwise, quotes are for a full-coverage policy for a 30-year-old man with good credit and a clean driving record who drives a 2015 Honda Civic EX.
Minimum-liability policies provide liability coverage with the state’s required minimum limits.
Full-coverage policies include collision, comprehensive and liability coverage:
- Bodily injury liability: $50,000 limit per person/$100,000 limit per accident
- Property damage liability: $25,000 limit
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
- Collision: $500 deductible
- Comprehensive: $500 deductible
Our team of insurance experts rated insurance companies based on several categories. These categories include average rates, discounts, coverage options, third party customer service ratings, and app / website experience. We weighted these categories based on what customers value in an insurance company.
For 3rd party customer service ratings, we included NAIC’s Complaint Index scores and financial strength ratings from A.M. Best. NAIC Complaint Index scores are used to determine how satisfied customers are with their claims, while financial strength ratings from A.M. Best reflect the ability to pay out claims.
Overall satisfaction ratings are from the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Insurance Study. Complaint ratings are based on NAIC data from 2023.
*USAA is only available to the military community.
Frequently asked questions
The average cost of car insurance in Virginia is $133 per month for full coverage and $60 per month for minimum coverage.
The average price of car insurance in Virginia is 19% lower than the national average and 12th cheapest among all states. Unfortunately, insurance rates have increased nationwide over the past few years, making car insurance more expensive just about everywhere.
Erie, State Farm and Virginia Farm Bureau generally have the cheapest car insurance in Virginia. Since prices tend to vary by customer, it’s best to get quotes from at least three companies when you shop.