Virginia Car Insurance
Virginia drivers must carry at least 50/100/25 liability coverage under Va. Code § 46.2-472, effective for policies effective on or after January 1, 202514. UM and UIM are required at limits equal to policy liability under Va. Code § 38.2-22062. The long-standing $500 Uninsured Motor Vehicle (UMV) fee that let registrants opt out of carrying insurance was repealed effective July 1, 20244. Virginia DMV electronically verifies coverage under Va. Code § 46.2-7063. After a DUI, Virginia uses the FR-44 three-year filing5.
YesWeSure Bottom Line
What changed on January 1, 2025. Va. Code § 46.2-472 raised minimum BI from 30/60 to 50/100 and PD from $20,000 to $25,000. UM/UIM automatically rose to match because the statute requires UM/UIM at the policy's liability limits1.
What changed on July 1, 2024. The $500 UMV fee was abolished. Virginia no longer allows registration without insurance4.
Why Virginia's UM/UIM is unusual. UM and UIM are not just "must-offer." Virginia requires them at the liability limits you buy. Raising BI automatically raises UM/UIM2.
How to make a real decision. Treat 50/100/25 as a floor. For how to think about higher limits, see how to choose coverage limits. For the rating landscape, see how insurers calculate rates.
State requirements at a glance
What Virginia car insurance law requires
Minimum liability limits
50 / 100 / 251
$50,000 bodily injury per person, $100,000 per accident, $25,000 property damage per accident. Effective for policies effective on or after January 1, 2025 under Va. Code § 46.2-472. Raised the prior 30/60/20 floor.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Not required4
Virginia is a traditional tort state. No PIP is required on personal auto. MedPay is an optional first-party add-on insurers typically offer.
Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist
Required at policy liability limits2
Va. Code § 38.2-2206 requires UM and UIM at limits equal to the policy's bodily-injury and property-damage liability. UM is included on every policy; UIM applies when the at-fault driver's coverage is below the insured's own limits.
Uninsured Motor Vehicle (UMV) fee
Repealed effective July 1, 20244
Virginia historically allowed a vehicle owner to pay a $500 UMV fee at registration in lieu of carrying insurance. That option was abolished effective July 1, 2024. All registered Virginia vehicles must now carry the compulsory liability coverages.
Coverage verification
DMV electronic verification3
Va. Code § 46.2-706 authorizes DMV to electronically verify coverage by comparing insurer-reported policy data against DMV vehicle records. A confirmed lapse requires a $600 non-compliance fee and SR-22 filing for three years for reinstatement.
FR-44 after DUI
Three-year filing at current state minimums5
Virginia is one of only two states (with Florida) that use the FR-44 branding for post-DUI financial responsibility. The filing is maintained with Virginia DMV for three years.
Rate approval regime
SCC Bureau of Insurance oversight4
Virginia does not maintain a headline statewide prohibition on credit-based insurance scoring, gender, or age as personal-auto rating factors. Rating is overseen by the Virginia State Corporation Commission Bureau of Insurance through filings.
The 50/100/25 minimum (post-January 1, 2025)
Va. Code § 46.2-472 requires every covered Virginia driver to maintain at least 50/100/25 liability coverage for policies effective on or after January 1, 20251. The three numbers refer to:
- $50,000 bodily injury per person.
- $100,000 bodily injury per accident.
- $25,000 property damage per accident.
Many Virginia drivers carry higher limits.
PIP is not required (traditional tort state)
Virginia is a traditional tort state. No PIP is required on personal auto. MedPay is an optional first-party add-on insurers typically offer. UM/UIM is where the practically important compulsory first-party decision lives in Virginia.
UM and UIM required at policy liability limits
Va. Code § 38.2-2206 requires every Virginia personal auto liability policy to include UM and UIM at limits equal to the policy's bodily-injury and property-damage liability2. UM is included on every policy; UIM applies when the at-fault driver's coverage is below the insured's own limits.
DMV electronic verification and the repealed UMV fee
Virginia DMV runs an electronic verification program under Va. Code § 46.2-706. Insurers report policy information to DMV; DMV compares that information with its vehicle records and may require owners to confirm coverage3. Reinstatement after a confirmed lapse requires a $600 non-compliance fee plus an SR-22 filing for three years4.
UMV fee repealed. Virginia historically allowed owners to pay a $500 Uninsured Motor Vehicle (UMV) fee at registration in lieu of carrying insurance. That option was abolished effective July 1, 2024. All registered Virginia vehicles must now carry the compulsory liability coverages4.
FR-44 after a DUI
Virginia is one of only two states (with Florida) that use the FR-44 branding for post-DUI financial responsibility. FR-44 is maintained with Virginia DMV for three years from the date of conviction5. Virginia also uses SR-22 for certain non-DUI convictions. Full FR-44 and SR-22 mechanics are treated in our after-a-DUI guide.
Rating-factor landscape
Virginia does not maintain a headline statewide prohibition on credit-based insurance scoring, gender, or age as personal-auto rating factors. Rating is overseen by the Virginia State Corporation Commission Bureau of Insurance through filings4.
Where the Virginia situation rules live on YesWeSure
This State Guide owns the Virginia pricing and legal framework. Situation-specific Virginia mechanics live on the sibling Situation guides:
- After an accident. See our after-an-accident guide.
- After a DUI. Virginia FR-44 and SR-22 mechanics are treated in our after-a-DUI guide, which already cites Va. Code § 46.2-472 and the Virginia DMV Financial Responsibility Certifications page.
- After a lapse. DMV verification consequences of a lapse (including the $600 non-compliance fee and SR-22 for three years) are treated in our after-a-lapse guide.
- Moving into Virginia. New-resident registration and the post-UMV-fee insurance requirement are treated in our moving-to-another-state guide.
What we verified for this page
- Strong50/100/25 minimum liability effective for policies effective on or after January 1, 2025 verified against Va. Code § 46.2-472 and the Virginia DMV Insurance Requirements consumer page. Raised the prior 30/60/20 floor.
- StrongUM and UIM required at limits equal to policy liability verified against Va. Code § 38.2-2206.
- StrongUMV $500 fee repealed effective July 1, 2024 verified against the Virginia DMV Insurance Requirements consumer page. All registered Virginia vehicles must now carry compulsory liability coverage; the historical opt-out is no longer available.
- StrongDMV electronic verification under Va. Code § 46.2-706 verified against the statute and the DMV consumer page. Reinstatement after a confirmed lapse requires a $600 non-compliance fee and SR-22 for three years.
- StrongFR-44 three-year filing after a DUI verified against the Virginia DMV Financial Responsibility Certifications page. Virginia is one of only two states (with Florida) that use the FR-44 branding. Consistent with the citation already published on our frozen after-a-DUI guide; no conflict.
- LimitedDeliberately omitted from V1. A Virginia modeled cost anchor; the exact SR-22 trigger list for non-DUI convictions; carrier-specific VA underwriting; and telematics program detail. Each will land on a dedicated subpage or future situation as primary evidence supports.
- LimitedNamed author and expert reviewer. V1 attributes to "YesWeSure Editorial." A named auto-insurance editor and a Virginia-licensed reviewer are tracked as a pre-launch YMYL item.
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Common questions
What is the minimum car insurance required in Virginia?
50/100/25 liability under Va. Code § 46.2-472, effective for policies effective on or after January 1, 20251.
Can I still pay the $500 UMV fee instead of buying insurance in Virginia?
No. The UMV fee was abolished effective July 1, 2024. All registered Virginia vehicles must now carry the compulsory liability coverages4.
Is UM/UIM required in Virginia?
Yes. Va. Code § 38.2-2206 requires UM and UIM at limits equal to the policy's liability limits2.
What is FR-44 in Virginia?
FR-44 is the DUI-specific financial-responsibility certification. Virginia is one of only two states (with Florida) that use the FR-44 branding. The filing is maintained with Virginia DMV for three years5.
Sources & methodology
- Va. Code § 46.2-472: motor vehicle liability insurance; minimum amounts. 50/100/25 effective for policies effective on or after January 1, 2025. (Virginia General Assembly, TIER 1)
- Va. Code § 38.2-2206: Uninsured Motorist and Underinsured Motorist coverage required on every personal auto policy at limits equal to the policy liability limits. (Virginia General Assembly, TIER 1)
- Va. Code § 46.2-706: proof of insurance required of applicants for registration; electronic verification; suspension consequences. (Virginia General Assembly, TIER 1)
- Virginia DMV: Insurance Requirements. 50/100/25 minimums for policies effective on or after January 1, 2025; proof-of-insurance mechanics; penalties for driving uninsured. (Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, TIER 1)
- Virginia DMV: Financial Responsibility Certifications. SR-22 and FR-44 triggers; three-year filing period. (Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, TIER 1)
- Virginia DMV: Listing of Applicable Insurance Laws. (Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, TIER 1)
- YesWeSure: Car insurance after an accident (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
- YesWeSure: Car insurance after a DUI (Virginia FR-44 three-year filing already cited) (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
- YesWeSure: Car insurance after a lapse in coverage (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
- YesWeSure: Car insurance when moving to another state (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
- YesWeSure: How to choose coverage limits (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
- YesWeSure: How insurers calculate rates (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
Evidence hierarchy on this page: Tier 1 (Code of Virginia, Virginia DMV, Virginia State Corporation Commission Bureau of Insurance). No Tier 2 or Tier 3 publisher figures appear on this page. Every legal number traces to a Virginia primary source: Va. Code §§ 46.2-472, 38.2-2206, 46.2-706, together with the Virginia DMV Insurance Requirements and Financial Responsibility Certifications pages. This page is informational and does not constitute legal, tax, or insurance advice. Last reviewed .