Virginia’s New Car Insurance Rule
Get ready, Virginia drivers! New rules are coming this summer that you need to know about. As of July 1st, having car insurance becomes a must for everyone behind the wheel.
For a while, Virginia let drivers register cars without insurance, as long as they paid a $500 fee. But that’s changing.
Last year, lawmakers passed VA SB951. It does away with the option to pay a fee instead of having insurance. The guy who pushed for this law was former Virginia Senator Frank Ruff.
But if you paid the fee between July 1, 2023, and July 1, 2024, your registration will still be good until then.
Why the Change?
Experts say this change will make the roads safer. Mark Friedlander, a spokesperson from the Insurance Information Institute, points out that Virginia still has a good number of drivers without insurance. He hopes the new law will bring those numbers down.
Before this change, Virginia and New Hampshire were the only places where you didn’t have to have car insurance. This change brings Virginia in line with most other states.
What’s Next?
More changes are on the way, according to Friedlander. Starting January 1, 2025, the minimum car insurance coverage amounts in Virginia will go up, which might mean a small increase in what you pay. He also recommends that people contact their insurance companies to ask about discounts and other ways to save money.
