Virginia Drivers Face New Insurance Requirement
VIRGINIA, USA — Beginning this summer, all drivers in Virginia will be required to have vehicle insurance. This change, set to take effect on July 1, repeals a long-standing option for drivers to register their vehicles without insurance by paying a $500 fee.
The legislation, VA SB951, was passed by lawmakers in 2023 and sponsored by former Virginia Senator Frank Ruff. The bill also made provisions regarding currently registered uninsured vehicles. According to the new law, the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles was authorized to continue registering uninsured vehicles from July 1, 2023, to July 1, 2024, but all such registrations expire before the July 1, 2024, deadline.
Mark Friedlander, a spokesman with the Insurance Information Institute, believes this change will lead to safer roads in Virginia. “Virginia still has a pretty significant uninsured motorist rate today. It’s 12.1% according to data from the insurance information institute. While that’s lower than the US average right now which is about 14% it’s still significantly high and we’re hoping with the new law in place it will bring those uninsured motorist numbers down,” Friedlander stated. He also noted that Virginia and New Hampshire were the only states that did not require drivers to have vehicle insurance before this legislation.
Further changes are on the horizon for Virginia drivers. On January 1, 2025, the state will increase its minimum liability limits, contributing to a slight increase in insurance costs. Friedlander advises drivers to consult their insurance agencies about discounts and ways to save money on their policies.
