By July 1, 2024, all drivers in Virginia will be mandated to maintain vehicle insurance, a policy that leaves New Hampshire as the sole state in the U.S. without such a requirement. This shift marks the end of a long-standing practice, in place since 1958, where Virginia drivers could register an uninsured vehicle by paying a fee. Initially set at $15, that fee has risen to $500.
Senate Bill 951, authored by former State Sen. Frank Ruff, a Republican from Mecklenburg, was enacted in 2023. The bill mandates that drivers provide proof of insurance before registering a vehicle. According to the Virginia Code, drivers who fail to submit the required liability insurance information within a month will face license suspension.
Approved by Gov. Glenn Youngkin in March 2023, the new law has allowed the Department of Motor Vehicles to continue registering uninsured vehicles, but these registrations are set to expire by the July 1 deadline. The legislation also includes an increase in minimum liability limits, effective July 1, 2025.
Currently, the minimum liability coverage required for the injury or death of one person is $30,000. This will increase to $50,000. The minimums for the injury or death of two or more people will rise from $60,000 to $100,000. Property damage liability will also increase, moving from a minimum of $20,000 to $35,000.
According to data from Bankrate, the average cost of full coverage insurance in Virginia is $1,892. This is 18% less than the national average of $2,314.
