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Last updated: March 24, 2024The Best Auto Insurance in Virginia
The best auto insurance deals, coverage options and niche providers in Virginia.
Best Overall
USAA’s exclusive military membership is our top choice for the nearly 1.4 million veterans, active military members, military retirees and military dependents in Virginia.1
Best for Safe Drivers in Virginia
State Farm is the largest provider of car insurance in Virginia and our top pick for safe drivers in the Old Dominion state.2
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On average, Virginians pay only $846 a year for car insurance, about 20 percent less than the annual national average of $1,047. Whether you’re one of the 1 million-plus military personnel/veterans or a teen driver, teacher or homeowner, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to find affordable car insurance that gives you the protection you need. Read on to learn about the top auto insurance providers in America’s birthplace.
Summary of the Best Auto Insurance in Virginia
- 1.
Best Auto Insurance in Virginia Overall: USAA
- 2.
Best Auto Insurance for Safe Drivers in Virginia: State Farm
- 3.
Best Auto Insurance for Homeowners in Virginia: Allstate
- 4.
Best Auto Insurance for Additional Coverage in Virginia: Liberty Mutual
Comparison of the Best Auto Insurance in Virginia
| Insurance company | Average annual rate | Bundling discount | Senior discount | Good student discount | Safe driver discount | Low mileage discount | J.D. Power auto claims satisfaction study
(out of 1,000)3 |
Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | $1,151 | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 874 | USAA review |
| State Farm | $1,419 | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 877 | State Farm review |
| Allstate | $1,673 | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 853 | Allstate review |
| Liberty Mutual | $1,637 | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 865 | Liberty Mutual review |
Detailed List of the Best Auto Insurance in Virginia
1. Best Auto Insurance in Virginia Overall - USAA
What We Like Most:
- Cheapest rates for teens on a family policy or on their own
- Special discount for teens transitioning off their parents’ policy
- Strong customer service and claims process
USAA is the most affordable large auto insurance provider in the country and the best option for the 1.4 million military personnel, veterans and military families in Virginia. On top of being the most affordable large provider, J.D. Power ranked USAA second in the country for overall customer satisfaction and number one for usage-based insurance. With consistently high customer satisfaction scores, cheap plans and international availability, USAA is our top pick for Virginians.
DID YOU KNOW?
There are more than 160,000 military dependents (spouses and children) in Virginia. If you’re a spouse, child or grandchild of a military member or veteran, you could be eligible for auto insurance with USAA.
Who It's Best For- Military members, veterans and military families
- Safe drivers
- New car owners
- Military families stationed overseas
Who It's Not Best For
Non-USAA members- People with electric cars and hybrids
Storage Discounts
If you’re going to be overseas and want to leave your vehicle in Virginia, USAA offers several ways to save on your car insurance. Military members and families can take advantage of three major discount opportunities when they’re out of the state or country:
| Discount | Maximum saving percentage | Eligibility requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Low-mileage discount | Unknown | You should be driving around or less than 7,500 miles per year to optimize this opportunity (good for members coming in and out of Virginia between deployments). |
| Store and save | 60% | USAA’s storage discount is available to you if you keep your vehicle stored while you’re out of the state/country. |
| Garage discount | 15% | To be eligible for this discount, you need to have comprehensive insurance and keep your vehicle on a military base. |
Excellent Third-Party Ratings
USAA ranks consistently among the highest in the country for customer service, financial strength and creditworthiness. Third-party organizations assess insurers’ customer reviews, performance, ability to pay claims, credit risk and more. Here are a few of USAA’s third-party scores with the largest rating systems:
- Standard & Poor’s (S&P): S&P gave USAA a rating of AA+, which is the second-highest possible rating in its system. A strong S&P rating indicates that USAA will meet its financial obligations and repay its debts.
- AM Best rating: AM Best gave USAA its highest score: an A++ (Superior) rating. AM Best scores insurance providers based on their financial security and ability to fulfill financial obligations, like filing claims.4
- J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Study: J.D. Power released its latest 2023 ratings, and USAA came out on top in several categories. J.D. Power scored USAA 874 out of 1,000 for overall customer satisfaction (second among large providers) and 844 for usage-based insurance (first among all providers).
Wide-Ranging Coverage
With USAA, you can get coverage for several types of vehicles. From classic cars and golf carts to off-road vehicles and motorbikes, here’s what you can add to your plan with USAA.
- ATVs
- Boats and personal watercrafts
- Classic cars
- Dirt bikes
- Golf cars
- Motorcycles
- Motorhomes
- RVs
- Snowmobiles
- Trucks
If you are thinking about insuring multiple vehicles, talk to your USAA agents to see what kind of bundling and multivehicle savings you’d be eligible for.
2. Best Auto Insurance for Safe Drivers in Virginia - State Farm
What We Like Most:
- Multiple discounts for safe driving, including one specifically for young drivers
- Local agents
- Discounts for multiple cars
State Farm is one of the oldest and largest car insurance companies in Virginia. State Farm writes more premiums, more than 23 million, than any other auto insurance company in the Old Dominion state. With a defensive driver course, usage-based insurance, a safety program for young drivers and other discounts for safe driving, State Farm allows you to improve your driving habits and save money on car insurance at the same time.
Who It's Best For- Safe drivers
- People who need rideshare coverage
- Drivers who want to bundle their insurance policies
Who It's Not Best For- People with bad credit
- Drivers who want gap insurance
Safety Driver Program
If you’re a safe driver or want to improve your driving, consider signing up for State Farm’s Drive Safe & Save program. You can earn up to a 30 percent discount by completing the program, and you get a discount just for signing up. The app will track your driving habits every six months and give you a score based on good or bad driving behavior.
To get a good score, make sure you’re not accelerating or speeding, slamming your brakes or turning too sharply. Additionally, the app will track how many miles you drive. State Farm recommends driving fewer than 7,500 for personal usage to receive a low-mileage discount.
Here’s how it works:
- Download the app in the App Store or Google Play store or text “SAVE” to 42407.
- Follow the instructions in the app.
- Install your Bluetooth beacon to complete your sign-up and start the program.
FYI:
Between 2021 and 2022, crashes in Virginia increased by 3 percent, including alcohol-related crashes (2 percent increase), speeding-related crashes (1 percent increase) and pedestrian crashes (6 percent increase).5 Programs like Drive Safe & Save incentivize better driving habits and give you safety tips and feedback on your performance.
Other Saving Opportunities
Along with the Drive Safe & Save program, State Farm offers a few other sizable discounts. Be sure to reach out to your local State Farm agent to find out which discounts are available to you:
- Defensive driving course discount: Complete a defensive driving course at one of State Farm’s Virginia-approved safety courses and you might be eligible for this discount.
- Vehicle safety discount: You can earn a discount by equipping your car with modern safety features, such as forward collision warnings, electronic stability controls, a new braking system and more.
- Good driver discount: As a new State Farm customer, you can earn a discount if you don’t have any at-fault accidents or moving violations in your first three years.
- Steer Clear driver program: If you’re under the age of 25, you can sign up for the Steer Clear driver program. Completing the program will earn you a 15 percent discount. Here’s what you need to sign up:
- A driver’s license
- An accident and violation-free record for three years
- Steer Clear certification of completion
- Multiple vehicle discount: If you insure more than one vehicle with State Farm, you might qualify for a multivehicle discount.
- Bundling discount: You can bundle auto with homeowners, renters, condo or life insurance to earn a discount.
Great Mobile Experience
The State Farm app’s sleek design, intuitive dashboard and simple setting system makes it easy to make changes and find important information directly from your phone. Here’s what you can do with the app:
- Contact roadside assistance.
- File claims and track their progression.
- Find repair shops.
- Get in contact with your agent.
- Pay your bills.
- Review your policy details.
- Search for frequently asked questions (FAQs).
- Set reminders for payments, claims and renewal dates.
- View investment products.
The State Farm app has one of the highest mobile app ratings among any provider with 4.7 out of five stars on the Google Play Store and 4.8 stars on the Apple Store.
3. Best Auto Insurance for Homeowners in Virginia - Allstate
What We Like Most:
- Three ways to earn a student discount
- Pay-per-mile option for drivers with low mileage
- No waiting period to purchase accident forgiveness
Allstate is the fourth-largest provider and the best provider for homeowners who want to bundle with car insurance. If you’re a part of Virginia’s 66 percent of homeowners, you can save up to 25 percent on your car insurance just by bundling your home and auto with Allstate.6 On top of big savings for homeowners, Allstate offers a long list of discounts, solid additional coverage and specialized plans like pay-per-mile insurance.
Who It's Best For- Homeowners
- Low-mileage drivers
- People with new cars
- People who visit Mexico often
Who It's Not Best For- Drivers looking for the cheapest option
- People with DUIs on their records
Sizable Home Bundling Discount
Allstate offers one of the largest home and auto bundling discounts in the industry (25 percent). If you aren’t a homeowner, you might be able to qualify for another bundling discount. Here are all the ways you can bundle with Allstate.
- Auto and renters insurance
- Home and auto insurance
- Renters and motorcycle insurance
Bundling also allows you to access multiple Allstate policies from the same place (your online portal), which can save you time when you review your plan’s details, make payments, update coverage and more.
Great Pay-Per-Mile Plan
If you’re a Virginian, you have access to Allstate’s exclusive pay-per-mile insurance program Milewise. Milewise works by tracking your mileage and determining your premiums based on how many miles you drive each month. Here’s what your rates might look like with the Milewise program:
| Daily rate | Cost-per-mile | How many miles you drive each day | Daily cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1.50 | 4 cents | 20 | $2.26 |
If you drive 20 miles a day on average (7,300 annually), you’re looking at a rate of about $68 a month (or $828 a year). This is much lower than the national average ($1,047) and slightly lower than the average annual cost of car insurance in Virginia, which is $846.
PRO TIP:
On average, Virginians drive about 9,500 miles per year (26 miles per day).7 If you drive around or less than 7,500 miles per year, you would be spending less on car insurance than the average driver in Virginia. Speak to your agent about how much you could save with Milewise.
Excellent Roadside Assistance Membership
Allstate offers pay-per-service roadside assistance and annual memberships to its existing customers as well as those who don’t have Allstate insurance. Here are three ways to access Allstate’s 24/7 roadside assistance service:
| Roadside model | Entry price |
|---|---|
| Insurance add-on | $25 annually per vehicle |
| Annual membership | $89 annually |
| Pay-per-service | $154 per usage |
Some of Allstate’s roadside services include:
- 24-hour assistance: If you need help with towing, flat tires, jump-starts or other roadside emergencies, you can get 24/7 assistance.
- Hazard reimbursement: Damage your wheel due to a road hazard? Allstate will reimburse you for the repair or replacement.
- Member discounts: Roadside members get discounts for their oil changes, travel costs and more.
- Trip interruption: Allstate will reimburse you for meals, transportation and lodging if your car becomes undrivable and you’re at least 100 miles away from home on a trip.
- Motorcycle and RV coverage: Roadside assistance services cover your Allstate-insured motorcycle and RV.
4. Best Auto Insurance for Additional Coverage in Virginia - Liberty Mutual
What We Like Most:
- Save up to 30 percent with driver monitoring program
- Cheap average rates
- Over 2,000 local agents throughout the U.S.
Liberty Mutual’s biggest selling point for Virginians is its wide range of additional coverage and specialized insurance options. If you want to benefit from a customizable and flexible plan that can protect several aspects of your life, like your work or travel needs, Liberty Mutual is the right provider for you.
Who It's Best For- People who want gap insurance
- Teachers
- People who want to use their phones to manage their policies
- People who want to bundle their ATVs and other offroad vehicles
Who It's Not Best For- People looking for the cheapest auto insurance rates
- People with bad driving behaviors
Best for Add-Ons
You can add 12 optional coverage types to your plan with Liberty Mutual based on your needs and personal situation. From full coverage and teachers’ auto insurance to roadside assistance and car replacement insurance, here’s what you can add to your policy.
| Add-on type | Description |
|---|---|
| Collision coverage | If you collide with an object or other vehicle, collision coverage will help pay for the costs to your vehicle. |
| Comprehensive coverage | Comprehensive insurance covers damages and losses from incidents that aren’t collisions, such as animal crashes, vandalism or natural disasters |
| Gap insurance | Gap insurance helps pay for your auto loan or lease if your car is totaled or stolen and you owe more than the vehicle’s value. |
| Original parts coverage | Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) coverage ensures that only OEM parts will be used for covered repairs. |
| Rental car reimbursement | Is your car out of commission due to a covered claim? Rental car reimbursement ensures you’ll have a rental for as long as it takes to have your vehicle repaired. |
| Roadside assistance | If you’re stuck on the road with a flat tire, dead battery or other roadside emergency, you can get the help you need by requesting roadside assistance. |
| New vehicle replacement insurance | Liberty Mutual will pay for a brand-new car if you total yours within the first year of buying it. |
| Improve car replacement | If you total your car, Liberty Mutual will pay for a newer model. |
| Coverage for teachers | Teacher insurance protects your teaching supplies and vehicle on the road, especially while you’re working or driving to a school-related event. |
| Mexico coverage | Liberty Mutual has a partnership with MexPro, which is a local insurer that can offer you customizable coverage while you’re in Mexico. |
| Deductible fund | If you already have collision coverage, you can sign up for a deductible fund to increase your premiums and lower your deductible by $100 a year. |
| Repair guarantee | You get lifetime guarantee repair facility recommendations by adding this coverage option. |
Teachers’ Insurance
Teachers can take advantage of Liberty Mutual’s teachers’ insurance add-on, one of the only teachers’ insurance add-ons among large providers. If you’re one of the 100,000-plus teachers in the state, here’s what you can get with Liberty Mutual’s teacher’s insurance:8
- Deductible-free vandalism coverage: Repairs for vandalism while your vehicle is on school property or at school events are deductible-free with this coverage.
- Deductible-free collision: You don’t need to pay for a deductible if you get into a collision while driving to school or a school-related event.
- Teacher discounts: Talk to your local agent to learn what exclusive teacher discounts you might be eligible for.
- Personal property coverage: Liberty Mutual will cover the losses of up to $2,500 if your materials or school property are stolen or damaged.
Robust Discounts
From students and new drivers to military members and homeowners, Liberty Mutual offers various drivers a wide range of discounts. Here are a few ways to save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual:
- Homeowner discount: Homeowners may qualify for a bundling discount.
- Claims-free discount: If you’ve never had to file a claim, you could be eligible for this discount.
- Early quote discount: You may qualify for a discount if you request a quote from Liberty Mutual before your current policy expires.
- Military discount: Active military members, veterans and retired military should ask their local agents about getting a discount.
- Good student: Have a B average or higher? You could earn a discount for excelling in school.
- Multiple vehicle discount: Simplify your insurance needs by insuring your vehicles with Liberty Mutual and earn a discount at the same time.
- RightTrack discount: Sign up for Liberty Mutual’s safety tracking program RightTrack and you can earn up to 30 percent off on your car insurance.
- Violation-free discount: If you have a violation-free driving history when you sign up with Liberty Mutual, you’ll earn a discount.
Methodology
- Proprietary data: We leverage millions of proprietary data points that we’ve collected for the past 20 years to provide you with the best auto insurance recommendations in Virginia. Our data helps us match the best providers to customers based on auto insurance rates, driving habits and competitors in Virginia.
- Public studies: One way to assess the top providers in Virginia is to look at how third-party organizations rate their financial security and customer service efforts. We assess providers based on their scores from J.D. Power, Better Business Bureau, AM Best, Moody’s, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and S&P Global, among others.
- State and federal studies: We look at only the most credible organization for our facts, figures and research, including Virginia-specific data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the NAIC and other government sources.
- Expert institutional guidance: AutoInsurance.com is backed by Paul Ford, an insurance industry expert with decades of experience under his belt. As president of Centerfield, AutoInsurance.com’s parent company, Ford’s decades of experience inform our research, providing us with the expert guidance we need to create our auto insurance recommendations and guidelines.
FAQs
What is the car accident statute of limitations in Virginia?
According to Virginia’s Legislative Information System, you have about two years from the date of a collision to file a lawsuit for most car accidents.
Is Virginia a no-fault state?
Virginia is an at-fault state, which means that drivers who are at fault in an accident are responsible for covering the other party’s losses. However, Virginia follows a contributory negligence fault law that prevents plaintiffs from receiving any compensation if they are even 1 percent at fault. To recover compensation for your damages, the other party must be 100 percent at fault.
How can I drive in Virginia without car insurance?
If you pay a $500 uninsured motor vehicle fee, you can drive legally in Virginia without car insurance. However, if you get into an at-fault accident, you will have to pay for the damages you owe out of pocket.
That’s why we recommend getting liability coverage of at least the minimum required: $25,000 in bodily injury liability per person and $50,000 per accident, plus $20,000 in property damage liability per accident. We also recommend getting uninsured motorist coverage in case you get into an accident with a driver who lacks insurance.
Make sure you’ve compared quotes to find the best either minimum coverage car insurance companies in Virginia or the best full-coverage car insurance companies in Virginia based on your ZIP code, driving history like a speeding ticket and other factors.
Does Virginia have a high uninsured motorist rate?
Despite the fact that you can drive legally in Virginia without insurance, only 10 percent of the state’s drivers do not have car insurance, according to the Insurance Research Council. Virginia’s uninsured motorist rate is slightly lower than the national average of 12 percent.
Citations
2021 Demographics. Department of Defense. (2022).
https://download.militaryonesource.mil/12038/MOS/Reports/2021-demographics-report.pdf2021 Market Share Reports for Property/Casualty Groups and Companies by State and Countrywide. National Association of Insurance Commissioners. (2022).
https://content.naic.org/sites/default/files/publication-msr-pb-property-casualty.pdfAuto Insurance Shopping and Switch Rates Reach New Highs as Premiums Surge, J.D. Power Finds. J.D. Power. (2023, Apr 27).
https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2023-us-insurance-shopping-studyA.M. Best Affirms Ratings of USAA, Its Subsidiaries and USAA Capital Corporation. AM Best. (2011, Dec 21).
https://news.ambest.com/newscontent.aspx?altsrc=23&refnum=1532892022 Virginia Traffic Crash Facts. Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. (2023).
https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/safety/crash_data/crash_facts/crash_facts_22.pdfQuickFacts – United States: Virginia. United States Census. (2023).
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US,VA/PST045222Highway Statistics Series – Highway Statistics 2020. U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. (2021, Oct).
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics/2020/ps1.cfmMay 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates – Virginia. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023).
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_va.htm
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