How Virginia Auto Insurance Quotes Are Saving Drivers Money
While many might claim that Virginia is for lovers, those who’ve seen the Old Dominion’s stunning scenery from the Cumberland Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay know that it’s not a bad place for drivers, either. When cruising to the many wonderful sights in Virginia, auto insurance is probably not at the fore-front of your mind, but without a good policy, a scenic road trip can turn into a financial nightmare in a hurry. Here are a few things you should know about auto insurance in the Mother of Presidents, as well as a few good reasons why Virginia insurance quotes are a key part of staying covered for less.
Virginia Auto Insurance Laws
When you look at the state’s legal minimums for liability auto insurance, Virginia’s 25/50/20 ($25,000 for injury of one person, $50,000 for injury of 2 or more people, and $20,000 for property damage) is relatively standard. Dealing with uninsured drivers, however, is one place where Virginia auto insurance is a little confusing. The uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage required by some states is not required by Virginia (auto insurance policies that contain this coverage are highly recommended, however). What Virginia law does stipulate, though, is the uninsured motorist fee. This fee doesn’t give any party involved in an accident any type of coverage; what it does do is give drivers without insurance permission to register and operate a vehicle for 12 months. The uninsured motorist fee might, at first glance, appear to be a loophole for opportunistic drivers who don’t want to pay for insurance (but who still want to drive legally), but actually using this “loophole” can hardly be considered taking advantage.
Why Virginia Auto Insurance Is More Affordable than the Uninsured Motorist Fee
According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the average cost of Virginia auto insurance is $661 a year. This average combines all common types of auto insurance coverage (liability, collision, and comprehensive), meaning the minimum amount of liability insurance is typically much, much lower than this figure. Sure, the uninsured motorist fee will allow you to register and operate a vehicle without insurance, but at $500 per year, this fee is bound to be far more expensive than a minimal liability policy. Add that to the fact that, unlike carrying the more affordable minimum coverage, your $500 uninsured motorist fee still leaves you completely liable for any damages you cause while driving, and you can see why it is so much more cost-effective to simply pay for an insurance policy.
Lowering Virginia Auto Insurance Costs
There are several ways to lower the cost of your auto insurance. Virginia drivers can, of course, reduce their coverage or increase their deductible (the amount you pay out-of-pocket), but discounts and reduced rates can be had for a number of reasons that won’t affect your coverage or the amount you pay out-of-pocket when an accident occurs. Drivers who take a defensive driving course, raise their credit score, remain accident-free for several years, install an anti-theft device, or take out multiple policies with the same company may all be eligible for lower rates. Even seniors and students with good grades may qualify for more affordable auto insurance.
How Virginia Auto Insurance Quotes Save You Money
If you don’t qualify for any discounts and you’d rather not mess with your deductible, limits, or coverage, Virginia auto insurance quotes are another path to savings. Each insurance company charges a slightly different rate for their policies; in some cases the difference in price from one company to the next is small, but in others, that difference may be hundreds of dollars a year. The provider with the lowest rates is not necessarily the same for every situation because each company puts more weight on different risk factors. What this means for you: The only way to make sure you’re getting the best price on your insurance is to compare your current rates to those of competing insurance companies.
At NetQuote, auto insurance quotes are not only free, but easy to get. All you have to do is fill out a brief form and let NetQuote do the rest. After you process your request, you’ll receive quotes from several local insurance companies; when you compare these quotes side-by-side, it will be easy for you to pick out the most affordable insurance provider for the policy you want.
