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27 Random Facts About Driving Under the Influence in Virginia

December 24, 2013 by

Virginia car insurance and DUI Laws in Virginia are not the most popular discussion themes in the Garden State. Most of the people prefer to talk more about the Nets or such topics regardless that it is something that affects them greatly. Of course it gets boring talking about that after a while even if such conversation is started. Not to mention that it hurts some people to talk about that, especially if they are caught and convicted for driving while intoxicated. The fines are not that hurts them the most but what the conviction does to their car insurance premiums. Here follow some interesting fact and statistics on that topic.

AutoInsuranceInVirginia–              According to official statistics, every 40 minutes someone is killed as a result of driving whie intoxicated.

–              DWI is the cause for around one third of all traffic fatalities in the US.

–              Roughly three out of ten Americans will be in some way involved in an alcohol related traffic accident in some point of their life.

–              In 2007 over 1.4 million of drivers in the United States were arrested for DWI of alcohol or narcotics. This is just one percentage of the around 159 million self-reported episodes of driving intoxicated in 2007.

–              The DWI law in all U.S. States says that a driver can be considered legally drunk when her or his blood alcohol content is at least 0.08 grams per deciliter or above.  For a grown man that weighs around 170 pounds to reach that level needs to consume four drinks in 60 minutes while a woman that weighs around 140 pounds needs to have at least three drinks in one hour on an empty stomach.

–              In order the human body to completely eliminate alcohol from its system it needs around six hours to achieve that. That is if the blood alcohol level is 0.08%.

–              With some people 0.02% BAC can significantly affect their driving ability and response time. The odds to crash into something largely increase after 0.05% and rise even more after 0.08%.

–              It’s a known fact that the alcohol dilutes in the water volume of the human body in order to go through it. The vital organs such as the brain are very vulnerable to its effects.

–              Driver who has consumed no alcohol has 11 times less chances to be involved in a traffic accident than a driver who has BAC of 0.08%.

–              Around 75% of all fatal traffic car accidents in which drunk driver is involved happen between midnight and 3 a.m.

–              In 2007, 50% of all drunk drivers involved in fatal car accidents had a BAC level that was 0.15%, almost twice of the allowed limit.

–              There is a much bigger chance to be tested for alcohol during the night than during the day. During 2007, 36% of the drivers that were involved in night time fatal car accidents were legally drunk as oppose to only 9% of the drivers during daytime crashes.

–              Motorcycle drivers are the most common type of drivers that are involved in fatal drunk driving accidents. In 2007, around 27% of all accidents included drunken motorcycle driver.

–              Around 75% of the drunk drivers involved in fatal car accidents don’t have their safety belts on.

–              According to a research, in average every first time DWI offender has driven around 80 times before being arrested.

–              There are twice as more chances for alcohol related car accident to occur during the weekend than during the week. 15% of the drivers involved in fatal car accidents during the week are legally drunk while around 31% are legally drunk on the weekend.

–              Other than alcohol, cocaine and marijuana are the most common illegal drugs involved in fatal car accidents. In most of the cases they are used in combination with alcohol.

–              DWI and DUI are the most common acronyms used by the authorities to describe drunken driving. DWI stands for driving while intoxicated while DUI stands for driving under the influence and can refer to use of other substances such as illegal drugs.

–              According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration beer is the most common beverage involved in fatal traffic accidents as well as in DWI arrests.

–                 There is 50% bigger chance men to be involved in driving while intoxicated or in a fatal car accident than women.

–              All of the states in the country have the same zero tolerance law for drivers under the age of 21.

–              In 2006, around 20% of all sixteen to twenty year old drivers that were killed in motor vehicle car accidents were legally drunk.

–              Candice Lightner formed Mothers against Drunk Driving in 1980 in Irving, Texas. That is one of the most famous political action groups fighting alcohol impaired driving. She started the organization after her daughter was a victim in a traffic accident caused by a drunken driver.

–              New York has the least amount of drunken driving fatalities in the country, with 2.06 per 100.000 residents.

–              Wyoming has the most fatalities as a result of DUI driving, with 13 drunken driving fatalities per 100.000 residents every year.

–              The deadliest drunken driving car accident in the history of the United States happened in 1988 in Kentucky when a drunken driver that had 0.24 BAC level caused an accident with a school bus. As a result of the crash 27 people were killed, from which most of them were children, and additional 34 were injured.

–              There was a study that showed that 50% to 75% of all drunk drivers that have suspended licenses because of DWI continued driving regardless of that.

Aside the terrible things that driving under influence can cause it can make the car premiums reach record high levels as well. If you once made the mistake and you drove your car while intoxicated it does not mean that you are not entitle of finding the lowest possible premiums. If you are interested in that just enter your zip above on this page and you compare offers from companies offering Virginia car insurance. Try it, it’s free and effective.

Filed Under: Auto Insurance in Virginia For Different Life Stages Tagged With: , ,

Simple Ways To Manage Your Car Insurance Premium In Virginia

December 12, 2013 by

This is reverse psychology in action; by giving examples on how to skyrocket car insurance premiums. Here are few laws that if you break them, they can make your car insurance to cost you a small fortune.

So you live in Virginia which means you must have some type of car coverage and as any other resident in Virginia you pay pretty high rates, at least compared to some other states and you want to learn how high can your Virginia auto insurance can be? In addition to that you want to know how effectively you can achieve that. Here are the most effective ways to achieve that, stick to the recommendations here and not only that you can have record high car insurance premiums but at the same time you will have hard time finding an insurer that wants to sell you a policy.

The fastest way to high car insurance premiums is through any kind of bottle that contains any kind of alcohol. All you need is 0.08% in your blood. Make sure you come across a police officer and ask him to test you. Couple of glasses of any alcohol should help you achieve that level so you can be officially charged for driving under influence. Nothing raises the premiums as driving under influence. Virginia car insurance laws are pretty strict about driving under influence and if caught multiple times while driving under alcohol your premiums will be the least of your worries as you will risk losing your driver’s license as well as even imprisonment.

Traffic violations have the same effect on your premiums. With every new traffic violation your car premiums will significantly increase and may well rise up to a point that you will need a new job just to pay your premiums.  You should know that with every traffic violation you add a point to your driver’s record. In case you have seven points you will become “non – eligible person”. At this point you will have a limited choice and only few insurance companies will sell you a policy. The rates will be out of any chart.

Buy a new, expensive, preferable exotic car and you will see your premiums skyrocket. The more expensive the car the higher the premiums will be. There is no getting out of this, no way to bypass it or to decrease the premiums even if the vehicle has plenty of safety features. If the vehicle costs a small fortune so will the premiums.

Add someone with bad driver’s record to your VA car insurance policy. This is another great move that you can do in order to get the highest possible premiums. If you have a bad driver’s record and you add a family member with evenly bas driver’s record you will achieve your goal instantly. In case none of your friends is notorious driver as you, add your teenager as a second driver to your policy. That should have almost the same effect on your premiums.

Another great way of get high premiums is to get free quotes online and look for the highest. If you are strongly interested just enter your zip above on this page and you will find the lowest as well as some of the highest car insurance free quotes in Virginia.

Filed Under: Auto Insurance in Virginia For Different Life Stages Tagged With: , ,

Top Tips For Teenagers Purchasing VA Auto Insurance

December 9, 2013 by

Research has proved that 16 year olds have three times the crash rate of 19 year olds and six times of that of 20 year olds. These statistics make it mandatory for teenagers to have Virginia cheap car insurance to safeguard their lives. The costs of a car insurance plan can more than double if a teenager is added to it. However, there are several ways of reducing this cost.

1. Good grades

Better grades or an improved grade point average can have benefits that would affect the auto insurance plan that you would be offered by car insurance companies in VA.  The best part about getting consistent good grades at school is that it can provide discounts on your car insurance ranging from 5 percent up to 25 percent. This discount comes about the notion that a student having good grades is a responsible and mature student and that results in them being responsible drivers as well.

affordableVirginiaCarInsurance2. Driver’s education courses

Teenagers can also reduce their car insurance costs by taking a driver’s education course while at school or through an outside company. This particular aspect is going to have a major impact over their car insurance plans and policies. Depending on the discount amount and course approval, insurance companies often provide up to 15 percent discount for taking such courses in the state of Virginia.

3. Having a safe car

Small cars, trucks, sports cars and even SUVS are some of the many types of cars present on the market today. However, all these types are dangerous for teenagers. Each has its drawback with small cars having little protection, trucks and SUVS being prone to rollovers and sports cars generally discourage safety and teenagers are prone to causing accidents while driving around in them.

Purchasing a safer car can also help reduce insurance rates that you would be offered by car insurance companies in VA. Safety protection features should be looked for in cars as they lower VA car insurance rates.

4. Driving an older car

Past records have proven that it’s harder to drive older cars recklessly and they are also less likely to cause an accident, this leads to customers doing away with collision coverage from their insurance policies. Due to this fact, insurance company’s usually giving much lower rates to teenagers with old and heavy cars. Both the factors of not having to put in collision coverage and also having an older car, the cost of the insurance plan would go down significantly. Furthermore, usually companies associate the most expensive insured driver, likely to be the youngest, to the most expensive insured car. To counter this policy it is recommended that the teenager be given a less expensive older car. Even if the car stays idle most of the time, it will at least provide you with lower auto insurance payments.

In any case, when adding a teenager to your VA car insurance plan, it is very important to compare rates between companies. Never can it be enough to teach a teenager the responsibility of driving safely on the road. Taking these precautionary measures would enable you to avail cheap Virginia car insurance. To acquire information about the best quotes available around you, just enter your zip code in the box given above

Filed Under: Auto Insurance in Virginia For Different Life Stages Tagged With: , ,

Thing To Do To Find The Best Auto Insurance Company In Virginia For Teenagers

December 8, 2013 by

There are many different things that need to be taken into consideration when looking for an auto insurance company for your teenagers. Given below are a few tips that would make it easier for you to do so:

Never pick a company just because someone said it’s good

Choosing a cheap Virginia auto insurance is an extremely tricky thing to do. This particularly holds true if you want to find the one that suits you the most. Going with the one you see on a TV add or the one that your friend has is almost never a good idea. So, considering all your options is crucial if you want to make the right choice. But you need to know what to look for before you start your quest. Here are few things that make an insurance company trustworthy.

Consider traditions

One of the first rules is to look for companies that have a long tradition in the car insurance industry, companies that are established on the market for a long period of time. In 90% of the cases these companies are the ones that have the best rates and with it the best terms. You don`t want to go with a company that is not well-established on the market.

Your personal research

You need to talk to go online and see what other people are saying about them and their services. Nowadays, the internet is the perfect place where you can learn how a company is doing and how it conducts its business. People like to review services and products, VA car insurance coverage is no exception. This might not lead you to the best but will surely help you to avoid some of the bad ones.

Contact the companies that you are interested in

Contacting some of the insurer companies via mail, phone or visiting them is always a good idea and recommendable. That way you can see how they treat their clients, do they really want you as a client and if they are really honest when they say that they are your best options. If they are so than they will be able to talk openly about every aspect of your car insurance in Virginia that includes their competition and what they offer opposite of their offer. They need to tell you exactly how they`ll assess and calculate your coverage, what your policy covers and the discounts that you can count on if you choose them. Also, it`s good if you ask them how your age affects your premium and how it will affect it in future. This is important question to ask because it can significantly affect your premium.

Another thing to check with the Virginia vehicle insurance companies if their policy on credit rating. Many insurance companies use your credit rating as a factor that influents your premium. If you have a good credit rating great, if not you need to be prepared for increase of your premium. This information can be easily checked online, either from the insurer’s official web sites or from the web site of Virginia’s department of banking and insurance.

Even with all this checking done there is one more thing to do and what can make all the difference in the world when choosing a car insurance company for your coverage. Every driver can get a great deal of free quotes from plenty of insurance companies. If you are interested in instant getting free quotes just enter your zip above on this same page and you will get free quotes from a great number of auto insurance companies in Virginia.

Filed Under: Auto Insurance in Virginia For Different Life Stages Tagged With: , ,

What Drivers Of All Ages Need To Know About Virginia Car Insurance

December 7, 2013 by

A majority of people these days have no idea what car insurance in Virginia is all about although they have purchased it for themselves. It is because of this particular ignorance that they do not understand the basic privileges that they are entitled to. Moreover, this is the reason why they get duped by auto insurance companies. There is a plethora of thing that drivers all around VA need to know about. Knowing these things is not only going to help them deal in a better manner with car insurance companies, but would additionally allow them to acquire affordable auto insurance coverage in VA.

Cancel the old one and purchase a new one

As a car insurance holder, you have the right to purchase a new insurance and cancel out on your old one anytime that you want. Auto insurance laws in Virginia basically deems it necessary for your car insurance companies to abide by your request. The insurance companies often forgot to mention that because they don’t like such deals. This can come handy if you find a better and cheaper coverage and you want to get rid of your old insurer. If that is the case you have every right to do so and no insurer has the right to legally do something about it.

What are the fees of your agent?

It is extremely important for you to acquire details about the fees that you would have to pay to your agent. There are a plethora of auto insurance agencies out there that basically permit their agents to charge their clients with additional fees for services like faxing, mailing, photocopying. It is necessary for the agent to give you a schedule of fees in his office. If you think that he is overcharging you than you probably need to look for another insurance agent. But, prior to moving on, make sure that you consider the fees of the other agent as well. That way you can be 100% sure that your agent is overcharging you or not. In addition to that you can also check if the insurance company has some additional fees that are not included in the annual premium for which you are not aware of that can increase the sum that you need to pay.

Have you lately been in any car accidents?

A majority of car insurance companies tend to turn down drivers that have lately been in car accidents and/or traffic violations. However, that does not mean that you won’t find one that will accept you as a client. The reason for that is because many companies with low premiums have underwriting standards. If you keep on trying you will eventually find one. It’s highly likely that some of the companies that have higher premiums will have you as their client. In case you still can’t find any company to make you a car insurance policy you can ask for a policy from the Virginia Automobile Insurance Plan. Any licensed insurance agent that works on the territory of the state of Virginia can ask in your name for such policy. This policy should be your last resort because it costs much more than the ones made from the private companies.

Your right to remain silent

When you go to an insurance agent you are not obligated to tell him if you have some traffic violation or car accident that is really old. According to an act in 1974 you have the right not to mention that, that is if a long period of time has passed since then. There is no reason why not to take advantage of that act, especially if you have some traffic violation that you did as a teenager. There is no reason why to pay now for your teenage mistakes. That can help you keep your premiums to a more reasonable level. On the other hand if the insurance agent knows about it you better be prepared for high premiums.

Limited right to a lawsuit does not mean no right to a lawsuit. Most of the people understand the word limited as no right even so it means that there are cases when you can sue the party that caused the accident. Limited right to a lawsuit means that you can sue someone only in some of the following cases: loss of body part, loss of fetus, significant scarring, significant disfigurement, permanent injury or death.

Defensive driving courses and the discounts you would receive

Every insurer is obligated to award you a discount if you have passed the defensive driving course. All you need to do is to provide a written proof that you have passed the course and you can have lower premiums. Also, the Virginia law says that every person of 55 years of age or older that passes the motor vehicle accident prevention course automatically should be given a reduction in premiums. How much the reduction will be is determined by each insurer. Once you pass the course you can have reduced premiums in the next three years. Therefore, knowing that you need to ask around if you want to know which insurance company in the state of Virginia gives the biggest reductions.

Frequent claims and their impact

Frequent claims can skyrocket your premiums as well even if it’s not your fault for the accident. They won’t speak about that openly but that’s exactly what they will do. They will look to you as an increased risk and you can say good bye to your low premiums. The fact that you have clean driving record, that it’s not your fault for the accident, that your car is equipped with the latest safety features, that you passed the defensive driving course won’t do you much good. Your premiums will be still pretty high compared prior to your claims. The best way to deal with that is not to make claims for every little thing. If you want to keep your premiums low you need to pay for some smaller damages from your own pocket.

One more thing that most insurance companies rarely tell their clients is that they can get free quotes from a great number of companies and that it can be easily done. If you truly wish to acquire the cheapest car insurance in Virginia just enter your zip above on this page and wait a while. For only short period you will be able to choose from great deal of offers from some of the best insurers in the state.

Filed Under: Auto Insurance in Virginia For Different Life Stages Tagged With: , ,

What You Need To Do To Acquire Discounts On Your Auto Insurance In Virginia

December 6, 2013 by

Car insurance is largely impacted by the age of the applicant. What you basically need to know is the general fact that cheap Virginia car insurance depends from many factors, from which age is one of the most important ones. Even though that are some common nominators each different age impacts insurance rates differently. For example, younger drivers are charged more because of their lack of driving experience and the sense of responsibility of the drivers of that age. On the other hand, as the driver gets older, his declining hearing and vision reflexes are regularly taken in account. However, knowing what to expect in different age and the available discounts makes it easy for you to keep your car insurance coverage under control.

Young drivers

In average, this age group pays the higher premiums. The main reason for that is the lack of driving experience and the teenage behavior. In addition to that, the statistics confirm that this age group is responsible for more traffic accidents than any other age group.  But there are ways to reduce the auto insurance premiums. First of all, there is the defensive driving course which is at disposal for every other age group but needs to point out as very important in getting lower car insurance premium in VA. Finish this course and you will be surely awarded a discount considering that every insurer on the territory of Virginia is obligated by law to give discount to drivers that passed this course. Another way to get lower premiums is if you study well, that is if you have at least B average. Students in the State of Virginia can ask for a discount based on their average and if they can bring written proof about it the discount will be granted to them.

Adult drivers

Homeowners that have home and VA auto insurance with the same company are given the biggest discounts. The next best thing is keeping a clean driving record. The adult drivers with the cleanest driving records are the ones that pay the lowest premiums. Maintain your driving record clean and you will be surprised how low your premium can go. As you go old the premiums will go even lower. Adding your spouse name to the policy can further reduce your premium. Most if not all of the insurance companies see marriage as a sign of stability and responsibility and as a result of that they give such discounts. Of course that is supported with statistics about car accidents and married people.

Senior drivers

For discounts for seniors, you need to talk to your agent because every insurance company in Virginia has different types of discounts with different discount rates. Regardless if you had maintained a good driving record through the years you will pay really low premiums. Also, if you do less than 10.000 miles per year you need to tell that to your insurance agent and he will take that in consideration when making your new insurance policy.

Young or old, regardless, there is one more effective way to decrease your auto insurance premium. That is to find as much as quotes as possible. The easiest way to do so is to enter your zip code above and receive some of the lowest quotes possible. There is no better way to come to cheap Virginia car insurance rate.

Filed Under: Auto Insurance in Virginia For Different Life Stages Tagged With: , ,

How Auto Insurance In Virginia Works For Senior Citizens

December 5, 2013 by

Senior citizens with limited resources can acquire auto insurance in Virginia with lowest rates by contacting various companies or by carrying out ample research over the internet in order to get the best deals possible around their area, that too by the top providers.

The ever increasing auto insurance rates in Virginia are truly a definite matter of concern. The fact of the matter is that senior citizens can get the auto insurance at a much cheaper rate as compared to the young population owing to their vast experience of driving. Seniors with reliable vehicle driving report in the past get the auto insurance in Virginia at a much lower rate. It’s difficult at this stage in life to commute in public transport therefore the need for an auto insurance requirement is even more.

There exists an impression that senior citizens will have to shell out greater insurance premiums but the fact of the matter is that this happens to be a misnomer. Senior citizens stand to benefit with lower insurance premiums as compared with younger drivers. Elderly car owners are more cautious while operating their vehicle so are considerably safe drivers and are less associated with auto accidents. Facts and figures prove this and thereby offer them the advantage of reduced auto insurance premiums in VA. Senior citizens with a perfect driving report get lower auto insurance rates.

People beyond 50 years of age in general are typically added in the lower premiums category. Life insurance rates on the other hand increases as one gets older in contrast to the car insurance which goes down. Numerous aspects are used by insurance companies to evaluate the ideal premium rate for a senior citizen as everyone has a different requirement. Senior people need to look around for the most efficient deal and getting in touch with number of individual companies is the most appropriate way to procure the most reasonable deal.

Senior citizens who are computer literate can carry out research over the internet to attain their auto insurance needs. Numerous elderly people go for internet information since it saves them the driving around to various insurance companies. Knowingly many auto insurance providers in Virginia are reachable online with effective premiums and more significantly provide suitable feedback with regards to their services submitted by existing policy holders. With all the relevant information available, senior people don’t need to go around from one company to another.

Irrespective of the age, one must ensure to inquire with potential insurance company to get the necessary replies as well as details. Alternatively a senior citizen with the need to insure car, truck or any other vehicle can secure reasonably priced and reliable insurance policies at lower premiums. Senior citizens with years of driving experience and good driving report need to do survey of the insurance plans to be able to compare their current insurance policy with the existing policies in the market to acquire the most appropriate car insurance policy in Virginia.

To check out the latest on auto insurance in Virginia for senior citizens, don’t forget to enter your zip on top of the page

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Intricacies Of The Cost Of Virginia Car Insurance For Teen Drivers

December 4, 2013 by

The major reason why teenagers in the state of Virginia are at the highest risk of insurance is because even a single accident can raise insurance rates for them very quickly. However, all is not lost because there are ways for teenagers to get a reduction in Virginia auto insurance requirements by obeying road rules and using good judgment when in command of a motor vehicle. Teens usually have to pay double the amount $1,300 per year for auto insurance which is the amount for an average driver in Virginia.

CarInsuranceinVirginiaVirginia insurance requirements

Only bodily injury and property damage liability coverage is provided by minimum Virginia insurance as stated by the Virginia department of insurance. $25,000 property damage liability is the bare minimum amount that every driver must carry to cover damages caused to another person’s property. For all people injured in an accident, this amount should come up to $500,000. Usually, for teens in Virginia, average insurance should cover additional collision and comprehensive coverage but this should only be done keeping in mind that the cost as premiums would surely become very pricey with these additions. These Virginia auto insurance requirements might seem troublesome but they are only designed to deter fatal behavior from happening, the type that leads people to buy such insurance plans.

Virginia graduated driver program

A new program in Virginia that gradually gets teens onto roads with decent amount of experience is the graduated driver program. This program helps teenagers in getting the necessary skills to be top notch driver keeping in mind all the rules and regulations by providing them privileges as they learn and mature. The program does state though that a fully licensed and insured driver must accompany the one with the permit.

Quickly changing costs

$510 for 6 months is going to be the average cost for a teenager requiring liability coverage in Virginia, but minor incidents can drive these costs up by a significant amount. $1,300 would be the costs for only having a single speeding ticket, $1,400 would be the cost if a single auto incident in on the record. A combination of both of these can have a heavy impact on the pocket by raising this cost to around $1,600 for half a year.

Keeping a lid on these costs

There are several ways for teenagers to reduce their costs associated with Virginia auto insurance requirements. Maintaining a grade point average of 3.0 will result in student discount for insurance. Taking a voluntary driver safety course can also go well with insurance companies as they provide discounts for having these learning experiences. Depending on whichever package suits you best, the amount that you pay to the company for fixing your car can be reduced by having little premium or vice versa. Doing away with collision and comprehensive charges can reduce your overall cost.

Just enter your zip code in the box given above to get a free car insurance quote from some of the top insurance providers in your area.

Filed Under: Auto Insurance in Virginia For Different Life Stages Tagged With: , ,

Criteria For Senior Drivers For Auto Insurance In Virginia

December 3, 2013 by

There are certain drivers insurance liabilities that are required to be put forth as per the Virginia auto insurance laws is one of the significant aspects a senior citizen needs to consider before selecting the auto insurance policy in Virginia.

To begin with selecting the auto insurance in Virginia, one needs to knowledgeable about Virginia financial accountability specifications which are cited below. The least amount of liability insurance coverage needed to meet the Virginia auto insurance laws is 30,000/60,000/25,000. Consequently, the insurance policy insurance against accidental loss with the senior citizen is at-fault needs to be at least of:

•             Thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) due to physical injury to or loss of life of one person in any one accident

•             Sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) due to physical injury to or loss of life of two or more persons in any one accident, subject to the thirty thousand dollar ($30,000) per person limit

•             Twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) due to physical injury to or damage to property of others in an accident

Under Virginia auto insurance laws, one needs to offer documentary proof of Monetary Accountability in the following incidents:

•             At the request of a law enforcement officer at the time of an accident or traffic stop

•             At the time of vehicle registration

•             At the time of driver’s license issuance

In order to make certain that drivers maintain the Financial Responsibility specifications, car insurance companies in Virginia need to show weekly report to the Virginia vehicle identification system, which shows the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of each and every single vehicle insured under an existing policy. If any individual fails to abide by the Virginia Financial Responsibility specifications, following are the penalties levied:

Inability to manage proper insurance premiums can result in the driver’s license suspension along with fines. Convicted drivers are compelled to pay a surcharge fee of $250 annually as per the Virginia Driver Responsibility Program. This surcharge is over and above any sort of other costs connected with the driving offenses and must be paid yearly for the next three (3) years. One may even be required to file an SR-22 or SR-22A.

Certificate of Financial Responsibility (SR-22 or SR-22A):

An SR-22 or SR-22A is a Financial Responsibility Certificate awarded by the insurance company to the Virginia Department of Public Safety (DPS) to show the liability insurance purchase by the driver. Drivers who are convicted of any of the below mentioned offenses could require paying for an SR-22 or SR-22A to restore their license:

•             Driving despite inebriated

•             Drug offense

•             Driving even if the license lies suspended/invalid

•             2nd or another ticket for no liability insurance

If an individual is necessitated to keep up with the Financial Responsibility Certificate, the insurance company must offer the DPS with a minimum of six (6) days prior notice prior to the cancellation. The insurance company will only issue a Virginia SR-22 or SR-22A to Virginia residents as per the Virginia Auto Insurance Laws. Don’t fail to compare the existing premiums being offered by different insurance companies by simply entering the zip in the box on top of the page.

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Things Young Drivers Should Do For Auto Insurance In Virginia

December 2, 2013 by

Parents can normally add their children to the existing their auto insurance in Virginia to satisfy the state’s financial responsibility specifications. It does increase the cost but still stands to be cheaper than going for a new policy.

A few policies need all insured drivers to be listed in the policy. So the policy holder needs to update the concerned company as about any new driver as they turn 16. Failing to do so due to an accident claim , if the company comes to know about it at a later stage, then it may penalize the individual by billing for the additional premium that the individual would have paid, refuse to hand over claim and coverage, or policy renewal refusal in the long-term. Usually, if the concerned car is being driven by a teenager then the company will charge the teen’s premium rate. Alternatively, the company will charge the teenager’s premium rate on the most expensive car with the highest rate.

Teenagers Away for Education or Living Separately

When the children move out, one does want to take them off the policy which requires the proof to be given to the insurance company such as driver’s license, lease agreement or utility bills which shows a different residence address of the child.

It’s actually not a sensible idea to take off children from the existing policy in case they are residing in any other city and going to school. It’s dangerous to take off the teenager from the policy since he might drive to school or come home on visits. Various insurance companies in Virginia require an individual to keep students on the policy.

If the children are living in another city and going to school, it is advisable to advice the insurance company of the same. Companies structure premium rates on the location of the car and it might require to modify the premium. If the school is in another state, confirm the financial responsibility laws in that state to ensure that the child has the right cover. If the child goes to school, this brings in premium discount for the individual. Discuss the same with the insurance agent for additional discounts.

How to Save Funds on Young Drivers Insurance

A few insurance companies in Virginia give discount for teenagers who successfully complete the Virginia Department of Public Safety (DPS)-approved driver education program.  Drivers taught by their parents could very well get the discount if the parent had used a DPS-approved course. A few companies offer specials discounts to young drivers who secure good grades in school or who belong to particular youth groups.

How to Buy an Auto Insurance Policy in Virginia

Premiums vary among companies so it is advisable to look around and do some research. Below is certain guidance to assist an individual to come across the ideal plan for the money they have invested:

•             Identify the coverage requirements prior to the actual buying of the insurance.

•             Give consideration to selecting a higher than average insurance deductible. Higher than average deductibles will most likely lower premium, however one needs to pay more in case of a claim.

•             Secure price rates for the same coverage from various auto insurance companies in Virginia.

•             In the event acquiring a price quotation or requesting for insurance, respond to all the questions honestly. Incorrect information could impact the price quote or could lead to refusal or termination of coverage.

•             Discuss with the insurance agent if one qualifies for any concessions the company provides.

•             Give consideration to aspects beyond the rate such as a company’s financial review, complaint list and permit condition. The financial review points to the company’s business longevity and reliability and the complaint list is an indicator of the customer service. Procure only from licensed companies and agents as it is illeVAl to sell insurance without a license in Virginia. An individual can furthermore utilize the Shopping for Auto Insurance Company/Policy Comparison Worksheet to accumulate information about companies and their respective policies.

•             Analyze personal credit score. Certain companies utilize the credit score while determining the rate chargeable.

•             Understand more about a company for its license status, complaint history and financial rating by contacting OCI’s Consumer Help Line or by visiting the website

Comprehension of Auto Insurance Rates in Virginia

Virginia law demands insurance rates to be rational, beneficial and not discriminative or in proportionate. Auto insurance companies in Virginia establish their own rates and file them with OCI for examination. OCI can force the company to hand over refunds if it can determine that the company’s filed rates are excessive.

Aspects affecting the Auto Insurance Premium in Virginia

Companies use underwriting to make a decision about whether or not to sell an individual a policy and at what rate.  Companies need to submit their underwriting guidelines with OCI and accordingly update OCI of any amendment. Following are the factors utilized by companies to arrive at premium rates:

•             An individual’s age and marital status. Males under 25 and females under 21 have the maximal rates. Drivers over 50 could very well benefit from lower prices.

•             An individual’s driving report and compensation claims report. A satisfactory driving record could save some funds. Insurance companies in Virginia will most likely demand more if there are accidents or tickets on the driving record. Companies could very well charge a little more for major convictions, driving violations and accidents damaging property. Certain surcharges are compulsory and will most likely apply to the premium for three years.

•             Location of the car kept: Rates are usually enhanced for individuals residing cities since possibilities of accidents and auto thefts are more in cities than in rural areas.

•             Type of the car: Collision and comprehensive quotes are maximum for deluxe, top-end and sports cars. Rates could very well be more for cars that wear down easily or will cost more while servicing.

•             Primary use of the car: Rates definitely will be significantly greater if an individual drives the car to work or for business. Rates are the least when the car is used primarily for enjoyment.

•             An individual’s credit report: Normally insurance companies rely on the credit rankings to make the decision of selling the policy and at precisely what price. A company can’t deny to sell a policy or cancel or non-renew a policy solely on the basis of credit rating. One can check out the Learning Center on HelpInsure.com, maintained by OCI and the Office of Public Insurance Counsel, to come across the companies that utilize credit scores and exactly how they utilize them.

•             If an individual drove without insurance in Virginia: Companies could very well ask for more if an individual drove uninsured in Virginia for more than 30 days in a year before he applied for insurance. If an individual had not, a company can’t command more for liability coverage due to the fact that the individual lacks policy coverage.

To check out the latest on auto insurance in Virginia, don’t forget to enter your zip on top of the page!

Filed Under: Auto Insurance in Virginia For Different Life Stages Tagged With: ,
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