Flashing lights suddenly pop up in your rearview mirror. A quick glance down to your speedometer tells you that you were traveling above the speed limit. Panic sets in as you slow your vehicle and pull over to park on the shoulder with your flashers blinking the message that you have just been stopped for a traffic citation. You are new to the state of Virginia and have not had time to research state laws. Maybe you will get lucky, and the police officer will have pity on you and let you go with just a warning. Perhaps they will be stern and insist that you have broken the law and write you a ticket. Regardless of the outcome, you do not want to be caught in this situation.
There are some steps you can take to avoid breaking state laws for auto insurance in Virginia. The first thing you will need to do is register your car. You will need to establish monetary responsibility in order to register your automobile, and ensure you are protected, in the event your vehicle is involved in a traffic mishap. The way you form financial responsibility is to purchase liability insurance from a trustworthy carrier that is licensed to sell auto insurance in the state of Virginia. Please note that the state of Virginia offers other options verses purchasing automobile insurance.
Cash, self-insuring, surety bonds or other securities can be used but not by private passenger automobiles. There is one other option available too. You can pay a UMV fee, Uninsured Motor Vehicle, if you choose to register a car without insurance protection. This is an annual fee due when you renew your registry. The minimum fee for Uninsured Motor Vehicles is $500. Be advised that this fee does not cover any damage incurred if you are in an accident. Without the protection of insurance, you are liable for any and all costs for damage to your vehicle and the other vehicle involved in the incident.
When purchasing insurance you will need to be aware of the state of Virginia’s liability insurance necessities. You are required to have at least $25,000 worth of coverage for bodily harm or the death of a single person, $50,000 for bodily harm or the death of two people or more, and $20,000 for any property damage. It is always a good idea to take it a step further and research different insurance companies and the coverage they provide. Added coverage may seem expensive and like it isn’t worth the hassle, but you will be glad you did your homework.
So if, there is a time when you get pulled over again for any kind of traffic violation, you will know you’ve upheld the state law of Virginia and be able to provide your proof of insurance. Don’t let the law take your license and vehicle registration away due to your negligence. Get those automobile insurance quotes and find the perfect policy that fits you. Auto insurance in VA is the law. To compare your current policy, please enter your zip code above for comparisons.
