Being a teenager with a new Virginia driver’s license makes young person feel that he or she has joined the ranks of adults and received a passport to freedom. Use of a car implies social freedom, the ability to impress others just by cruising past and the right to make important lifestyle choices. Few teens think of their car as a weapon on wheels, but they should. More teens die and are injured in single vehicle collisions than other types of accidents. Major causes are lack of sleep, failure to use seat belts, speed, risk taking, and alcohol use.

Virginia has a zero tolerance law regarding teens and alcohol use since the legal age for alcohol purchase and consumption is 21 years. If a teen is tested for BAC (blood alcohol concentration) they may record up to .02 without penalty as that level can occur from use of cold medications, other dietary consumption, or general production of the test markers within the average teenage body. However, higher readings than .02 can cause the loss of license, arrest, possible jail time and huge fines. Further, most Virginia car insurance policies exclude responsibility for payment of damages caused while the vehicle is being used in violation of the law. Arrest for drunk driving by a teen would be a prime example of the violation which could be used by an insurance company to void coverage.

Teens may violate good sense and the rules of Virginia highways by putting too many persons into a vehicle, failing to use seatbelts, changing music, using cell phones or writing text messages, eating, reading, grooming themselves or others, and wearing inappropriate or no shoes. Each of these factors increases the danger. Lack of sleep can amplify other problems and teens tend to function on the least amount of sleep they can manage. Another risk factor for teens is the persons with whom they associate. Passengers who are drunk, high, or overly excited

With VA car insurance, the risk of the damages can be lessen because people with the auto insurance will get a good amount in case of any accident or any damage. If you want to know about the cost or any other information, please enter your zip code into the top boxes of our web page and you will get good competitive quotes.

Most people in the United States have probably known someone who claimed to have a fake driver’s license. Usually, the fake was obtained so that an underage person could purchase alcoholic beverages or gain admission to adult events. However, with identity theft on the rise, the use of these fraudulent documents has become a nationwide concern. The Commonwealth of Virginia has some of the most stringent laws regarding eligibility for driver’s licenses, maintaining insurance and treatment of adult intoxicated offenders. Not surprisingly, the production of the physical drivers license and the procedures to prove the existence of state mandated minimum auto insurance coverage in VA have both been  modernized to deter fraud.

Virginia now produces driver’s license cards which have state-of-the-art security features. Some lettering is raised and can be felt by rubbing a finger across the surface. Part of this lettering is black in color and part clear. The cards are no longer old fashioned laminated cardboard or credit card like plastic. The cards are created from a polycarbonate composite which is criss-crossed with fine lines, micro-lettering and other features which cannot be reproduced by general purpose printers or other card extruders. The data is not printed on the surface of the card but is engraved by laser with overlapping characters and patterns. In the past, one of the features which ‘permitted’ fraud was the fact that the photos were on the surface of the driver’s license and could be peeled away for replacement with someone else’s picture. This is no longer possible with Virginia driver’s licenses since the new technology embeds the photos as part of the card itself. To remove the picture the card would have to be incised. In addition to the driver’s color picture, there is also a clear space inside the card so that a black and white image can be viewed from either the front or back in a holographic manner.

Virginia provides these high tech cards for children as well. Child identification cards are available to children who have not reached the age years of 15 who can be officially identified by official documents such as a certified birth certificate or passport. The cost is reasonable at $10.00 each and the card expires at the end of the child’s birthday month on each age divisible by 5. A great deal can be said for having proper identification for your child (especially adopted children), but the important aspect of this discussion is that Virginia has made special efforts to protect the identification document itself.

Protecting the driver’s documentation of Virginia car insurance coverage has been a more difficult task.   The proof of coverage documents is issued by various insurance companies (often after internet purchase) and there is no consistency in the color, substance or structure of the insurance cards.   Therefore, Virginia has verification procedures which are independent of the communication between the insurance company and the policy holder/vehicle owner. By state law, insurance companies must electronically transmit information to Virginia when a policy is created, terminated or suspended. Thus,   law enforcement personnel, Department of Motor Vehicle staff, and Courts can verify the status of insurance coverage without even speaking to the auto owner. This may seem to have little bearing on defeating potential fraud when someone forges a proof of insurance card to carry in their vehicle. The reality is that the physical card is no longer the best proof of automobile insurance coverage. Law enforcement agents might ask for the insurance card if there is a collision or checkpoint stop, but computer verification is available and would be used to confirm status.

Having state mandated insurance coverage is important for a variety of reasons – one of the most essential of which is that the Commonwealth of Virginia can verify that car insurance coverage in VA when needed. Being able to rely that the driver’s license cards and insurance documents are not faked is a valuable service provided by Virginia.

Everyone should carry appropriate insurance, particularly since it is mandatory and can be easily verified through Internet access by state authorities.  If you are uncertain that you have appropriate or cost effective auto insurance coverage in VA, then please put your zip code into the box at the top of this page. The costs of comparable coverage from several companies will be displayed. Knowledgeable drivers make for safer drivers. Use the above quote system to find the most advantageous coverage and be confident that you have the best, most cost effective insurance policy for use in operating your vehicle in Virginia.

You hop into your car, start the engine, and back out of the driveway – forgetting several things:

1. Virginia law requires the use of your seatbelt

2. Virginia law requires that front seat passengers over the age of 18 use seatbelts  and it is also required of all persons under the age of 18 regardless of position in the car

3. Children and infants must be in approved safety seats

Are there valid reasons for not wearing seatbelts?   No, but these are some of the ones which are routinely heard:

* The belt is not comfortable. However, if the shoulder harness is worn across the chest (not under the arm or behind the torso) it should be adjusted properly.

* My clothing gets wrinkled. Well that is unfortunate but not a good reason to risk being ejected from the car during a crash.

* I have airbags. But airbags are made to be used in tandem with seatbelts and have a different function.

* If there is a crash or the car goes into the water I will not be able to get out. Less than one in two hundred major crashes do a VA vehicle goes underwater. If you cannot get out of the seatbelt, you probably will not be able to open your door either.  However, there are multipurpose tools available which will cut seatbelts and provide other emergency use.

* I may be pregnant. The seatbelt should be worn across the hips, not over the abdomen. There is no risk to the baby.

* I’m only going on a short trip or at a very slow speed. As mentioned, most crashes occur near home and the speed is not relevant. You may be going slowly but the other driver involved in a collision may not be at a safe speed and his impact velocity will overcome all of your pre-conceptions about driving slowly.

If your seatbelt is not functioning properly, go to your dealer. Nationally, all manufacturers are required to provide lifetime repair or replacement of seatbelts (but not necessarily the anchors and mounts).   Have it replaced when the belt is not functioning property – it will save you injuries if needed in an accident and possible fines if you are cited for failure to use.

Failure to use seatbelts is another of those violations of the driving law in Virginia which may impact on the insurance coverage you have available in the event of an accident. Many policies exclude damages incurred while operating the vehicle in violation of law. Seatbelts may seem like a small issue but depending on the insurance company, use of the belt may make the difference between having that spinal injury treated to the full extent of the medical coverage and just having emergency services covered.

Obtaining proper insurance is more than merely selecting Virginia state minimum coverage. Use the checkbox at the top of the page and determine some comparative quotes from companies who are licensed to provide auto insurance in Virginia. Learning the rules about insurance, about seatbelt use and general, driving issues can be life saving and prevent life-long economic loss.