Virginia Car Insurance: Residents Guide to State Requirements
Car insurance is mandatory in all states by law, but the requirements of auto insurance differ in each state. Virginia has its own unique requirements for car insurance. A driver new to the state must educate himself about specific laws to avoid getting into trouble with the authorities. Once you know about specific car insurance requirements of Virginia state law, you can buy the best coverage according to your needs.
The tort system that the state of Virginia follows requires that someone must be at fault of causing the accident, and the responsible party must pay for all the damages.
All drivers need to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance. Liability is one of two types of insurance; bodily injury liability and property damage liability. The bodily injury liability includes the medical bills of drivers who may get injured or killed in vehicle accident. In case the matter goes to court, then bodily injury liability also includes the legal expenses and compensation for the affected victims.
Property damage liability is the insurance that you need to pay for the repairs of your victim's vehicle. However, this liability may also include other property that gets damaged during the accident, such as houses or fences.
The state of Virginia has set the minimum amount for bodily injury liability as $25,000 with an upper limit of $50,000. Minimum property damage liability is $20,000.
The basic coverage is referred to as 25/50/20 coverage with 25/50 UM limits.
Unlike most states, Virginia state requires all of its drivers to have uninsured motorist coverage. This coverage protects drivers against the huge costs that one would have to incur in the case of an accident with an uninsured driver.
The minimum amount for both bodily injury and property damage liabilities are the same as usual insurance.
These are the basic requirements of law in Virginia. You can also opt for more comprehensive coverage to insure yourself and your vehicle.
You can also purchase medical and funeral expense benefits for up to $2000 per person. Loss of income benefits can be bought for up to $100 per week for a maximum period of a year.
For more information regarding VA auto insurance policies, you may contact the Virginia Bureau of Insurance in Richmond by calling 804-371-9741or by visiting their website at http://www.scc.virginia.gov/division/boi/.
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