Find Auto Insurance in Virginia Beach VA

Find the Best Rates and Best Insurance Companies Near You

Which Company Has the Lowest Cost of Car Insurance in Virginia Beach?

Virginia Beach is the most populous city in the state of Virginia, with 449,974 residents. Although the city itself appears quite suburban, it’s also a major tourist destination and tourism is a big part of the local economy. Forbes ranks Virginia Beach as the 45th best place for business and careers, with an annual tourist industry of $857 million per year.

The average household in Virginia Beach owns two vehicles, and the average work commute is 23.7 miles. That means city residents a little under an hour each day commuting to and from work, not to mention other time spent behind the wheel. There is one thing all drivers in Virginia Beach have in common: they must each purchase car insurance before registering and plating their vehicle.

Buying car insurance is made more complicated because it’s not something you do every day. This guide will give you a basic understanding of what is required by law, what you might consider adding to your policy, and where to look for the best rates.

Once you have a solid understanding of what you need to look for in a car insurance policy, you’ll be able to shop with confidence because you’ll know what each company has to offer and how it compares to other companies offering a similar plan.

How Much Auto Insurance Coverage is Needed for Virginia Beach Drivers?

In Virginia, you must have at least the following car insurance coverage:

  • Bodily Injury: $25,000 per person
  • Bodily Injury: $50,000 per accident
  • Property Damage: $20,000 per accident
  • Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident

This is referred to in the insurance industry as 25/50/20.

It’s important to understand these are the minimum amounts as required by law and you should consider purchasing more if at all possible. The average hospital stay, after a car crash, costs over $56,500, and the average cost to replace a new vehicle is almost $37,000. You may also want to consider riders, or additions, to your policy. An example of a rider is theft coverage, although Virginia Beach ranks 179 in car thefts nationwide based on per capita numbers, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) states that 3,400 vehicles were reported stolen in 2018. Without a theft rider on your policy, your insurance won’t cover the loss if your vehicle is stolen.

Most Expensive and Least Expensive Insurance Rates by Zip Code

Cheap Car Insurance in Virginia Beach by Insurer

Your personal car insurance policy rate is determined by a wide range of information such as driving experience, age, sex, education, credit score, and driving record. There are certain companies who consistently offer lower rates than their competitors, as seen in the following chart. Note your quote will be lower or higher depending on your personal information.

Are you looking for cheap car insurance close by? Check out this guide to help you.

Low Cost Auto Insurance for Bad Credit in Virginia Beach

A bad credit score can cause your insurance rates to be higher. There are only two states in the country that have laws against insurance companies using your credit score to determine your insurance premium. Certain companies understand that this market also need coverage and specialize in insuring those with less than stellar credit scores. The following companies offer rates for those with bad credit.

Use our guide to find the best car insurance with bad credit.

Difference Between Liability and Full Coverage

What is Liability Only Coverage?

Liability insurance covers the possible cost of damage you cause to others while driving. This could mean the cost of medical care for those injured in an accident or repair costs of the damage you have caused to other vehicles.

With liability insurance, there are 3 key numbers: injury coverage per person, coverage for total injury per accident, and property damage coverage per accident. Each state has different requirements for car insurance minimums. In a policy that has coverage for 15/30/25 means $15,000 per injured person, with a maximum of $30,000 for all the people who are injured in an accident, and $25,000 in coverage for property damage.

What does Full Coverage Insurance Cover?

While liability insurance covers other people and vehicles in an accident where you were the one considered at fault, full coverage insurance can also cover you and your vehicle as well. Full coverage includes two different types of coverage combined into one insurance plan; comprehensive insurance and collision.

Comprehensive coverage is for the damage of other vehicles that are outside of driving situations such as weather damage, fire, or theft.

Collision coverage is basically to pay for damage that you caused while driving such as an accident with another vehicle, hitting an object, or driving off the road.

The difference between collision and comprehensive is, if a tree were to fall on your car and damage it, comprehensive insurance would cover it, however, if you were driving and hit a tree causing damage to your car, then it would be covered by collision.

What is the Difference Between the Two Types of Car Insurance?

The main difference between having liability and full coverage insurance is that liability insurance will only pay for injuries to others and their damages that resulted from an accident where you were at fault, where full coverage will not only pay for the damages and injuries done to others but will also cover your injuries and auto damages that resulted from an accident that you caused as well.

Average Annual Car Insurance Rates in Virginia by City

Additional cities in Virginia you can check out.

Norfolk, VA

Arlington

Hampton

How to Lower Your Insurance Rates Policy

There are many ways that you can save on auto insurance in Virginia Beach:

  • Raise your deductible

    If you are willing to pay more money for a deductible, in the event of an accident, then you can lower your insurance rates substantially. You can lower your premium to around 10% just by raising your deductible to around $1,000.

  • Drop Collision Coverage on Old Cars

    Dropping collision coverage on older cars can really help save you a lot, especially for cars that are more than ten years old and only worth four or five thousand dollars. Think about it, if you have an accident while driving an older car, are you really going to pay to repair it or just buy a new car?

  • Check Insurance Rates for Your Car’s Make and Model

    The make and model of your car can make a big difference in how much you pay for auto insurance. Therefore, before purchasing a new car, be sure and check the insurance rates for it as some can be much higher than others.

  • Shop Around to Check Rates from Numerous Insurance Companies

    The chart in this article should be enough proof to know that there can be a big difference in what various insurance companies charge for auto insurance. That is why it is a good idea to check rates from a number of insurance companies before deciding which plan to choose.

  • Drive Fewer Miles

    One of the questions asked when applying for auto insurance rates, is how many miles you drive regularly. This is because the more miles you drive, the more risk you are to the insurance company and the higher your insurance cost will be. Try to drive fewer miles, if possible, to save more money on your premiums.

  • Maintain a Good driving record

    Being a safe driver can not only save your life, but it can also save you a lot of money, too. There is a big difference in how much people with accidents on their record have to pay, and what those without any accidents pay. Therefore, always drive safely.

  • Live in a less populated area

    Your location matters when it comes to auto insurance rates. If you live in a highly populated area, your rates will be higher than if you live in a lower-population area. The Jefferson and New Orleans areas have some of the highest rates in Louisiana, but if you live just 30 minutes outside of the city, you can expect your rates to go down.

Learn more about car insurance discounts with this guide.

Virginia Beach VA Car Insurance Premiums Cost – What Affects Your Rates?

Virginia Beach drivers are likely to see their insurance rates change over time. There can be many factors, both positive and negative, that impact your regular premiums. One key thing that all drivers face is aging. As you mature as a person and as a driver, your insurance rates are likely to fall. Typically, older drivers are safer drivers. They are less likely to drink and drive, speed, or take unnecessary risks on the road.

Your rates are also dependent, in part, on the type of car you drive. Drivers who love high-powered sports cars will likely spend more for automobile insurance than those who drive less-exciting SUVs and sedans.

Rates are also tied to the deductible on the policy. If you carry collision or comprehensive (full) coverage and opt for a higher deductible, your premiums could be lower. That is, if a tree hits your car, you will pay more up front for the damage to offset the lower premiums you’ve been paying over time.

Learn how a bad driving record can affect your car insurance rates.

Check Out Car Insurance Companies in Virginia Beach and Reviews

Helpful Virginia Beach, Virginia Vehicle Resources:

Live Traffic and Accidents
https://www.viamichelin.com/web/Traffic/Traffic_info-Virginia_Beach-_-Virginia-United_States

DMV (Find Locations, Vehicle Registration, Titles and Insurance Info)
https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/#/

Rideshare
Lyft
Uber

Get a quote1.855.283.2631