What Kind of Car Insurance Do You Need?

Car insurance provides financial protection if you cause an accident that results in property damage or injury. It protects against monetary loss from vandalism, theft, accidents, and other unfortunate calamities. When you have a suspended license, a high-risk insurance provider will help you find the right policy options for you.

Virginia requires drivers to maintain minimum auto liability insurance and sometimes high-risk insurance for license reinstatement. Finding and buying the kind of insurance policy to optimize protection can be daunting, especially without a reliable auto insurance company.

How to Find the Car Insurance You Need

It helps to get reliable guidance about mandatory and optional coverage options and which ones are best for you. Lack of professional insurance assistance can lead vehicle owners (and non-owners) to pay higher premiums for unnecessary or inadequate coverage.

To choose the right car insurance coverage, knowing Virginia’s minimum auto insurance requirements is a start. But you must consider other factors such as your:

• Location
• Driving history
• Vehicle value
• Budget

Maybe this is your first experience buying car insurance, or perhaps you need to get high-risk insurance for license reinstatement. This guide will give you all the necessary information to decide on your next step. Below are auto insurance coverage options that will ensure you comply with Virginia’s minimum liability insurance requirements.

Liability Coverage

Liability insurance covers the damages a driver causes to another vehicle. It pays claims up to the policy limit. The policy limit can be the state’s minimum required coverage or the maximum coverage possible.

Liability insurance includes bodily injury and property damage benefits. Virginia requires liability insurance as minimum coverage to demonstrate your ability to handle costs stemming from an at-fault accident.

All drivers need to maintain the minimum coverage requirements for liability insurance. However, choosing higher coverage means you’re less likely to pay claims out of pocket in case of a serious accident.

Underinsured Motorist or Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM)

While every state requires drivers to have auto insurance coverage, some motorists don’t comply with those laws. The Insurance Research Council reported that nearly 14% of motorists don’t have adequate car insurance, and some don’t have any coverage.

Under-insured or uninsured motorist coverage comes to the rescue when the driver at fault is unable to pay claims out-of-pocket. UM coverage helps you pay for expenses you incur if the driver at fault has no insurance, inadequate insurance, or no resources to pay them.

Collision Coverage

This optional coverage pays the cost of repairs to your vehicle resulting from a collision. Even if your car is totaled, collision coverage pays the replacement cost. Unsure if you should invest in collision coverage? To help you decide, consider these factors:

• Your vehicle’s current value
• The amount you’ll pay annually for the additional coverage
• The deductible amount you’ll pay before the policy takes over

Comprehensive Coverage

All the other insurance coverage options offer protection from costly injuries and damages caused directly by auto accidents. The optional comprehensive coverage policy covers damages caused by fire, theft, vandalism, falling objects, and harsh weather.

What Happens if You Drive in Virginia Without Car Insurance?

Besides being of legal age, you must also have a valid driver’s license to operate any motor vehicle in all fifty states. Driving without a valid license may be categorized as a misdemeanor in some states, which can result in heavy penalties. Being caught a second time can lead to progressively harsher penalties. The rules also apply to driving without valid insurance. This is primarily to encourage people to drive safely and responsibly while ensuring protection from hefty losses. Here are some avoidable legal, reputational, and financial repercussions you could face if you drive without insurance.

Medical Expenses

If you’re driving in Virginia and cause an accident that results in injuries, you could be liable for all the healthcare expenses. Having reliable insurance coverage is critical in such cases. Without it, your savings and assets can be at risk if the other party files bodily injury claims against you.

Vehicle Impoundment or Registration Revocation

Driving without insurance could lead the state of Virginia to revoke your vehicle registration or impound the vehicle altogether. If you free your vehicle from the impoundment lot, you’ll have to pay to re-register your vehicle. Not having proof of insurance also requires you to pay for towing expenses and other associated costs.

Higher Car Insurance Premiums

Have you driven without insurance ever since you got your dream car? Or maybe you’re experiencing a temporary coverage gap to save some money? If so, you’ll likely have to pay a higher insurance rate in the future when you do buy insurance. Most insurance companies view such drivers as high risk and some hesitate to insure them at all.

Jail Time

Unless there are prior violations on your record, most uninsured driving incidents don’t result in jail time. However, repeat offenses result in harsher punishments such as higher fines and jail time for up to five years.

License Suspension

Incidents of major drug-related motor vehicle violations and reckless driving end with the state suspending your license. License revocation may heppen if additional violations exist or if it’s a repeat offense. In this scenario, you might need to file for an SR-22 certificate or FR-44 insurance. If your offense is DUI or DWI-related, you may have to install an IID before getting back on the road.

Get the Right Policy with UltraCar Insurance

The risks of driving without car insurance are not worth it. You can end up with additional fines, penalties, and even vehicle impoundment. Uninsured driving can also lead to jail time, license revocation or suspension, or time added to an IID requirement.

UltraCar Insurance can help you get back on the road with state-compliant auto and motorcycle insurance policies, commercial auto insurance policies, non-owner SR22 insurance, and non-owner FR44 insurance in Virginia.

Without judgment, our state-licensed professionals help high-risk drivers get low rates on quality, state-compliant SR-22 and FR-44 certificates in Virginia. Besides high-risk auto insurance, we also help you connect with state specialists at Intoxalock for cost-effective ignition interlock (IID) installation in Virginia.

Contact us with questions or start an online quote. Better yet, call us to learn more about cost-effective solutions to help you get back behind the wheel.