Auto Accident Attorney

Q: Do cars and trucks in Virginia have to be insured in case of accidents?

Answer: No. You can drive a vehicle without any automobile insurance in Virginia. However, to do this legally you must pay an uninsured motor vehicle (UMV) fee of several hundred dollars to the Department of Motor Vehicles.

If you do not pay the UMV fee, you face a $500 fine, suspension of your driver’s license and vehicle registration(s), and higher insurance premiums for the next three years. Whenever you obtain or cancel a liability policy, or add or remove a vehicle from a policy, the insurance company notifies DMV immediately. Why take chances? Get insurance on your vehicle before you register it. 

Because Virginia does  not require insurance it is important to make sure you have enough uninsured motorist coverage on your insurance policy.  Read our article on Uninsured Motorist Coverage for more information.