Home Insurance and Car Insurance in Virginia

Homeowners Insurance Coverage Options in

When buying home insurance in Virginia, you’ll have access to many of the standard coverages available as part of a traditional homeowners insurance policy. One item you’ll want to pay close attention to is whether your policy provides full replacement value or actual cash value; the former ignores depreciation when it comes to rebuilding your home after a covered loss. Actual cash value claims include depreciation as part of the claim resolution process, meaning you may receive less than what it would take to fully replace everything.

Common types of home insurance included in most policies in Virginia include:

• Dwelling coverage that works to pay for the actual structure of your home, including walls and roof.
• Property damage coverage that can replace your personal property including furniture. Coverage may even extend to items stolen or damaged outside of your home.
• Liability protection offers you defense and protection against lawsuits if a person is injured on your property. It can also protect you in the event of property damage
• Other structures coverage can help pay for repairs or replacement for structural damage on your property that isn’t attached to your home, such as a detached garage or shed.
• Guest medical protection coverage can pay for qualified medical expenses if someone is injured on your property.
• Additional living expenses protection helps cover costs associated with daily living if your home is rendered uninhabitable by a covered loss. This includes meals, lodging and laundry services.

Common Causes of Loss in

Because Virginia is a coastal state, homes are particularly susceptible to damage from hurricanes, storm surges, and flooding. In fact, nearly 2.3 million acres of land in the state are declared Special Flood Zone Areas.

Additional Coverage Options Recommended for Homeowners

In addition to the regular home insurance inclusions, Virginians might want to shop for additional coverage, including:

• Flood insurance, which is not typically offered as a standard component of a homeowners policy. If you live in a flood-prone area, it may make sense to buy additional flood protection from either your insurance company or as part of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
• Mobile home coverage, which is different from traditional home insurance policies because these types of homes are at an increased risk for damage due to fire or severe weather.
• Windstorm insurance, which offers additional coverage in the event that your home is damaged by a hurricane. Windstorm deductibles are often separate from your dwelling deductible if the storm is named by the National Hurricane Center.
• Water backup damage, which can help pay for costs associated with backed up sewer and drain lines not commonly covered under regular home insurance policies.
• Extended replacement cost coverage, which can help pay for damage that may require repairs and reconstruction costs beyond what your regular insurance coverage offers. In most cases, this is a percentage above your dwelling coverage limit.

Our Home Insurance Partners in

SelectQuote partners with trusted home and auto insurance companies in several states, including Virginia, to provide you with quotes for coverage. Because we shop for insurance with several insurance carriers at once, we’re able to compare rates and discounts and find you affordable insurance coverage to meet your needs.

What is the average home insurance cost in ?

The average home insurance cost in Virginia depends on several factors like your credit score, claims history and the age and condition of your home. You may also pay more depending on your ZIP code. The average monthly home insurance rates in Virginia for SelectQuote customers are $88.36.**

Homeowners Insurance Discounts in

Home insurance companies in Virginia offer discounts to their customers for a variety of reasons. You may be eligible for discounted home insurance coverage based on several factors, including the length of time you’ve been a policyholder, installation of a home security system, having a higher deductible, filing few to zero claims over the past few years, and—perhaps most importantly—bundling your home and auto coverage together for maximum savings.

Auto Insurance Laws and Requirements

Virginia requires drivers to either carry a minimum legal amount of auto insurance coverage or pay a $500 fine each year for having a vehicle uninsured.³ By not having insurance, you open yourself up to the potential for costly lawsuits and financial hardship in the aftermath of an accident. Even if you’re not at fault in a car accident, the decision not to carry auto insurance could cost you tens of thousands of dollars.

At a minimum, Virginia requires you to carry bodily injury liability coverage to help cover the costs of injuries or funeral expenses of people injured in an accident where you are at fault. It also requires you to have property damage liability coverage to help pay for damage to other people’s property. Finally, you must also have uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, which can help pay for your expenses after an accident with a hit-and-run driver or a driver who does not have adequate insurance.

All data on average expenditures is provided by the Insurance Information Institute.

Other types of insurance available for purchase include:

• Collision coverage, which pays for damage to your vehicle in a collision with another driver or object.
• Comprehensive coverage, which pays for damage to your vehicle when damaged by a falling object, storm, fire or when the vehicle is stolen.
• Medical expenses coverage helps pay for additional medical expenses incurred for you or others who are injured or killed in an accident while in your vehicle.
• Loss of income benefits coverage can help provide additional money if income is lost as a result of your car accident.
• Rental coverage helps pay the cost of a rental while your car is undergoing repairs.
• Towing insurance helps pay the cost of having your vehicle towed to a repair shop after an accident.

Teen Driving Laws

Virginia requires teen drivers under the age of 18 to hold a learner’s permit, which they can apply for at the age of 15, for nine months and complete a state-approved driver’s education program.⁴ Parents, guardians or foster parents must provide their driver’s license or ID number and sign the certificate attesting to completion of the program. Teen drivers must drive for 45 hours (25 of those hours occuring after sunset).

Until the age of 18, Virginia licenses are provisional⁵ and allow the driver to drive unsupervised between the hours of 4 a.m. to midnight, with exceptions for work, school or religious activities. Teen drivers can only carry one passenger under 21 years of age for the first year. They must also abstain from mobile phone use.

Car Registration Information

Virginia requires all vehicles used on the road to be registered. Registration requires proof of ownership and an annual safety inspection. All drivers must also prove that the vehicle is insured with the minimum legal coverage or pay the annual uninsured vehicle fee of $500.⁶

What is the average car insurance cost in ?

The average cost of car insurance in Virginia varies based on several factors, including ZIP code, make and model of vehicle, your driving history and your credit score. Car insurance rates for SelectQuote customers in Virginia average out to $229 per month.***

Our Auto Insurance Partners in

SelectQuote partners with some of the most trusted home and auto insurance companies in Virginia to offer you affordable coverage. We compare quotes—including discounts—from several carriers at once and pass the savings along to you.