Understand Your Coverage
Auto insurance in Virginia must include both BI/PD and UM/UIM. Liability insurance pays for personal injuries or property damage that you cause accidentally and for which you are held liable. It does not cover your own injuries or those of other people in your car. (BI/PD is bodily injury & property damage liability coverage.)
Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage protects you if you are in an accident with someone who doesn’t have insurance or whose coverage is not enough to pay you for your injuries or property damage. (UM/UIM is Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage. UMPD is Uninsured Motorist Property Damage coverage.)
The Minimum Is Not Enough
Understand why to buy more. If you cause a serious accident, the medical expenses may exceed your policy limits, and you will be personally responsible for the excess amount. So, the amount of coverage you buy should be as much as you can afford, with an eye to the fact that a judgment against you could mean the loss of your house or your savings.
Increased UM/UIM coverage limits pay off. Almost 10% of Virginia drivers are uninsured, so we recommend you buy matching limits for Bodily Injury and Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist coverage. It’s a relatively small cost to protect yourself and your passengers from drivers who are still on the road without insurance, particularly outside Virginia.
Keep Your Insurance Current
No insurance? No registration. Proof of insurance or payment of the UMV fee is required every year when you register your car. If you’re stopped for a traffic violation or an accident and don’t have your ID card, you face a driver’s license suspension, and must buy high risk auto insurance to get an SR-22 filing for the next 3 years. Plus, you still owe the $500 Uninsured Motor Vehicle fee. Letting your policy lapse will cost more than you expect.