Insurance in Virginia: State Rules and Requirements

Insurance in Virginia

The rules that shape car, home and business insurance in Virginia, each linked to its official source, and how to get coverage shopped here. Sam Alishahi holds a Virginia nonresident insurance producer license (NPN 21022298) and places Virginia policies directly.

By Sam Alishahi · Reviewed October 2026

Car insurance in Virginia (50/100/25)

Minimum car insuranceSince January 1, 2025, Virginia requires at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is mandatory and matches your liability limits unless you ask for less, and medical expense benefits are optional. Since July 1, 2024, you can no longer pay the $500 uninsured motor vehicle fee instead of buying insurance. Source
Fault systemVirginia is an at-fault (tort) state: the driver who causes a crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the other party's injuries and damage. Virginia also follows contributory negligence, so an injured person who contributed in any way to their own injury may be barred from recovering. Source

Business insurance rules in Virginia

Workers’ compensationVirginia requires workers' compensation for any business with more than two employees, counting part-time, seasonal and family workers. A contractor must count its subcontractors' employees toward that total. Virginia has no state fund; coverage comes from commercial insurers, self-insurance, group self-insurance or a PEO. Source
Contractor licensingThe Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation's Board for Contractors licenses businesses that build, repair or improve property owned by others, in Class A, B or C based on contract value. Class A and B applicants must submit a surety bond or a financial statement showing net worth, and consumers may seek relief from the Contractor Transaction Recovery Fund. Source

Home insurance in Virginia

Home insurer of last resortVPIA has written dwelling, condominium and commercial property insurance since 1968 for Virginians who can't get coverage in the standard market. Hurricanes and coastal storms are the main catastrophe risk for homes in Tidewater and on the Eastern Shore. Source

High-value homes in Virginia.

Disasters, floods, hail, tornadoes and earthquakes in Virginia

Virginia disasters, floods, hail, tornadoes and earthquakes, from federal records
Measure	Virginia	Rank among the states	Detail
Federal major disaster declarations since 2000	31	#23 of 51	Most often for severe storm (17), hurricane (6), snowstorm (3). Tazewell County has been in 13 of them.
National Flood Insurance Program claims, 2005–2025	22,512	#16 of 51	$374.0 million paid; 26% of claims with a known flood zone were outside FEMA’s high-risk zones.
Hail reports, 2016–2025	1,193	#25 of 51	55 of them 2 inches or larger. Largest stone 4 inches, Caroline County, August 2023.
Tornadoes, 2016–2025	152	#26 of 51	17 rated EF2 or stronger; 835 recorded since 1950.
Earthquakes of magnitude 4.0+, 2000–2025	6	#18 of 51	Largest: magnitude 5.8, 11 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia, August 23, 2011.

From the public FEMA, NOAA, Storm Prediction Center, USGS and FMCSA records behind each linked report; ranks count all 50 states and Washington, DC unless noted.

Look up the storm history of any county in Virginia.

The property risks that matter in Virginia

Hampton Roads faces some of the highest rates of relative sea-level rise on the East Coast, making flood coverage important around Norfolk.

Wind from tropical storms is the defining property risk along the Virginia coast. Ask whether your policy uses a named-storm deductible, how it is triggered, and whether roof upgrades or shutters earn a mitigation credit.

Standard homeowners and renters policies exclude flood. In Virginia, flood coverage comes from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private flood insurer, and NFIP policies generally carry a 30-day waiting period, so buy before storm season. Check your address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.

Nor'easters bring coastal flooding, wind and heavy snow to Virginia. Wind damage is generally covered; storm-surge flooding needs flood insurance.

Worth knowing in Virginia

Virginia has made several big auto changes recently: it ended the pay-a-fee-to-drive-uninsured option on July 1, 2024 and raised its minimums to 50/100/25 on January 1, 2025, and it remains a contributory negligence state.

What to review each year in Virginia

Compare your auto liability limits with the Virginia minimum of 50/100/25 and with your actual assets.
Find your hurricane or named-storm deductible in dollars and set aside that amount.
Check your address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center and price an NFIP or private flood policy before storm season (NFIP usually has a 30-day wait).
Clear gutters and check for storm-surge flood exposure before winter.
Landlords: confirm fair rental value and liability on each unit.

Virginia’s insurance regulator

Insurance in Virginia is regulated by the State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Insurance, which handles consumer complaints and licenses insurers and agents.

Sam Alishahi holds a Virginia nonresident insurance producer license (NPN 21022298) and places Virginia policies directly.

Common questions

What is the minimum car insurance in Virginia?

Since January 1, 2025, Virginia requires at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is mandatory and matches your liability limits unless you ask for less, and medical expense benefits are optional. Since July 1, 2024, you can no longer pay the $500 uninsured motor vehicle fee instead of buying insurance.

Is Virginia a no-fault state?

Virginia is an at-fault (tort) state: the driver who causes a crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the other party's injuries and damage. Virginia also follows contributory negligence, so an injured person who contributed in any way to their own injury may be barred from recovering.

Do employers in Virginia need workers’ comp?

Virginia requires workers' compensation for any business with more than two employees, counting part-time, seasonal and family workers. A contractor must count its subcontractors' employees toward that total. Virginia has no state fund; coverage comes from commercial insurers, self-insurance, group self-insurance or a PEO.

What can a Virginia homeowner do if no insurer will write the house?

VPIA has written dwelling, condominium and commercial property insurance since 1968 for Virginians who can't get coverage in the standard market. Hurricanes and coastal storms are the main catastrophe risk for homes in Tidewater and on the Eastern Shore.

Does Virginia homeowners insurance cover hurricanes?

Wind damage from hurricanes is generally covered, often subject to a separate hurricane deductible. Storm-surge flooding requires flood insurance.

Do I need flood insurance in Virginia?

If you're in a high-risk flood zone with a federally backed mortgage, your lender will require it. Elsewhere it's optional but worth pricing, because homeowners policies exclude flood.

More answers: Virginia homeowners insurance guide Virginia renters insurance and security deposit guide Virginia life insurance consumer guide Virginia flood risk and NFIP guide Richmond home and auto insurance guide Virginia Beach home and auto insurance guide Norfolk home and auto insurance guide Arlington home and auto insurance guide

Sources

General information as of October 2026, not legal advice; confirm current rules with the agency.

Tell me what you need insured.

Home, car, business, trucks or something harder to place. One request, and I take it from there.

Alishahi Insurance · Saman Alishahi, independent insurance broker, 439 N Canon Dr, Penthouse, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. General information, not a quote or a promise of coverage.

Insurance in Virginia