Best Car Insurance Companies in Virginia
Fact-checked with HomeInsurance.com
Article Highlights
For drivers looking for the best car insurance in Virginia, we have provided an overview of the top providers by market share. Our report includes a look at what the average rates are for Virginia and how these rates are affected by your driving record. You can also compare rates by provider and major cities in Virginia.
Auto insurance premiums are calculated by a variety of factors like driving record, credit history, gender, age and marital status. The average Virginia driver pays $1,136 per year for full coverage insurance, which works out to about $95 each month for 12 months of coverage. In comparison, this is well-below the national average car insurance rate of $1,555 per year for a 12 month, full coverage policy. Virginia’s average minimum coverage rate falls below the national average as well, at just $398 a year. The average minimum coverage rate across the U.S. is $545 for a 12 month premium.
While these rates may be useful when comparing auto insurance premiums, please keep in mind that the following rates represent averages for Virginia and may not reflect your actual premium quote.
Virginia Quickfacts
- Cheapest carrier for full coverage in Virginia is Progressive: $911
- Cheapest carrier for minimum coverage in Virginia is Progressive: $345
- Carrier with highest customer satisfaction in Virginia: USAA
- Number of uninsured drivers in Virginia: 9.9%
- Virginia is on the lower end for car insurance rates
The table below reflects Virginia’s car insurance rate by driving record, with speeding and accident histories taken into account:
Average cost of car insurance in Virginia
| Clean record | 1 speeding ticket | 1 accident | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full coverage | $1,136 | $1,356 | $1,356 |
| Minimum coverage | $398 | $476 | $476 |
Quadrant data services, 2020
Top car insurance companies in Virginia
- Allstate – Best for first-time car insurance buyers
- Progressive – Best for cheapest policies
- USAA – Best for military discounts
- State Farm – Best for young drivers
- Virginia Farm Bureau – Best for local community
Best car insurance companies in Virginia
Average annual full coverage premiums by insurance carrier
| Company | J.D. Power Score/5 | AM Best | Discounts offered | Average rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allstate | 3/5 | A+ (Superior) | New car, multiple policy, safe driver | $1,403 |
| Progressive | 3/5 | A+ (Superior) | Safe driver (Snapshot), teen driver, good student, distant student, homeowner | $911 |
| USAA | 5/5 | A++ (Superior) | Home and auto insurance bundle, good student, safe driver, defensive driving course, military, loyal member, annual mileage, family, multiple vehicle, stored vehicle | $1,105 |
| State Farm | 3/5 | A++ (Superior) | Vehicle safety, passive restraint, anti-theft, good student | $1,208 |
| Virginia Farm Bureau | Not rated | A | Smart teen, good driver | $1,004 |
Quadrant data services, 2020
Allstate: best for first-time car insurance buyers
Allstate provides an abundance of online resources and tools for those who are not familiar with insurance to become educated on various insurance terms and policies. With how-to guides on understanding deductibles and policy documents and a free calculator to help you determine how much coverage to get, Allstate is a great option to consider if you are new to insurance or a first-time buyer.
Progressive: best for cheapest policies
Progressive’s average premium rate is low compared to other policies. The average full coverage premium is $911 a year, which is $225 cheaper than the average statewide premium. Progressive also offers a wide range of discounts that drivers can utilize to lower the competitive rates even more.
USAA: best for military discounts
USAA offers a variety of discounts that can help Virginia’s military drivers save money on their car insurance. In addition to some of the more common discounts like good student discounts, USAA offers annual mileage, family, multiple vehicle and even stored vehicle discounts as well. Eligible members who rent or own a home can save more money by bundling home or renter’s insurance with the multi-policy discount. For military personnel and their dependents who qualify for coverage, USAA is a top choice to consider.
State Farm: best for young drivers
Young adult drivers in Virginia pay a high premium on car insurance due to their age and corresponding lack of driving experience. State Farm offers great rates and discounts for young adults, where drivers under the age of 25 can save up to 15% with the Steer Clear Program. Furthermore, eligible young adults can bundle home and auto and save up to 17% if they qualify.
Virginia Farm Bureau: best for local community
Virginia Farm Bureau offers competitive prices for auto insurance across Virginia, in addition to a membership program that enables drivers to access further savings on groceries, home products, appliances, dining, travel and prescriptions, to name a few. Virginia Farm Bureau actively supports local farmers and offers discounts on high-end farming equipment. Because of unique savings opportunity and impact on state industry, Virginia Farm Bureau is a great provider to consider if you are looking for a hometown provider and extra savings.
Car insurance rates in Virginia by city
Auto insurance rates in Virginia vary significantly by zip code. The table below shows the average cost of insurance across Virginia’s cities for both full and minimum annual coverage rates.
| City | Full coverage annual rate | Minimum coverage annual rate |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | $1,160 | $438 |
| Norfolk | $1,297 | $469 |
| Chesapeake | $1,157 | $430 |
| Richmond | $1,208 | $435 |
| Newport News | $1,164 | $430 |
Quadrant data services, 2020
Virginia Beach
The typical driver in Virginia Beach pays $1,160 annually for car insurance. A coastal city around the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia Beach is the largest and one of the 10 most expensive cities in Virginia. In terms of driving statistics, Virginia Beach ranked 3rd worst drivers in America. Despite these factors, rates in Virginia Beach for full coverage car insurance are decently below the national average.
Norfolk
On average, Norfolk drivers pay $1,219 per year for full coverage insurance. Property crime — including vehicle theft — is higher than average for other cities in the U.S., which may explain why premiums are a bit more expensive compared to other VA cities.
Chesapeake
Chesapeake has fairly average rates, despite it being the second most populous city in Virginia. Drivers pay an average annual cost of $1,157 a year for full coverage, which is just $21 above the state average.
Richmond
Richmond is Virginia’s state capital and is in the top five most populous cities in Virginia. It’s also one of the most expensive in the state for car insurance with an average cost of $1,208 per year. This may be due to having one of the highest crime rates in America. That said, the average cost is still well below the national average.
Newport News
Newport News is about on par with the average cost of auto insurance in Virginia. Drivers pay an average annual premium of $1,164 for full coverage. Newport News is also affected with higher than average crime, which is consistent with the other major cities in this state.
Virginia car insurance considerations
Virginia car insurance rates are highly affected based on geographical factors, even within the state. Crime rates, median household income and other demographics in Virginia can cause rates to vary widely by ZIP code. For Virginia, crime seems to be the leading factor for whether or not rates are higher or lower within the state.
Virginia is one of the two states that does not make car insurance mandatory for all drivers. In this state, drivers can choose to have the minimum required insurance or pay the uninsured motor vehicle fee, which is $500. The uninsured motor vehicle fee does not provide any insurance, but allows you to drive uninsured at your own risk, and must be renewed with your registration. Although having car insurance is not legally required, driving without it leaves you exposed to financial loss or liability.
Virginia minimum liability requirements
Virginia’s minimum car insurance requirements are indicated as 25/50/20, which means:
- $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $20,000 property damage liability per accident
How we chose the best car insurance providers in Virginia
In order to select the top car insurance providers in Virginia, Coverage reviewed the largest insurance companies in the state. We then researched each insurance company’s average annual premiums, discounts offered, financial strength ratings and J.D. Power customer and claim satisfaction scores. Based on these aspects, we selected the top 5 providers in Virginia.
Other car insurance providers in Virginia to consider
If you are looking to add more providers to your comparison shopping, consider the following options.
| Company | J.D. Power Score/5 | AM Best | Discounts Offered | Average Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erie | 3/5 | A+ (Superior) | Multi-policy, college student discount, youthful driver | $973 |
| Esurance | 5/5 | A+ | Good student, low mileage, Military, newer vehicle, anti-theft, anti-lock brakes | $2,108 |
| Farmers Insurance | 3/5 | A- (Excellent) | Multi policy discount, electronic funds transfer, alternative fuel vehicle, good student, safe driver | $1,681 |
| GEICO | 3/5 | A++ (Superior) | New vehicle, good driver, seat belt use, good student, federal employee, military, emergency deployment | $1,347 |
| Nationwide | 3/5 | A+ (Superior) | Accident free, defensive driving course, automatic payments, family plan | $3,741 |
| Travelers | 3/5 | A++ (Superior) | Safe driver, multi-car, hybrid vehicle | $1,097 |
Erie
Erie insurance provides drivers under the age of 21 and college students who live close to or away from home several options to save. Drivers under 21 can save from 5% to 20% with the Youthful Driver Discount. Erie also provides additional discounts for college students who won’t need to drive when they’re away from home.
Esurance
Esurance is an Allstate subsidiary, but acts as its own brand — providing a fast and streamlined quote process. Esurance has good customer reviews and a simple user interface. However, rates are on the higher end.
Farmers Insurance
Farmers insurance offers great bundle discounts on auto and home insurance policies. Drivers can save up to 20% off when bundling. With Farmers Insurance’s Signal app, drivers have the chance to earn an initial 5% discount, up to 15% off policy renewals and another 10% off when households enroll a driver under 25.
Geico
Geico is known for offering special discounts for federal employees, military personnel and members of certain professions in medicine and education. Geico also offers discounts to alumni from certain organizations in Virginia and D.C. Applying these discounts can help drivers pay less than the state’s average premium policy.
Nationwide
Nationwide is a well known provider, with the highest average annual rate for full coverage in Virginia. Because rates vary based on driver-specific factors, it’s worth including this reputable provider in your comparison shopping.
Travelers
Traveler’s offers great bundle deals and discounts for drivers who need policies for multiple vehicles. Policyholders can save up to 8% by obtaining policies for two cars. Additionally, Traveler’s supports the environment by offering further discounts for drivers with hybrid cars.
Methodology
Coverage utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze quoted rates from thousands of zip codes across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, using the top 15 carriers by premiums written by state. Quoted rates are based around the profiles of a 30-year-old male and female with clean driving records, good credit and the following full coverage details:
- $100k bodily injury liability per person
- $300k bodily injury liability coverage per crash
- $100k property damage liability coverage per crash
- $500 collision coverage deductible
- $500 comprehensive coverage deductible
Minimum coverages were applied to match state requirements. Both drivers used a new, financed 2018 Toyota Camry, commuting 5 days a week and driving 12,000 miles per year.
