Your newsfeed says, "I just saved $600 on my car insurance," and "15 minutes can save 15%".
Sounds great! What does that get you? What's a good price for car insurance? Will you have the right coverage when you need it? What happens if you have an accident?
Let's break it down.
Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Virginia
If you're shopping for car insurance in Virginia, you may wonder what is required. For one, your insurance carrier must be authorized to sell in VA and can not offer below the state's minimum coverage. This mandatory coverage includes liability (pays for other's damage when you cause the crash) as follows:
Policies effective Jan. 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024
- $30,000 in bodily injury/death for one person
- $60,000 in bodily injury/death for two or more people
- $20,000 in property damage
Policies effective on or after Jan. 1, 2025
- $50,000 in bodily injury/death for one person
- $100,000 in bodily injury/death for two or more people
- $25,000 in property damage
The state minimum does not include coverage for damage to your car. If you do not opt to get coverage, you're required to pay the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) a $500 Uninsured Motor Vehicle Fee when obtaining a license plate and each time your registration is renewed annually. This fee does not provide insurance coverage.
The reality is the state minimum insurance requirement does not provide adequate financial protection for most Virginians. According to the National Safety Council, the average costs associated with a 2019 car crash when factoring in property damage, driver and passenger injuries, and liability were sobering, especially for serious accidents:
- Property damage: $4,600
- Nondisabling injury with property damage: $8,900
- Nonfatal crash with disabling injury: $78,900
- Fatal car crash: $1,410,000
You can do the math. Virginia's liability coverage can leave you on the hook for medical bills above $25,000 for someone injured in an accident when you're at fault. Add in your own property damage and injuries and you could end up with a hefty financial burden in an instant.
Full Coverage Car Insurance
While the minimum state-required insurance is limited, you can add more robust car insurance products for a wider financial safety net. In addition to higher liability coverage, you can purchase collision coverage (repairs or replaces your car after an accident, regardless of who is at fault) and comprehensive coverage (pays for damage caused by other things like theft, wind, flooding, and animal collisions). While leasing a car, you are often required to carry these types of full coverage car insurance and higher liability limits to satisfy your lease agreement.
It's also worthwhile to know umbrella insurance follows your home and your car. It provides liability coverage for you and members of your household beyond your standard car insurance if you injure someone or damage their property.
What's a good price?
Shopping for insurance can be complicated and confusing. Rates for car insurance can depend on things like the cost of your car, your location, your driving record, credit history, years of driving experience, and annual mileage. With all of these variances, it's almost impossible to standardize pricing.
Besides, every insurer is different. Some insurers cater to drivers with good driving records. Large companies tend to spend a lot to entice new customers through advertising and discounted rates only to increase rates later. Small insurers tend to focus on delivering consistent value over time, believing that a customer's peace of mind is earned through reliable coverage, great service, and competitive rates. More on that later!
It really helps to have a local licensed insurance advisor who can help you navigate rates and the value each insurance carrier brings to the table. A lower price may not indicate a good price or the best fit for you.
Trade-offs to cheap car insurance
These trade-offs can impact not only your rate but also more important things down the road. It's human nature to discount the what-ifs when you're shopping due to optimism bias. You might think that won't happen to me. But it's essential to consider the potential impacts that can affect you at any given time. Check this out:
In 2022, 163 PEOPLE were INJURED every
day in the Commonwealth
from TRAFFIC CRASHES.
~Data from the 2022 Virginia DMV Annual Crash Facts publication
Statistics like this bring to mind the potential for out-of-pocket insurance costs with a claim. You also want to consider how well a carrier will step up in your hour of need. That's a hard thing to determine from a fifteen-minute online quote.
Out-of-pocket costs
Coverage Limits
One way to reduce your rate when shopping for car insurance is to reduce your coverage limits. When selecting your liability policy, you will choose specific dollar amount limits of how much it will cover. Keep in mind your financial responsibility does not end with these coverage limits when you are at fault in a crash. If your car insurance doesn't pay for all the property damage and medical expenses, you are still responsible for what is left. This is not something you want to scrimp on. In other words, avoid trying to save money on your car insurance rate now to compromise yourself financially later possibly. Choose the highest liability coverage limits you can afford.
Deductibles
Another way to reduce your insurance rate is by increasing your deductibles. Deductibles are the amount of money you pay on a claim when there is damage to your property. These out-of-pocket costs can be a selected dollar amount or a percentage of the total amount of insurance on the policy. Some people don't realize that cheaper car insurance quotes can be partly due to higher deductibles, which can be financially risky in a claim scenario. Think of it this way; a higher deductible is a higher risk. The lower your deductible, the more coverage and security you have.
Claims and customer service
Claims are stressful and inconvenient. We know because we work through them for our members every day. We also know that when it's your claim, it can feel like your life is turned upside-down. You may be dealing with painful injuries and loss. You may be out of a car for an extended period of time. It's the one time you really need your insurance to deliver, and the last thing you must deal with is lousy or inefficient service.
Cheap car insurance may mean a subpar service experience. When you're shopping, do your homework. Pay special attention to an insurer's service promises and check them against their online reviews. Weigh responses to customer feedback with the insurer's AM Best ratings (like credit scores for insurance carriers). You want to know your insurance company will be there for years down the road and deliver the most seamless and helpful claims experience possible.
The savings value of an independent agent
Your local insurance advisor can help you find coverage limits and deductibles that are best for you. They have access to a whole network of insurance carriers and can get multiple quotes. Independent agents work for you, not the insurer. They listen and search for the best options tailored to your needs and budget and are familiar with the level of service you will receive from a carrier. Working with an independent agent is like having a personal shopper helping you find smart ways to save money.
Bundling your home and car insurance is one of the best ways to save money on car insurance. We offer a generous discount for bundling your home insurance with a car insurance policy. Things like keeping a good driver's record, avoiding lapses in coverage, choosing cars with important safety features, and taking a defensive driving course can also help you save on your rate.
The bottom line is that price should be one of several factors in choosing the right fit.
Shopping for car insurance to save money is a good idea. Understanding what you're actually getting is an even better one. So give it due diligence. Talk to your local insurance agent. They'll make sure you don't sacrifice big on coverage and service to save a little cash.
Learn more about homeowners insurance in Virginia
Learn more about car insurance in Virginia
THE NORTHERN NECK INSURANCE INTEGRITY PROMISE — We pledge to provide straight talk and good counsel from our NNINS Virginia insurance experts through our blog. While we hope you find this to be a helpful source of information, it does not replace the guidance of a licensed insurance professional, nor does it modify the terms of your Northern Neck Insurance policy in any way. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy
