There’s much to do and see in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Saving money on your car insurance can give you more to spend on having fun around town. Read on for your guide to everything you need to know about finding the cheapest car insurance in Virginia Beach.
How Much Insurance Do I Have To Have in Virginia Beach?
Most states require you to have a certain level of insurance coverage to drive legally. Virginia, like most states, requires you to have at the very least liability coverage with the following minimum limits:
- $30,000 for injury or death per person
- $60,000 for injury or death per accident
- $20,000 for property damage
These minimum limits have been effective for policies that began January 1, 2022. On January 1, 2025, they will be raised to:
- $50,000 for injury or death per person
- $100,000 for injury or death per accident
- $25,000 for property damage
If you’re looking for the absolute cheapest car insurance in Virginia Beach, aim for a liability-only plan that just meets these minimum amounts.
Types of Insurance
However, you should familiarize yourself with the different types of insurance and what they cover to make sure you’re protecting yourself to a level you’re comfortable with. The liability-only plan we laid out above only covers damage or injuries experienced by other people involved in an accident with you.
If you want to protect your vehicle if it’s damaged in a car accident, you’ll want to add collision coverage to your insurance plan. Collision coverage is based on your vehicle’s actual cash value, which means that your insurance company can pay up to that amount in damage or the maximum amount if your vehicle is considered totaled.
Comprehensive insurance protects your vehicle from non-collision situations, such as falling tree branches and theft. If you have liability, collision, and comprehensive insurance plans at the same time, you have what’s known as full-coverage insurance. Full-coverage insurance is sometimes required if you’re leasing your car or if it’s a part of your loan agreement.
As we mentioned, liability-only insurance is the cheapest car insurance in Virginia Beach. But if that’s not an option for you, or if your want to protect yourself more fully, you can still use methods to bring down the cost of your insurance.
Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance in Virginia Beach?
According to ValuePenguin, Virginians paid an average of $555 for minimum liability coverage per year or $46 per month. Some of the insurance companies that offered the cheapest yearly rates in the state of Virginia included:
- Geico: $327
- Farm Bureau: $365
- USAA: $383
- State Farm: $475
- Erie: $502
- Nationwide: $605
- Travelers: $733
- Allstate: $773
- Progressive: $830
Note that USAA is only available for military members, veterans, and their immediate families. Though these are average rates for the state of Virginia, they may not accurately reflect the average rates of car insurance in Virginia Beach. In fact, they may not reflect the average rates for you and your situation.
What Influences My Car Insurance Rates?
There are quite a few factors that insurance companies will use to determine how much to quote you on your insurance plan. If you’re looking for insurance in Virginia Beach proper, you may be spending more on your car insurance than someone who lives in a more rural area away from the city.
Other factors that influence your car insurance rates in Virginia Beach include:
- Your age. The older you are, the less high-risk insurance companies deem you to be.
- Your driving history. One of the best ways to keep your insurance cheap is by not using it. The more often you file a claim to cover the costs of a collision, the more high-risk your insurance company will consider you to be. Your car insurance payments may rise as a result of a recent collision.
- Your vehicle make and model. The newer and more expensive your vehicle is, the more you’ll likely pay on your car insurance. Other factors about your vehicle come into play here as well, including body style and safety ratings.
- Your annual mileage. The more you drive, the higher your chance of being involved in a collision. The price of your insurance may follow suit.
The list of factors goes on, but these are some of the most influential aspects of your personal history and details. However, you’re not completely tethered to factors you can’t change.
How To Find the Cheapest Car Insurance in Virginia Beach
In your search for the cheapest car insurance in Virginia Beach, you should get quotes from plenty of companies before you make a decision. What might be the cheapest car insurance company for your neighbor might not be the cheapest option for you. This is sometimes due to the fact that certain car insurance companies weigh more cost-influencing factors than others. You can start your search by contacting the cheapest average car insurance company in Virginia, but be sure to give the other companies a shot before you accept the first plan that sounds good to you.
If you’re trying to find a good balance between plan benefits and cost, it’s important that you compare the plans you’re getting quotes for. One plan may be cheaper than the other because it offers less. If you’re simply looking for the cheapest possible insurance, this may not be an issue for you, but it’s something to keep in mind while you shop.
Other tips and tricks you can use to find the cheapest car insurance for you include:
- Ask about discounts
- Maintain a safe driving record
- Work on your credit score
- Drive a vehicle with plenty of safety features
- Bundle your insurance plans
- Insure multiple cars
The major takeaways from this article are that you should familiarize yourself with what it is you’re shopping for and to use every tool at your disposal to find the cheapest car insurance in Virginia Beach. Learn more about the world of insurance and vehicle maintenance by visiting our blog.
At FIXD, our mission is to make car ownership as simple, easy, and affordable as possible. Our research team utilizes the latest automotive data and insights to create tools and resources that help drivers get peace of mind and save money over the life of their car.
