Options

• Virginia drivers who pay the uninsured motorist fee can lawfully operate their vehicle while uninsured. Drivers must pay the uninsured motorist fee of $500 to Virginia's Department of Motor Vehicles at the time of registration and registration renewal. The uninsured motorist fee does not provide the driver with insurance coverage; it only allows the driver to operate while uninsured. At-fault, uninsured drivers who are involved in an accident are fully responsible for the other party's injuries and damages.
  
  

Single Limits

• Virginia drivers are permitted to purchase combined single-limit auto liability insurance. Rather than select liability limits based on the per-person, per-accident option, drivers can select single limits. The single-limit liability covers the entire amount of the accident's injuries and damages, up to the selected limit. The minimum single-limit coverage in Virginia is $70,000.
  
  

Consumer Rights

• Virginia law provides consumers with several insurance rights. Virginia drivers cannot be refused insurance because their sex, age, race, color, credit or residence. Drivers also cannot be refused because of previous refusals from other carriers, such as a nonrenewal, or because they have purchased an assigned risk policy. Insurance carriers can only cancel policies that are 60 days or older when the policyholder has failed to pay premium and when the policyholder, or its listed drivers, have had their licenses suspended or revoked. Outside of these reasons, the insurance carriers can only nonrenew the policies.
  
  

Nonrenewal

• Under Virginia law, insurance carriers must inform policyholders of impending nonrenewals at least 45 days before the policy cancels. The nonrenewal notice must include the reason for cancellation and the policy's cancellation date. Policyholders who do not agree with the cancellation reason have the right to appeal the nonrenewal with the Virginia Insurance Commissioner.
  
  

Penalties

• Virginia drivers who fail to maintain financial responsibility are subject to severe fines and penalties. Along with the suspension, or revocation, of driving and registration privileges, noncompliant Virginia drivers must pay reinstatement fees and a $500 statutory fee in order to reinstate their privileges.
  
  

SR-22

• The SR-22 is also required in order to reinstate suspended driving privileges. The SR-22 is a certificate or filing that is attached to the auto insurance policy. Once attached, the auto insurance carrier notifies the Virginia DMV that the policyholder is compliant with the state's financial responsibility laws. If the policy is cancelled at any time for any reason, the auto insurance carrier will notify the Virginia DMV that the policyholder is no longer compliant. The SR-22 must be maintained for at least three years. Virginia notifies drivers individually of their SR-22 requirements.