Updated: May 22, 2026
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Auto-Owners and Farm Bureau offer Virginia's most competitive rates for high-risk drivers across most violation types. Read more.
The Virginia Automobile Insurance Plan (VAIP) provides coverage for drivers unable to secure voluntary market insurance within 60 days. Virginia has no low-cost program.
Virginia allows a $500 uninsured motorist fee as an alternative to insurance, but this provides no coverage. Read more.
High-risk drivers in Virginia will find Auto-Owners and Farm Bureau tie as the most affordable options, offering competitive full coverage rates across all violation types.
For nationwide high-risk insurance options, see our guide to affordable high-risk car insurance in the U.S.
Farm Bureau | $77 | |
Auto-Owners | $76 | |
Farm Bureau | $81 | |
Auto-Owners | $68 |
Virginia drivers with a DUI pay rates ranging from $77 per month with Farm Bureau for full coverage to as high as $529 from other insurers. A DUI ranks among the most serious violations and stays on your record for 11 years in Virginia, though most insurers consider it for three to five years when calculating premiums.
See our guide to car insurance after a DUI for tips on reducing your rates.
| Farm Bureau | $77 | $920 |
| Travelers | $97 | $1,162 |
| State Farm | $106 | $1,277 |
| Auto Owners | $117 | $1,405 |
| Allstate | $151 | $1,810 |
| Progressive | $162 | $1,946 |
| Mercury Insurance | $162 | $1,946 |
| Geico | $170 | $2,041 |
| Erie Insurance | $176 | $2,113 |
| Penn National Insurance | $265 | $3,184 |
| Farmers | $529 | $6,346 |
Virginia drivers with speeding tickets find rates ranging from $76 per month through Auto-Owners to as high as $235 for full coverage from other insurers. Your actual increase depends on how much you exceeded the speed limit and whether it's a first offense or a repeat violation. Speeding tickets remain on your driving record for three to five years in the state.
| Auto Owners | $76 | $909 |
| Travelers | $84 | $1,011 |
| Farm Bureau | $93 | $1,110 |
| Erie Insurance | $103 | $1,240 |
| Geico | $105 | $1,261 |
| State Farm | $106 | $1,277 |
| Penn National Insurance | $118 | $1,411 |
| Mercury Insurance | $128 | $1,533 |
| Allstate | $134 | $1,604 |
| Progressive | $161 | $1,926 |
| Farmers | $235 | $2,819 |
Virginia drivers with an at-fault accident pay rates ranging from $81 per month through Farm Bureau to as high as $283 for full coverage from other insurers. Companies increase premiums because at-fault accidents indicate you're more likely to file future claims, especially when the accident caused injuries or severe property damage. These accidents remain on your driving record for three to five years.
| Farm Bureau | $81 | $975 |
| Travelers | $89 | $1,068 |
| Auto Owners | $95 | $1,137 |
| State Farm | $114 | $1,368 |
| Geico | $122 | $1,468 |
| Penn National Insurance | $134 | $1,608 |
| Erie Insurance | $140 | $1,677 |
| Mercury Insurance | $174 | $2,084 |
| Allstate | $175 | $2,103 |
| Progressive | $187 | $2,240 |
| Farmers | $283 | $3,402 |
Auto-Owners offers Virginia's most affordable car insurance for drivers with distracted driving violations at $68 per month for full coverage, while other insurers charge up to $235. Virginia law prohibits handheld cellphone use while driving, and violations result in fines that impact your insurance rates. Though distracted driving citations are less severe than DUI or reckless driving offenses, they still raise your premiums.
| Auto Owners | $68 | $820 |
| Farm Bureau | $77 | $920 |
| Travelers | $97 | $1,162 |
| Erie Insurance | $103 | $1,240 |
| Geico | $106 | $1,276 |
| State Farm | $106 | $1,277 |
| Penn National Insurance | $122 | $1,465 |
| Mercury Insurance | $128 | $1,533 |
| Allstate | $134 | $1,604 |
| Progressive | $167 | $2,000 |
| Farmers | $235 | $2,819 |
At-fault accidents increase full coverage rates in Virginia by 49% ($48 per month), while a DUI raises costs by 89% ($86 monthly) compared to drivers with clean records. Motorists with violations pay more than those without infractions on their driving history. The table below compares average monthly costs for different violation types, and you can toggle between full coverage and minimum liability rates using the filter.
For clean-record rates, see our average cost of car insurance in Virginia guide.
| Clean | $97 | $1,159 |
| Speeding 11-15 MPH over limit | $122 | $1,464 |
| Texting While Driving | $122 | $1,465 |
| At Fault Accident ($1000-$1999 Prop Dmg) | $145 | $1,739 |
| DUI - BAC >= .08 | $183 | $2,195 |
Driving violations impact your Virginia insurance rates for different timeframes depending on severity. Major offenses like DUIs and reckless driving affect your premiums for three to seven years, while speeding tickets and minor infractions influence rates for about three to five years. Each carrier applies its own guidelines for how long violations factor into your costs.
High-risk drivers pay higher premiums, but shopping around helps you find affordable coverage despite violations. This guide covers what makes you high risk, how to locate competitive insurers and your options if carriers deny you.
For additional strategies to reduce your rates, see our guide to cheap car insurance after a bad driving record.
Insurers label you high risk when your record includes DUI or DWI convictions, moving violations or at-fault accidents, a suspended or revoked license, limited driving experience, high-performance vehicles or racing history, poor credit or coverage gaps or lapses in previous insurance coverage. Drivers over 65 also pay higher premiums.
Follow these strategies to find affordable high-risk car insurance coverage while protecting your budget.
Figure out your car insurance needs before comparing companies so you know what you're looking for and aren't swayed by agent pressure. Think about add-ons like rideshare coverage and roadside assistance, especially if you drive in busy areas like Norfolk or Virginia Beach.
Check average costs and available discounts before getting quotes from Virginia insurers. A state-approved defensive driving course can cut your premiums by up to 5%, which is worth looking into for high-risk drivers in Richmond and surrounding counties.
Pay-per-mile and usage-based insurance can save money for safe or low-mileage drivers. GEICO's telematics programs and similar options from other carriers track your driving habits and may lower your rate, which works well for drivers in less congested areas like Charlottesville.
Get quotes from at least three insurers using independent brokers or online comparison tools. Keep comparisons consistent so you can see which providers offer the best value and find affordable insurance that fits your needs.
Virginia doesn't have a low-cost auto insurance program, but high-risk drivers turned down by multiple insurers can get coverage through the Virginia Automobile Insurance Plan. This assigned-risk program makes sure you can meet Virginia's mandatory insurance requirements even with a difficult driving record.
If standard insurers in Virginia turn you down, you can still get coverage through the Virginia Automobile Insurance Plan (VAIP), an assigned-risk pool that distributes rejected applicants among licensed carriers. Virginia has no state low-cost auto insurance program, so low-income drivers should compare quotes from multiple insurers to find the most affordable option.
Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET
(804) 217-9990
(800) 516-1923
4501 Highwoods Pkwy, Ste 230, Glen Allen, VA 23060
*VAIP is administered by AIPSO (Automobile Insurance Plan Service Office). Virginia drivers with valid licenses and registered vehicles can access VAIP through certified insurance agents or brokers statewide.
Virginia doesn't offer a low-cost auto insurance program for income-eligible drivers seeking affordable coverage. However, the Commonwealth operates the Virginia Automobile Insurance Plan (VAIP), which provides coverage to high-risk drivers who've been rejected by at least two standard insurers. This assigned risk plan ensures drivers can meet the state's mandatory insurance requirements when the voluntary market won't cover them.
Virginia doesn't offer a dedicated low-cost auto insurance program for income-eligible residents. Drivers seeking affordable coverage must shop in the voluntary market and compare quotes from multiple insurers to find the best rates. Those who can't secure coverage through standard carriers can access insurance through the Virginia Automobile Insurance Plan, the state's assigned risk pool.
Drivers with DUIs, suspended licenses, or reckless driving convictions must file SR-22 insurance, which serves as a certificate of financial responsibility with the state's DMV.
If you've been rejected by standard insurers because of DUIs, multiple violations or suspended licenses, Virginia's Automobile Insurance Plan provides access to required coverage. This assigned risk program serves high-risk drivers who can't get insurance through the voluntary market, ensuring you can meet the state's mandatory liability coverage requirements.
VAIP assigns drivers to participating insurance companies based on each insurer's proportional market share in Virginia. The program operates through industry participation requirements administered by state regulation.
Virginia's Automobile Insurance Plan (VAIP) gives high-risk drivers a path to coverage after being turned down by standard insurers. Every licensed insurer in Virginia must take part and accept drivers in proportion to their market share, spreading the risk across the industry.
Once assigned through VAIP, a participating insurer provides you with the minimum liability coverage Virginia law requires, no matter your driving history.
VAIP rates run 50% to 100% higher than standard market policies for the same coverage. A driver with a clean record might pay $90 per month for minimum liability, while the same coverage through VAIP costs $135 to $180 per month. The higher premiums reflect the added risk insurers take on when covering drivers with DUIs, multiple violations or serious accidents.
The Virginia State Corporation Commission's Bureau of Insurance sets VAIP rates and oversees the program. It makes sure drivers rejected by standard carriers can still get the liability coverage Virginia law requires.
For the Virginia Automobile Insurance Plan (VAIP):
VAIP makes sure Virginia drivers who can't get coverage through the standard market can still get the liability insurance state law requires.
Auto-Owners and Farm Bureau tie for Virginia's most affordable high-risk car insurance providers, according to an analysis of rates. Full coverage costs range from $68 monthly for drivers with distracted driving violations to $81 per month for those with at-fault accidents.
If you are rejected by multiple standard insurers, you can access required coverage through the Virginia Automobile Insurance Plan (VAIP),
Once you've improved your driving record, look for the cheapest car insurance in Virginia to find the best option.
Auto Owners and Farm Bureau tie as Virginia's most affordable high-risk car insurance providers for full coverage. Auto Owners offers the lowest rates for distracted driving violations at $68 per month, while Farm Bureau provides the cheapest DUI coverage at $77 per month.
High-risk drivers in Virginia pay higher premiums than those with clean records. A DUI increases full coverage costs by 89%, adding $86 monthly to the baseline rate of $97 per month.
We calculated average rates using full coverage policies with 100/300/100 liability limits plus comprehensive and collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible. State minimum rates were based on Virginia's mandatory 30/60/20 liability requirements.
All rate calculations use this standard profile:
We reviewed rates from major carriers by violation type to determine the most affordable options for high-risk drivers in Virginia. Filter options allow users to compare full coverage and state minimum coverage based on their needs.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has spent nearly a decade analyzing the market, first at LendingTree and now at MoneyGeek, where he has produced original research on hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.
He writes about economics and insurance on MoneyGeek so people can make coverage decisions with confidence. His insurance insights have been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among other media outlets.
Like all MoneyGeek analysts, he draws on independent cost and consumer experience data, and no insurance company partnership influences his recommendations.
Fitzpatrick earned his degrees from Johns Hopkins University (M.A. Economics and International Relations) and Boston College (B.A.). He began his career in financial risk management at State Street. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
