Keeping abreast of Virginia car insurance laws is important. If you are not, you may be facing severe penalties for a variety of reasons. The most common include failure to maintain car insurance, failure to register a vehicle, or failure to obey the law. If you are caught violating any of these laws, you could be facing a variety of penalties including a $500 registration fee, a suspension of your license, and jail time.

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) administers a program that electronically verifies automobile liability insurance. Using this service is a good way to make sure you have the proper insurance in place. You will be prompted to supply information about your policy and your vehicle, including the name of your insurance carrier. In most cases, your carrier will notify the DMV if your policy is terminated or changes. This can be a good way to see if you need to buy additional insurance before you buy your next policy.

Another good idea is to look for auto insurance that combines collision and comprehensive coverage. This can protect you from damages that occur to your car when you are involved in a collision. Collision coverage will pay for the repairs needed to fix your car after a crash. Comprehensive coverage will pay for damage caused by things like weather events and theft. You may also want to look for coverage that pays for the difference in the cash value of your car if you sell it or finance it.

While you’re at it, you should also purchase medical payments coverage. This type of coverage pays for the medical bills of others involved in the accident, as well as any rehabilitation or burial costs if the policyholder is killed in the incident. This type of coverage may be required by your vehicle lease or financing agreement.

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles also has a program called the Verification of Insurance Coverage that will tell you if you have the correct level of coverage. If you do not have the minimum required amount of coverage, you will receive a letter indicating that you need to upgrade your coverage. Fortunately, you can opt out if you do not wish to take on this responsibility.

In addition to these basics, you may want to consider buying additional coverage, such as UM/UIM insurance. This will cover the costs of your injuries if you are at fault in an accident, as well as any medical expenses related to your injuries. This type of coverage can be purchased from most companies.

The minimum amounts of coverage required in Virginia are relatively low, but they are not the only requirements you will have to meet. In addition to the above-mentioned minimum requirements, drivers must also carry a liability car insurance policy. While the minimum amount isn’t much, it’s always a good idea to have more than the required amount. Besides, if you exceed your policy’s limits, you’ll need to look elsewhere for coverage.