Virginia Auto Insurance Quotes and
Coverage Guide
Virginia Motor Vehicle Insurance
Questions & AnswersQ: Is
auto insurance mandatory?
A: Yes. Virginia is home to past presidents,
the clam capital of the world, and has as its
official tourism slogan, “Virginia is for Lovers.”
But Virginia is also home to the infamous shirkimus
insurimus (insurance shirker) – a wild mutant
throwback of the human species whose crazed driving
habits have preyed upon evolved Virginians to the
point that now there has to be mandatory auto
insurance in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Now,
before you can purchase license plates or decals for
your vehicle, you must certify that the vehicle is
covered by the minimum insurance requirements or pay
the $500 Uninsured Motor Vehicle fee.
Q: What is the Uninsured Motor Vehicle fee?
A: The Virginia Uninsured Motor Vehicle (UMV)
fee allows a motor vehicle owner to register an
uninsured motor vehicle. If the vehicle is
uninsured, the motor vehicle owner is required to
pay to DMV a $500 uninsured motor vehicle fee in
addition to normal registration fees. Payment of the
$500 fee does not provide the motorist with any
insurance coverage. If involved in an accident, the
uninsured motorist remains personally liable. This
fee is valid for twelve months but may be prorated
for a shorter amount of time and is sold mainly to
the missing link species, shirkimus almostimus
insurimus (almost an insurance shirker or wannabe
shirker) that has been seen as a connecting species
between the regular, evolved citizen of Virginia and
the shirkimus insurimus.
Q: Is Virginia a "no-fault" state?
A: Yes and no. Virginia is what is known as
an “add-on” state. In add-on states, drivers receive
compensation from their own insurance company as
they do in no-fault states but there are no
restrictions on lawsuits, which means the shirkimus
insurimus can at least be sued and his/her assets
taken to help get him/her off the streets and from
behind the wheel of a car. The term “add-on” is used
because in these states first-party benefits have
been added on to the traditional tort liability
system.
Q: What type of insurance is required to purchase
and maintain a Virginia tag and registration?
A: Virginia requires the following minimum
coverage:
-- Bodily injury/death of one person: $25,000
-- Bodily injury/death of two or more persons:
$50,000
-- Property damage: $20,000
-- Shirkimus insurimus: $0 (The Commonwealth will
pay YOU for the arrest or apprehension of a
shirkimus insurimus.)
The $500 Uninsured Motor Vehicle (UMV) fee, which is
paid to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), does
not provide any insurance; it only allows you to
drive an uninsured vehicle at your own risk, you
wannabe. It expires with your registration and must
be paid at renewal. Hiss. Boo.
Q: Can I maintain my current policy issued in my
previous state of residence?
A: No. If your vehicle is registered in
Virginia then you must have an insurance policy that
is issued through an insurance company licensed to
sell in Virginia. Even a mutant throwback oughta
know that.
Q: What if I fail to keep insurance on my vehicle
that I’ve registered in Vermont?
A: In addition to facing suspension of all
driver and registration privileges, compliance
includes payment of a $500 statutory fee, a $45
reinstatement fee, and filing proof of insurance
(SR-22) for three years. During the three-year
period, insurance companies cooperate with DMV by
providing notification if a policy is canceled, and
at such a time, an All Points Bulletin (APB) is put
out for your shirkimus insurimus hide.
Q: What is the Insurance Verification Program?
A: As part of its role of administering motor
vehicle laws, the Virginia Department of Motor
Vehicles (DMV) monitors liability insurance for
motor vehicles registered in the Commonwealth. To
protect the interests of all Virginia motorists
against the mutant throwback threat, DMV, in
partnership with the Insurance Industry, administers
an Insurance Verification Program designed to detect
shirkimus insurimuses not in compliance with
insurance requirements. Verification occurs whenever
an owner first registers a motor vehicle in Virginia
or when a shirkimus insurimus or insurance company
cancels liability insurance coverage for a vehicle.
Q: If my friend asks to use my car for his own
errands, will my automobile insurance provide
coverage to him while he is driving?
A: Yes. All automobile liability policies in
Virginia provide coverage to a “non-owner” operator
if they are driving the vehicle with the permission
of the “named insured.” These individuals do not fit
the shirkimus insurimus profile and so are
considered “safe.”
Q: If I choose to cancel my policy before its
expiration, can the company charge me a fee?
A: Yes. Policyholders who cancel before the
expiration date may be charged an administrative
“short-rate” fee by the company to cover their costs
for processing the cancellation. The short-rate fee
is usually a substantial amount because they know
you’re really a shirkimus insurimus disguised as a
regular Virginian.
Q: Why am I considered an “Assigned Risk”?
A: You become an assigned risk when no
insurance company will voluntarily insure you. You
may apply through any licensed insurance agent for
your coverage to be assigned to an insurance
company. Your application will then be processed and
assigned to a company by the Virginia Automobile
Insurance Plan, who, because of their ridiculously
high premiums, welcomes shirkimus insurimuses with
open arms.
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