Virginia Auto Insurance Claims

It is illegal to drive a vehicle in the state of Virginia without fulfilling insurance requirements. In Virginia, a motorist’s vehicle must be insured. The state demands that a motorist fulfills minimum insurance requirements or pay the $500 Uninsured Motor Vehicle (UMV) fee. The fee is not insurance but simply allows the motorist to drive the vehicle on the state’s roads and highways at his/her own risk.
If the motorist has decided to buy insurance, he/she must ensure that the insurance company is authorized to conduct business in the state. The vehicle must have the following minimum coverage:

  • Property damage $20,000
  • Bodily injury/death of one person $25,000
  • Bodily injury/death of two or more persons $50,000

It is strongly advised that you buy insurance for your vehicle or pay the UMV fee before driving your vehicle in Virginia or your driving and registration privileges will be suspended by the state’s authorities.
Reporting Virginia auto insurance claims may differ from one insurance provider to another. Generally, you may be able to report an auto insurance claim by either:

  • Calling your insurance agent
  • Through your mobile device
  • Online

In order to file the claim properly, all insurance companies will require the following information from you:

  • Your name and address
  • Your vehicle’s information
  • A basic description of the accident
  • Severity of the damage
  • Time of the accident
  • Location of the accident
  • Information of others who may be involved like other driver(s), witness(s), etc

The abovementioned is the first step in reporting a claim. Your insurance company may further ask you to bring in your vehicle for inspection and repair. Your auto insurance provider may have facilities of its own to assess the damage. Or it may agree to have your vehicle inspected by a mechanic of your own choice.

Once the damaged has been assessed, the settlement of your claim will depend on three things:

  • Whether the vehicle was leased
  • Whether the vehicle was financed
  • Type of claim

In most cases, your insurance company will directly pay the repair shop.

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