Virginia Beach has a storied history that actually has some residual impact on the prices that drivers here pay for their Virginia Beach auto insurance rates. Consider the history, and the current facts below.

The city was discovered in 1607 by employees of the Virginia Company of London, who were sent to find an appropriate place for the company to make landfall when bringing their goods to the ‘New World.’ Initially named Cape Henry, the name was changed when American colonists settled there. It was not until 1906, however, that Virginia Beach became an incorporated town.

Transportation in the early years closely resembled that of many other towns and cities across the US. The first mode of transportation was horse or horse and buggies. Eventually an electric trolley service was created as the only form of mass transportation for the town in 1888. However, the automobile, like in many other places, revolutionized the town, and by 1922 the electric trolley was out of business and the roads were being built to accommodate the automobile throughout the town.

Interestingly, the Mayor of Virginia Beach, B.P. Holland, had foresight when it came to the automobile and understood that it was going to be a permanent part of American culture. As such, when Virginia Beach became a town a law was passed that all vehicles receive license plates and be registered in order to operate on their roads.

By 1919 the State Police Department was formed and the job of registering vehicles fell to them. However, the task was too much for the State Police, who had plenty of other things on their plate; and in 1923 the Department of Motor Vehicles was created to keep track of all the vehicles in the State of Virginia. In 1928 all Virginia Beach drivers had to have a driver’s license in order to drive a vehicle in the town.

Virginia Beach started out with 105 men, women and children and has grown exponentially over the last 100 years. There are now 440,000 people living in Virginia Beach and 324,000 of them are licensed drivers.

Proof of Virginia Beach Car Insurance for Licensing and Registration

The State of Virginia requires that all registered vehicles, regardless of the condition of the vehicle (meaning even if it is not a working vehicle or it is in storage), maintain a VA Beach auto insurance policy at all times. Virginia Beach has an electronic monitoring system when it comes to their registered vehicles and they are contacted via an electronic system if your Virginia Beach auto insurance lapses. You have 30 days to show proof of insurance or turn in your license plate. Otherwise, you will face having your driver’s license and registration suspended as well as having your license plate cancelled.

You are required to carry proof of insurance in your vehicle at all times. If you are pulled over and you do not provide proof of insurance you will receive a citation. You will also have 30 days to show proof of insurance or the same consequences that occur when your insurance lapses will occur. What’s more, you will also be required to pay a fine of $500 to reinstate your driver’s license as well as your registration. You will also be required to purchase new tags for your vehicle.

When you purchase a new vehicle or a used vehicle, before you register your vehicle, you will have to purchase Virginia Beach auto insurance. Using a free and third party quote tool is a good way to find the best rates available to you. Once you purchase your insurance, the state will be electronically notified. However, you will still have to go to the DMV and show proof of insurance with your insurance card or a statement from your insurance company.

It will cost you $38 to register a passenger vehicle or pick up truck that weighs less than 4,000 pounds. It is $43.75 for vehicles that weigh more than 4,000 pounds. Motorcycles, which have to follow the same insurance laws as other types of vehicles, cost $26.75 to register. If you are moving to Virginia Beach from another state, you will also have to pay taxes on your vehicle at the same time it is registered.

Virginia Beach Car Insurance Laws

Virginia law requires that all drivers maintain a minimum of:

• $25,000 bodily coverage insurance for a single person injured in a car accident
• $50,000 bodily coverage for multiple people covered in a car accident
• $20,000 property damage per accident
• $25,000 bodily coverage for underinsured/uninsured motorist for a single person, $50,000 bodily injury coverage for underinsured/uninsured motorists for multiple persons
• $20,000 property damage coverage for underinsured/uninsured motorists per accident.

The determination of required coverage is made by the Secretary of Insurance for the State of Virginia. This coverage is designed to help cover the cost of an auto accident that causes some property damage and minimum injuries. This coverage will not cover the cost of a fatal accident, which in Virginia Beach averages to be about $1.5M dollars and serious auto accidents average cost is about $900k each.

According to the State of Virginia’s Department of Motor Vehicles, in Virginia Beach there were 7,258 automobile accidents in 2008. Of those accidents 31 caused fatalities and 3,345 ended up in injuries. Considering the population size and the amount of drivers in the Virginia Beach area, these numbers are pretty good. This is probably why the average cost of auto insurance in Virginia Beach is about $1,200, which is $288 less than the state average and $594 less than the national average.

Saving Money on Virginia Beach Car Insurance

While the average cost of car insurance in Virginia Beach is pretty good, especially compared to other areas of the country, there are still ways that you can save money on your auto insurance. These ways vary depending on the reason you are looking for auto insurance.

If you are in the market for a new or used vehicle, then you can save money by choosing a model of vehicle that is not likely to be stolen in the Virginia Beach area. There were 535 vehicles stolen in Virginia Beach last year and the number one model stolen was the 1996 Honda Accord. These are other vehicles that made the top ten most stolen vehicles in the Virginia Beach area: 2000 Honda Civic, 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 1996 Dodge Caravan, 1997 Ford Taurus, 2002 Ford Explorer, 2007 Toyota Camry, 1997 Ford F150 Series, 1998 Toyota Corolla and the 2006 Nissan Altima.

In 2009 the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released a list of cars that were the safest to drive. Among those are the Acura RL, Acura TL, Saab 9-3, Honda Civic 4-door models, Honda Odyssey, Audi Q7, Acura MDX and Ford Escape. You can find a list of all 72 of their recommendations by doing a search for IIHS on your favorite search engine. Purchasing a car with a proven safety record will earn you a discount on your auto insurance as well.

All driver’s will find that they can save money on their Virginia Beach car insurance by maintaining an excellent driving record, by limiting their commute (the average commute in Virginia Beach is about 23 miles each way), by taking defensive driving classes and more. Saving money on your auto insurance also means that you will need to check your auto insurance rates from time to time and compare them to other companies to see how your insurance rates compare.

Compare Virginia Beach Car Insurance Quotes!

In September 2009, the national cost of auto insurance decreased by $300 annually. While you do not want to switch your Virginia Beach auto insurance coverage every month, at least once a year you should check to see what the rates are like. The easiest way to do that is by using a free quote tool, and there are a number of these available online. You will be able to compare the rates of several companies without any obligation and get a feel for what the cost of insurance is compared to what you are paying.

Start comparing free Virginia Beach car insurance quotes online now!