Virginia and New Hampshire are the only states that do not require drivers to have car insurance, but that could very well change if a bill becomes law in Virginia.
Virginia is one of the only states in the country that does not require drivers to have auto insurance, but that may soon change under legislation that is gathering bipartisan support in the General Assembly.
Virginia’s current system allows someone to register and drive an uninsured vehicle as long as they pay a $500 fee. Paying the fee does not provide the driver with any insurance, meaning the uninsured driver would be personally liable in the event of an accident.
“Many years ago, the General Assembly created the quota as an alternative to buying insurance,” said Republican state Sen. Frank Ruff. “I have no idea what the thought process was at the time or what policy it serves.”
Under Ruff’s legislation, the option to register an uninsured vehicle would be eliminated.
The bill would allow uninsured drivers who have paid the $500 fee to continue driving without insurance until July 1, 2024.
“This is to address the problem of too many drivers avoiding the responsibility of buying auto insurance,” Ruff said. “Require those who use our roads to have insurance.”
According to Linda Ford, the acting commissioner of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, more than 5,000 people had paid the $500 fee to avoid being insured in fiscal year 2022.
Virginia and New Hampshire are currently the only states that do not require auto insurance.
“I used to think it was a good thing that we provided the $500 fee option,” said Republican state Sen. David Suetterlein. “This is one of the issues that my thinking has changed more than any other over the last decade.”
Suetterlein said the “less affluent” people who have an accident with someone who isn’t insured are “really screwed.”
The legislation seems likely to pass in the General Assembly.
It has already passed the Democratic-controlled state Senate and is receiving bipartisan support in the Republican-controlled House of Delegates.
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