The majority of states in the U.S. require that drivers carry car insurance, but Virginia is one of the few states that allow drivers to forego coverage if they pay a $500 fee to the Department of Motor Vehicles. Also, it is not a crime if a driver fails to carry their insurance card on them to show to police officers if they are pulled over.
Despite this law, however, there have been reports that drivers are being fined for failing to provide proof of insurance. Apparently, police officers and members of the courts have been misinterpreting Virginia code § 46.2-707. In actuality, in order to be charged under this law, a driver must admit that the car is uninsured and that the $500 DMV fee had not been paid. The consequences include a Class 3 misdemeanor, license suspension, plus a $500 fine.
Before making any statements to any insurance adjuster, we recommend reading our free accident injury book that will provide some insider information regarding car accident claims. If you have further questions about car accidents with uninsured drivers in Virginia, don’t hesitate to contact us.
