As of January 1, 2025, Virginia drivers are protected by a major update to the state’s auto insurance law under Virginia Code § 46.2-472. This change increases the minimum coverage required by law and works together with a powerful new rule that helps injury victims recover more money from underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage.
If you’ve been injured in a Virginia car accident, these legal updates could make a huge difference in your compensation—but only if you know how to use them.
New Minimum Insurance Coverage in Virginia: $50,000 Per Person
Effective January 1, 2025, the required minimum liability insurance limits in Virginia increased to:
- $50,000 for bodily injury or death per person
- $100,000 per accident for two or more people
- $25,000 for property damage
These new limits apply to all policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, and they replace the outdated minimums of $30,000/$60,000/$20,000.
Even better: Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage must now match these higher limits.
Want to learn more about how this fits into personal injury cases? Visit our Virginia personal injury overview.
UIM Stacking: No More Insurance Company “Credit”
Until recently, insurance companies were allowed to reduce your UIM benefits by whatever the at-fault driver paid. But as of July 1, 2023, that changed. Under Virginia Code § 38.2-2206, UIM coverage now “stacks” on top of the at-fault driver’s insurance.
Example under the new law:
- At-fault driver has $50,000 in liability insurance
- You have $100,000 in UIM coverage
- You now recover $150,000 total — not just the difference
This change ensures you get the full value of the UIM coverage you’ve paid for.
Learn more here: Understanding Underinsured Motorist Coverage in Virginia
Why This Matters for Virginia Injury Victims
These two changes work hand-in-hand to give injured drivers much greater financial protection:
- More baseline coverage: Everyone now has at least $50,000 available
- Stronger UIM rights: You get to keep every dollar of your UIM policy
Together, this could mean tens or hundreds of thousands more in compensation for your injuries.
What Should You Do Now?
- Review your current auto insurance policy. Make sure your UIM limits are high enough.
- Don’t waive UIM stacking. Insurers may offer you the option to reduce your UIM limits—but don’t do it.
- Call a trusted Virginia car accident lawyer if you’ve been hurt in a crash and want to know what coverage applies.
Get Help After a Crash
At Frogale Law, we know the details of these new laws and how to use them to maximize your recovery. If you’ve been injured in a car crash anywhere in Northern Virginia, we’re here to help.
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