Cheapest Auto Insurance in Richmond, Virginia (2025)

The overall average cost of car insurance in Richmond is $182 per month, which is higher than the state average of $146 per month. Rates may be higher because of Richmond’s location near the coast and status as Virginia’s capital.

But your rates may vary depending on your age, driving history, and other factors. And you can compare quotes to find affordable coverage in the city. Here’s what you need to know before shopping for car insurance.

3 of the cheapest car insurance companies in Richmond

Narrowing down the best auto insurance company for you will depend heavily on your personal preferences and what’s important to you. The quotes you receive will be affected by your age, driving history, level of coverage, and more.

Here’s an in-depth look at some of the cheapest insurance options based on different situations and needs, such as liability-only coverage, an accident on record, and young drivers.

Best insurer for liability coverage: Auto-Owners

Best insurer for drivers with a speeding ticket: GEICO

Best insurer for teen drivers: State Farm

How to get the cheapest car insurance in Richmond

Finding the cheapest car insurance in Richmond depends on factors including your age, ZIP code, driving history, and desired level of coverage. While some of these factors are outside of your control, you can still do a few specific things to lower your insurance costs, including:

• Avoid violations. Practice safe driving habits so you can avoid violations like speeding tickets and other infractions. In doing so, you’ll maintain a clean driving record.

• Improve your credit. Car insurance companies can consider your credit history to predict how likely you are to file a claim, so it’s important to maintain good credit to keep your rates lower.

• Ask about discounts. Insurers offer several discounts, from bundling coverage and multi-policy discounts to having a vehicle with certain anti-theft protection or driving safely. Be sure to ask about which discounts you may qualify for.

• Shop around and compare quotes. Shop around and compare quotes from at least three different insurers to make sure you’re getting the best price.

Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Richmond: Auto-Owners

If you’re at fault for an accident, liability-only car insurance covers damage to the other person’s vehicle and their medical expenses. In Richmond, drivers pay an average of $146 per month for liability coverage.

If you drive an older car or a car that’s already been paid off, liability-only car insurance may be an option for you. Here are some of the cheapest liability-only car insurance rates in Richmond.

Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Richmond: Auto-Owners

Full-coverage auto insurance includes liability, but it also includes collision insurance, which covers damage to your vehicle or your medical expenses after an accident, and comprehensive coverage, which pays for non-accident damage to your car. If you have a car loan or lease, your leasing company and lender likely already require you to carry full-coverage insurance.

Full-coverage insurance may be a good option for you if you can’t afford to pay for vehicle repairs out of pocket. In Richmond, drivers pay an average of $219 per month for full coverage. Here are some of the cheapest full-coverage car insurance rates in Richmond.

Car insurance requirements in Virginia

Most states require drivers to have minimum or liability-only insurance. The specific coverage limits required in Virginia increased on Jan. 1, 2025. The table below reflects the change in requirements:1

Virginia also requires insurers to include uninsured motorist coverage in policies, but you can opt out of this coverage by notifying the insurer in writing. These are just minimum requirements. You might consider adding these coverages to their policies for more protection:

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident

Your driving history is one of the biggest factors that affects your car insurance rates. An at-fault accident can cause your insurance rates to go up for several years, as will other infractions like speeding tickets and driving under the influence.2

In the sections that follow, you’ll see how each infraction affects your rates differently.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: Auto-Owners

If you receive a citation for speeding, it can show up on your driving record and, depending on your insurer, could increase your rates. Richmond drivers pay an overall average of $216 per month for coverage with a speeding ticket.

Here are some of the average monthly quotes from insurers in Richmond when you have a speeding ticket on your record.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: Auto-Owners

Accidents can be dangerous, scary, and costly. In addition to having to repair your car after an accident, your insurance rates will likely go up. An accident can also stay on your driving record for three to five years, creating risk for insurers, which is why they may quote you a higher price.

Richmond drivers pay an overall average of $222 per month for coverage after an at-fault accident. Here are some monthly quotes from insurers in Richmond when you have an at-fault accident on your record.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: Auto-Owners

Driving under the influence is a serious offense that stays on your driving record for 11 years in Virginia. Having a DUI on your motor vehicle record is a major red flag for insurers, and they may raise your rates significantly or refuse to renew your policy. They may even cancel your policy mid-term, depending on the severity of the DUI infraction.

Richmond drivers pay an overall average of $293 per month for coverage with a DUI conviction on their records. Here are some of the rates Richmond insurers are offering for drivers with a DUI.

Cheapest car insurance for seniors: State Farm

Generally, seniors have the cheapest car insurance rates of any age group. But rates typically rise for senior drivers around age 70 because of a heightened risk of accidents. This is, in part, due to slower reflexes but also to the increased risk of costly medical claims in the event of an accident.3

But if you’re a senior driver, you can still find cheap insurance rates if you keep a clean driving record and take advantage of discounts. Senior drivers in Richmond pay an overall average of $157 per month for car insurance.

Here are some of the best monthly insurance quotes for seniors in Richmond.

Cheapest car insurance for teens: Auto-Owners

Young drivers and teens also pay higher insurance rates than the general population. This is because insurers find that drivers younger than 25 get into more accidents and are more likely to engage in risky driving habits.4 Richmond teen drivers pay an overall average of $376 per month for car insurance.

Some insurers offer discounts for student-age drivers who earn good grades or who complete a driver safety program. Young drivers may also save by staying on their parents’ insurance. Drivers younger than 18 won't be able to buy their own policies without the written consent of a parent or guardian.

Here are the cheapest insurers for teen drivers in Richmond.

Richmond car insurance quotes by credit tier

Virginia is one of many states that allow insurers to use your credit history as a factor when calculating insurance rates. An excellent credit score is considered anything above 720, and the higher your credit, the better chances you’ll have a lower insurance rate.

But it’s important to note that a lower credit score doesn’t always guarantee you’ll have higher insurance rates. It all depends on the insurer and how it weighs other factors like your age, driving history, and location.

Here are the average monthly quotes for Richmond based on your credit tier.

Is car insurance more expensive in Richmond?

The overall average cost of car insurance in Richmond is $182 per month, which is a little higher than the average cost for the state of Virginia of $146 per month. Insurance in Richmond is much higher than in other large Virginia cities like Arlington and Alexandria.

Drivers in larger cities with more traffic may pay higher car insurance rates, especially if there are more accidents or higher vehicle repair costs.

More cities in Virginia

Here’s how average monthly car insurance quotes differ in other Virginia cities compared to Richmond.

Richmond car insurance FAQs