Utah and Virginia Auto Insurance Coverage Comparison

Utah and Virginia have some characteristics in common when it comes to auto insurance requirements. Both states require registered vehicles to carry third party liability coverage, but Utah operates under a no-fault system and Virginia is a tort state for car insurance.

Utah Auto Insurance Coverage Requirements

Under Utah state law, drivers must have at least the following level of liability coverage in place:

• Bodily injury coverage of $25,000 to pay for personal injuries or the death of one person in an accident
• $65,000 in bodily injury protection to compensate all victims of the same accident
• Property damage liability coverage of $15,000 to pay for repairs to the other driver’s vehicle and any public property damaged in the accident
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage of $3,000

PIP insurance is used to pay for personal injury claims made by the policyholder and the occupants of his or her vehicle under the no-fault provisions of the policy.

Virginia Auto Insurance Minimum Requirements

Virginia drivers are also required to have at least a minimum level of auto insurance coverage in place.

• Bodily injury liability coverage of $25,000 to compensate a single accident victim
• $50,000 in bodily injury protection to pay for personal injuries and funeral expenses for two or more people injured in the same occurrence
• Property damage liability coverage of $20,000 to cover damage to fences, sheds, buildings, sign posts and the other driver’s vehicle

Accident victims in VA have the right to sue to collect damages from the at-fault driver in an accident. In Utah, claims for compensation are made to the policyholder’s own insurance provider.

How to Get Low Auto Insurance Rates in Utah

Drivers who want to get low auto insurance rates in Utah need to be prepared to get quotes from a number of providers before making a buying decision. Each company offering coverage in the state sets its own rates for coverage independently and coverage rates will vary, depending on the provider. Spending some time shopping around for coverage will help consumers find the protection they need at an affordable price.

One thing that all Utah drivers can do to keep their insurance costs down is to maintain a clean driving record. Insurance companies offer their best rates to customers who are accident and moving violation-free.  A driver who has been involved in an accident within the past few years will probably be charged higher rates for coverage. Staying accident-free for a few years means that rates should start to come down.

Drivers who are interested in getting low auto insurance rates in Utah can consider increasing the policy deductible. When a policyholder agrees to pay more toward the cost of settling a claim personally, the insurance company is taking on less risk to insure that person and can offer lower premium rates as a result.

Consumers should also ask whether they qualify for one or more discounts offered by insurance providers. Policyholders can get price breaks for buying more than one policy (home and auto), insuring more than one vehicle or driving one equipped with an anti-theft or a safety device.