What Drivers Need to Know About Recent Laws in Virginia

As we move into 2026, Virginia Beach drivers face a legal landscape that has undergone a massive transformation in recent years. Over the past 24 months, the Virginia General Assembly has passed landmark safety and insurance legislation that directly impacts how car accident victims recover damages.

At our firm, we specialize in navigating these complex shifts to ensure that residents of the 757 area receive every dollar they deserve. Here is a breakdown of some critical legal updates for Virginia drivers.

Mandatory Insurance & The End of the “Uninsured Fee”

For decades, Virginia was an outlier, allowing drivers to pay a $500 “Uninsured Motorist
Fee” to the DMV instead of carrying insurance. This loophole is now completely closed.

• The New Law: Under Va. Code § 46.2-706, all vehicles registered in the Commonwealth must now be covered by a valid liability insurance policy.
• The Impact on You: This is a significant win for accident victims. Previously,being hit by a driver who paid the “fee” meant you had to rely solely on your own insurance. Now, there is a much higher probability that the at-fault driver has a policy to pay for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Record-High Insurance Minimums

To combat rising medical and vehicle repair costs, Virginia has completed its multi-year phase-in of higher insurance requirements. Every policy renewed or issued in Virginia must meet these new floors:

Virginia Mandatory Minimums
Bodily Injury (One Person) $50,000 (Up from $30k)
Bodily Injury (Total Accident) $100,000 (Up from $60k)
Property Damage $25,000 (Up from $20k)
Pro Tip: If your injury claim has a value that exceeds the coverage limit of the at-fault driver, auto insurance policies issued in Virginia now allow for the injured person to recover under the underinsured motorist coverage of his or her own policy without any offset for the amount of liability coverage for the at-fault driver, meaning the injured person’s underinsured motorist coverage is in addition to the coverage under the at-fault driver’s liability coverage, potentially significantly increasing the total compensation.

The “100 MPH” Speed-Limiter Mandate (Effective July 1, 2026)

Virginia is the first state in the nation to implement an Intelligent Speed Assistance(ISA) program.

• The Violation: Drivers convicted of “extreme reckless driving”—speeds explicitly exceeding 100 mph—may now be court-ordered to install a speed-limiting device.Tampering with or attempting to circumvent a speed-limiting device can lead to a conviction for a Class 1 misdemeanor.

“Exhibition Driving” as Reckless Driving

Virginia Beach has seen a rise in “stunt driving” and intersection takeovers. In Virginia,
Exhibition Driving is now officially classified as  Reckless Driving.

• What it covers: Burnouts, doughnuts, and high-speed “zig-zagging.”
• The Penalty: Immediate 20-day vehicle impoundment and license suspension.