Uninsured Motorist Coverage for Seniors in Virginia
Virginia requires insurers to offer this coverage, and your age doesn't change whether you need it.
Yes, and it works the same way at any age
Virginia law requires insurers to offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage on every auto policy sold in the state. You can decline it in writing, but if you don't, it's part of your policy. Nothing about turning 65 or 70 changes that requirement or removes the coverage.
What matters for you isn't your age. It's whether you'd be able to cover your own medical bills and car repairs if the other driver had no insurance or not enough. For a lot of older drivers on a fixed income, that's a real exposure, not a theoretical one.
Your health insurance and savings, not your birth year
The reason uninsured motorist coverage matters more for some drivers than others has nothing to do with age directly. It comes down to what happens after a crash if the other driver can't pay. Medicare and supplemental plans cover some medical costs, but they don't cover your car, your lost income, or things like pain and suffering that a liability claim normally would.
If you're retired and living on a fixed income, an unexpected repair bill or medical copay can hit harder than it would for someone still earning a salary with savings to draw on. That's the practical reason to keep this coverage rather than decline it.
Check what your health plan actually covers after an accident caused by someone else. If it leaves gaps, uninsured motorist coverage is what fills them.
How much of it you carry
Virginia sets a minimum amount of uninsured motorist coverage that matches your liability limits, but you can usually buy more. This is the part people get wrong most often. They assume the state minimum is enough, then find out after a serious crash that it wasn't close."},
Think about what a serious injury claim or a totaled car would actually cost to replace or treat, not what the state requires you to carry. Ask your insurer what it would cost to raise your uninsured motorist limits to match your liability limits, since insurers often price that increase lower than people expect.
If you drive an older car with a low market value, the property damage side matters less. If you drive a newer car or have significant savings that could be at risk in a lawsuit, the bodily injury side matters more.
Questions people ask about this
Can I drop uninsured motorist coverage in Virginia to save money?
Yes, Virginia allows you to decline it in writing, but your insurer isn't required to warn you again after you do. If you drop it and you're hit by an uninsured driver, you pay those costs yourself. Ask your insurer what declining it would actually save before you decide.
Does uninsured motorist coverage pay if I'm hit as a pedestrian?
In many cases yes, since the coverage follows you as the policyholder, not just your car. Whether it applies depends on your specific policy wording and the circumstances of the accident. Ask your insurer directly whether your policy covers you as a pedestrian or passenger in another vehicle.
Will my uninsured motorist coverage go up if I file a claim?
It depends on your insurer's rules, since Virginia doesn't set a statewide answer to this. Some insurers treat an uninsured motorist claim differently from an at-fault claim because the accident wasn't your doing. Ask your agent how your specific company handles it before you file.
Do I need underinsured motorist coverage too, not just uninsured?
Most Virginia policies bundle the two together, but it's worth confirming with your insurer rather than assuming. Underinsured motorist coverage pays when the other driver has insurance but not enough to cover your costs, which happens more often than having no insurance at all.
Does my uninsured motorist coverage cover my spouse or adult children?
It often extends to household members, but who counts and under what conditions depends on your insurer and your specific policy. If an adult child lives with you or borrows your car regularly, ask your insurer directly whether they're covered under your policy or need their own.
See what it would cost to raise your uninsured motorist coverage before you decide what to carry.
Pull out your current policy and find the uninsured and underinsured motorist limits, usually listed near your liability limits on the declarations page. Call your insurer or agent and ask what it would cost to raise those limits to match your liability coverage. Ask specifically whether your policy covers you as a pedestrian and whether it extends to anyone else living in your home. If you're not sure what your health insurance would cover after a crash caused by an uninsured driver, call them this week and ask. Once you know what you're actually carrying and what it costs to improve it, you can decide if it's worth changing before your next renewal.
