Drivers say ‘it’s about time’ as July 1 crackdown stops offenders from ‘buying their way out’ – proof you now need

LAWMAKERS have cracked down on car owners as uninsured drivers are no longer allowed on highways as of the beginning of the week.

The new Virginia regulation went into effect on Monday, July 1.

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The bill meant to ensure all drivers on Virginia roads are riding in insured vehicles was signed into law last year.

The road law sees that residents are no longer allowed to pay a fee to get around driving without car insurance.

Before the crackdown, Virginians could register as uninsured drivers by paying an annual $500 fee to the Department of Motor Vehicles, local NBC affiliate WWBT reported.

Now, that isn’t an option for local drivers at all.

The news network shared an article about the new law on Facebook to inform the community of the change.

Some residents responded to the social media post with relief.

A user said: “About Time!!!”

“I mean really why would anyone drive without car insurance in the first place,” another person added.

“Will this make the insurance go down for all of the people that have had insurance,” someone asked in the comments.

“Since there will be (theorectically), no more uninsured motorist.”

Virginia drivers must have car insurance if they want to keep their license.

“When it comes to a lot of the stuff that we hear, most of the time it’s oh so expensive, we can’t afford it,” founder & CEO of Mega Insurance Center Tom Brown said on why people don’t get insurance.

The DMV estimated that about 6,000 drivers will have to show proof of insurance now and can risk having their licenses suspended if not.

“It takes a lot of movement to move the needle on the overall premium costs to drivers in Virginia, but overall, I think it’s the right move to make,” Brown said.

“And maybe down the line, it will influence rates in a better direction if we have people being a little bit more responsible about maintaining insurance coverage.”

Drivers used to use the loophole that the new law closes to avoid the cost of vehicle insurance, Brown admitted.

He noted that the new law has gone into effect as auto insurance rates have been on the rise.

“A vehicle that used to cost you $20,000 to fix or replace is now double that,” Brown explained.

“So when insurance carriers are faced with fixing vehicles that are now twice as expensive as they were several years before, they then start running large losses,

“There’s been a lot of unprofitability to the insurance business in general over the last several years.”

For those who may feel blindsided by the new law, he also offered advice to drivers on how to keep insurance costs low.

“Watching your driving record and driving safely is one key factor to maintaining low insurance rates,” Brown stressed.

“And also purchasing vehicles that are not high-profile, super expensive vehicles. Those are two ways you can maintain lower rates.”

Despite insurance premiums rising because of inflation, lawmakers believe if all drivers on the road have insured cars, it will bring down the monthly costs as a result.

“It takes a lot of movement to move the needle on the overall premium costs to drivers in Virginia,” Brown said.

“I think it’s the right move to make, and maybe down the line, it will influence rates in a better direction if we have people being a little bit more responsible about maintaining insurance coverage.”