InSure

The City of Chesapeake is one of the largest cities in the U.S. by landmass, spanning 341 miles of farmland and boasting parts of the Great Dismal Swamp. Once home to the Chesapeake Indians, the southeastern Virginia city stretches along the Elizabeth River and extends southward from Hampton Roads to the North Carolina border.

Chesapeake’s revenue comes from its port facilities, produce from farming, and manufactured products. Its status as a major oil storage center brings in additional revenue.

In the early 1630s, colonists settled in Chesapeake, and it was later a major battleground in the Revolutionary and Civil wars. Urban development started in the early 1900s and eventually led to the creation of public schools, post offices, waterworks, roads, and rail lines. As trains and cars improved local transportation and let people travel farther, the economy grew.

With more cars on the road, people saw a need to buy car insurance to protect themselves from the costs of damages from accidents. Nowadays, with so many options available and ways to research them, it can be hard to find the right car insurance for your needs.

This complete guide to auto insurance in Chesapeake will inform you about average costs, how insurers set rates, and everything else related to the topic.

Are you ready to roll? To start comparing rates, enter your zip code for a FREE quote.

The Cost of Car Insurance in Chesapeake

Annual car insurance premiums in Chesapeake average $2,093.54 and are in the middle statewide — neither too high nor too low. If you can’t afford it, however, you may struggle to find ways to save.

You might find yourself asking how does my Chesapeake, VA stack up against other top metro auto insurance rates? We’ve got your answer below.

We’ll help get you covered. In this section, we’ll explore the many common factors companies use to set their rates to help you find ways to pay less for your insurance. We’ll go over how your age, gender, credit history, coverage level, and more affect your costs.

By the end, you should have a good grasp of what it takes to get the right coverage for your needs at an affordable price.

Male vs. Female vs. Age

Data USA reports that the median age in Chesapeake is 37, which means that many drivers there have logged several hours on the road and get lower car insurance rates. Generally speaking, new and younger drivers in Chesapeake pay more than those with more experience behind the wheel.

These states no longer using gender to calculate your auto insurance rates — Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. But age is still a significant factor because young drivers are often considered high-risk. Virgina does use gender, so check out the average monthly auto insurance rates by age and gender in Chesapeake, VA.

Chesapeake, VA auto insurance rates by company and age is an essential comparison because the top auto insurance company for one age group may not be the best company for another age group.

Here’s how car insurance rates compare among different age groups in Chesapeake:

Like the nationwide average, drivers age 60 in Chesapeake save more on car insurance than their younger counterparts. Now, let’s see how rates change between the genders.

As expected, females pay less for car insurance than males, yet in the end, the difference amounts to a little over $100. This form of gender bias is legal in the Old Dominion State.

Below, we’ll compare how age, gender, and marital status influence rates.

Insurers charge 17-year-olds more than the annual state average for car insurance premiums, though they may pay less under their parents’ policies

Cheapest ZIP Codes in Chesapeake

You may wonder if your car insurance rates will increase if you move elsewhere in Chesapeake. Let’s see how much car insurance prices can change among the different ZIP codes in the city. Insurers tend to evaluate a location based on crime rates, weather conditions, and the number of fraud claims filed in an area.

Check out the monthly Chesapeake, VA auto insurance rates by ZIP Code below:

What a difference a digit makes — drivers in 23324 pay $62 more on average than those in nearby 23325. How does your neighborhood compare?

What’s the best car insurance company in Chesapeake?

Everyone has their own definition of the “best” company. Does your choice come down to cost, customer service, coverage options, or all three?

Keep reading to find out more risk factors insurers use to determine their rates.

Cheapest Car Insurance Rates by Company

Which Chesapeake, VA auto insurance company has the cheapest rates? And how do those rates compare against the average Virginia auto insurance company rates? We’ve got the answers below.

If price is a priority in your car insurance budget, you’ll generally want to get the cheapest rates. Here’s how prices vary among the top insurers in Chesapeake.

USAA and State Farm charge the lowest rates, while Geico and Allstate have the highest priced premiums.

Best Car Insurance for Commute Rates

How far you drive regularly also affects your car insurance budget. Virginians drive an average of 14,038 miles yearly, which is a fact insurers keep in mind when they assess risk in mileages and drive time.

Nationwide and Progressive don’t change their rates for 10- versus 25-mile commutes. Among those who do, Allstate charged the highest price difference between those commute distances, at over $200.

Best Car Insurance for Coverage Level Rates

The coverage you buy, whether it’s a liability, collision, comprehensive, or full premium, will change your rates accordingly. Here’s how prices vary with low, middle, and high coverage in Chesapeake.

Your coverage level will play a major role in your Chesapeake auto insurance rates. Find the cheapest Chesapeake, VA auto insurance rates by coverage level below:

With most of the insurers listed, the price differences between the lowest and highest coverage levels average between $100 and $200, which means that for a few dollars more per month, you can get a full coverage premium.

Best Car Insurance for Credit History Rates

Your credit score has an impact on your car insurance rates, too. Generally, drivers with poor credit pay more than those with solid credit histories. Here’s how Chesapeake’s car insurance rates change with different credit levels.

Your credit score will play a major role in your Chesapeake auto insurance rates unless you live in these states where discrimination based on credit is not allowed: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and North Carolina. Find the cheapest Chesapeake, VA auto insurance rates by credit score below.

Credit history is a major factor for some, but not all insurers. With Nationwide, the price difference from poor to good credit is just over $400.

Best Car Insurance for Driving Record Rates

If you’ve kept your driving record clean, your rates are lower than those for drivers who’ve received several tickets. Let’s see how car insurance rates change with different driving infractions in Chesapeake.

Your driving record will play a major role in your Chesapeake auto insurance rates. For example, other factors aside, a Chesapeake, VA DUI may increase your auto insurance rates 40 to 50 percent. Find the cheapest Chesapeake, VA auto insurance rates by driving record.

As shown, Geico doesn’t raise rates for one speeding ticket. But with other insurers, such as Allstate, a speeding offense can raise your rates by several hundred dollars.

Car Insurance Factors in Chesapeake

The above factors aren’t the only risks insurers take into account. Below, we’ll cover the bigger picture — from how the overall economy in Chesapeake affects car insurance rates — to the smaller scale, including your occupation and your education level.

Factors affecting auto insurance rates in Chesapeake, VA may include your commute, coverage level, tickets, DUIs, and credit. Controlling these factors will help you maintain cheap Chesapeake, Virginia auto insurance.

Metro Report – Growth & Prosperity

The Brookings Institution’s Metro Monitor shows that the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News area ranks 63rd out of 100 cities nationwide for economic growth and 53rd out of 100 for prosperity.

The economy there is strong, but on average, productivity, wages, and the standard of living rank below the national average, which means that prosperity there is stagnant.

Let’s look more closely at the statistics:

Prosperity

Prosperity captures changes in the average wealth and income an economy produces. When worker productivity contributes to a metropolitan area’s growth, through innovation or training, for example, the value of those workers’ labor rises.

This is how the area grew from 2007 to 2017:

• Productivity: +1.1 percent (44th out of 100)
• Standard of living: +1.7 percent (40th out of 100)
• Average annual wage: +0.3 percent (83rd out of 100)

Productivity and the standard of living in the area are strong, a cut above the middle of the pack. The average annual wage, however, showed slower growth.

Growth

Growth indicators measure the change in the size of an urban area’s economy and its level of entrepreneurial activity. Growth and entrepreneurship create new opportunities for individuals and can help a metro economy become more efficient.

These figures measure growth in the gross metropolitan product, the number of jobs, and the number of positions at young firms.

Here’s how the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News area grew from 2007 to 2017:

• Jobs: +0.8 percent (77th out of 100)
• Gross metropolitan product (GMP): +1.9 percent (60th out of 100)
• Jobs at young firms: +4.7 percent (35th out of 100)

Jobs at newer firms experienced the greatest growth increase, at nearly 5 percent. Gross metropolitan product (GMP), a measure of the financial value of all final goods and services produced during the decade, also yielded solid results.

Median Household Income

According to Data USA, in 2017, households in Chesapeake had a median annual income of $72,214, which is higher than the U.S. annual median income of $60,336. The median income in Chesapeake increased 3.2 percent from $69,978 in 2016.

What does this mean for your car insurance premiums? Based on the 2017 annual median income and the average yearly cost of auto insurance premiums in Chesapeake, $2,093.54, about 3 percent of residents’ incomes go to car insurance.

How much of your earnings go to car insurance? Find out with our free calculator below.

CalculatorPro

Homeownership in Chesapeake

Homeownership shows that a driver may be more reliable and able to pay car insurance premiums. If you own a home, you may pay less for car insurance than if you rent. To save more, homeowners can also bundle their car and home insurance.

Data USA numbers show that in 2017, 71 percent of housing units in Chesapeake were owner-occupied, which was up 0.8 percentage points from 2016.

This percentage of owner-occupation is higher than the national average of 64 percent.

Likewise, in 2017, the median property value in Chesapeake grew to $260,900 from the previous year’s value of $256,500. In Chesapeake, most homes have a property value in the $300,000-$400,000 range.

Education in Chesapeake

Data USA education statistics reveal that in 2016, Chesapeake universities awarded 617 degrees. The largest universities by the number of degrees awarded are Everest College-Chesapeake (203 and 33 percent), Centura College-Chesapeake (154 and 25 percent), and Sentara College of Health Sciences (140 and 23 percent).

The most popular majors in Chesapeake are Registered Nursing (131 and 21 percent), Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology (103 and 17 percent), and Medical Assistant (58 and 9 percent).

Community colleges, which offer several degrees and certificates in a broad range of fields, are also a lower-cost alternative to traditional schools. Tidewater Community College has a campus in Chesapeake. The school offers several degrees and certificates in fields popular in Chesapeake.

Wage by Race & Ethnicity in Common Jobs

Data USA figures show that in 2017, the highest paid race/ethnicity of Virginia workers was Asian. They earned 1.13 times more money than white workers, the second-highest salary of any race/ethnicity.

The table below highlights the top three highest-paid races/ethnicities in Virginia and how much of their incomes go to car insurance based on the cost of an average annual premium there.

As shown, the amount of a worker’s income that pays for car insurance decreases when their wages increase. Overall, the top three races/ethnicities paid 3-4 percent of their incomes to car insurance.

Keep in mind that the cost of the premium listed is an average and might not reflect your own experience.

Wage by Gender in Common Jobs

Data USA has found that there are great differences in how much males and females in Chesapeake earn annually. In 2017, full-time male employees in Virginia made 1.34 times more than female employees.

Male workers earn an average of $74,183 there, while females made $55,180 yearly. Based on the average annual cost of car insurance premiums in Chesapeake, $2093.54, nearly 3 percent of male incomes and about 4 percent of female earnings pay for car insurance.

Poverty by Age & Gender

Data USA stats show that 10 percent of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Chesapeake lives below the poverty line, which is lower than the national average (13 percent). The largest demographic living in poverty are females 25-34, followed by females 18-24 and then females 6-11.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family’s total income falls below the family threshold, the Census Bureau classifies that family and every family member as living in poverty.

Poverty by Race & Ethnicity

According to Data USA, the most common racial or ethnic group that lives below the poverty line in Chesapeake is African-American, followed by White and Hispanic.

Employment by Occupations

Data USA reveals that the most common employment fields for Chesapeake residents are Health Care & Social Assistance (14,527 people), Retail Trade (12,044 people), and Educational Services (10,425 people).

Driving in Chesapeake

While you coast through Chesapeake, you may fear several road hazards will get in your way. Accidents, road and weather conditions, and congestion are among the hurdles many drivers face regularly.

To help you steer clear of them, in this section, we’ll check out Chesapeake’s major highways, pavement conditions, popular road trips, and traffic laws.

Read on to learn more about the hazards of Chesapeake roadways.

Roads in Chesapeake

First, let’s find out about major highways in Chesapeake and toll roads along the way.

Major Highways in Chesapeake

Virginia has 16 different active highways that stretch over 1,117 miles. This map shows the highways that run through Chesapeake.

U.S. Highways 13, 17, 58, and 460 span Chesapeake. Interstate 64, part of the Hampton Roads Beltway, starts in the city. Interstate 464 connects with downtown Norfolk and Portsmouth at the Berkley Bridge, and Interstate 664 completes the Interstate loop from western Chesapeake through Newport News and Hampton.

U.S. Route 58 connects Chesapeake to the principle North/South highways on the East Coast, I-95 and I-85, while U.S. Route 13 leads to Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

The Chesapeake Expressway (Route 168), a 16-mile, four-lane divided highway, links I-64 to North Carolina and the Outer Banks. State Route 168 is also a major highway in the area and includes the Chesapeake Expressway toll road. The regular toll rate for a two-axle vehicle is $3.

For your convenience, you can pay the Chesapeake Expressway toll with cash or an electronic E-ZPass transponder. Only vehicles with an E-ZPass transponder can use the Express Lane on the far left lane that doesn’t require stopping. The Chesapeake Expressway doesn’t bill by plate.

The BigRigTravels video below shows Interstate 64 leading to West Virginia’s Interstate 77 in real-time:

Popular Road Trips/Sites

Whether you’re a visitor or a long-time resident, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Chesapeake.

Among the attractions are Antique Alley, a collection of family-run shops that sell treasures of yesteryear at the junction of Military Highway and Canal Drive.

Some of the best Mexican food in the area is said to be available at Burrito Perdido on Cedar Road, near a gas station market. With locally and sustainably sourced ingredients, large portions, vegetarian options, and lighter fare, this restaurant that “doesn’t own a can opener” offers plenty of menu items for lovers of Mexican food.

The city also hosts 22 miles of inland waterways, including the Dismal Swamp Canal, where legend has it that Edgar Allan Poe wrote parts of his famous poem, “The Raven.”

If you’re looking for more fun for the whole family, several options are available in the area, including Chesapeake City Park, the local planetarium, and the arboretum.

This local video features even more ideas for places to visit:

Road Conditions in Chesapeake

Below are pavement conditions and vehicle operating costs in Chesapeake from TRIP, a national transportation research group:

As shown above, nearly a third of the roads in Chesapeake are in poor and mediocre condition.

Does Chesapeake use speeding or red-light cameras?

Chesapeake doesn’t use speeding cameras, however, the city does allow red-light cameras. They have authorized monitoring of 21 intersections based on the following criteria under their PHOTOSafe Red-Light Enforcement program:

1. The accident rate for the intersection
2. The rate of red-light violations occurring at the intersection
3. The difficulty law enforcement officers experience in patrol cars or on foot in apprehending violators
4. The ability of law enforcement officers to apprehend violators safely within a reasonable distance from the violation
5. Pedestrian safety concerns

The city designed the PHOTOSafe program to capture evidence of drivers who violate the red-light law to reduce the number of offenses. Photo enforced signs are located within 500 feet of the intersection to remind drivers to comply with the traffic signal.

The enforcement cameras are only active during the red cycle of the traffic light, and capture vehicles that enter an intersection after the light has turned red for half a second.

The camera system is wired to the traffic lights and to sensors buried in the lanes of the roadway surface. Vehicles that cross the sensors after the light has turned red activate the system, which photographs them three times, and a 12-second video of the violation captures the vehicle in motion.

The first photo is taken at the stop bar as evidence that the light was red before the vehicle entered the intersection; the second photo shows the vehicle’s license plate for identification purposes. The third photo is taken as evidence that the vehicle passed through the intersection while the light was still red.

he photographs of the violation provide enough proof for the police department to give the vehicle owner a civil penalty.

Vehicles in Chesapeake

Below, we’ll cover the most popular cars owned in the area, car ownership, and crime rates (including vehicle thefts).

Most Popular Vehicles Owned

YourMechanic tracks the types of cars it services nationwide and breaks down the information by each major city to show Americans’ car preferences.

According to their survey, 52 percent of the cars they repair in Virginia Beach are American-made. The most popular make and model is the Ford Explorer.

In Consumer Reports’ tests, the vehicle uses gas at a rate of 18 miles per gallon. It received “poor” and “marginal” ratings in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) driver and passenger-side frontal-crash tests but got four- and five-star ratings in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tests.

This MotorWeek video reviews the 2020 model:

How Many Cars Per Household

Data USA reports that Chesapeake households own an average of two cars, followed by three cars, which matches the national average.

Households Without a Car

The table below reveals how many Chesapeake households on average own and don’t own cars.

From 2015 to 2016, the number of households without vehicles dropped by one-tenth of a percentage point.

Speed Traps in Chesapeake

Speedtrap.org keeps track of speed traps all across the U.S., as ranked by its users. Among the Chesapeake roads visitors have debated are truly speed traps, the following locations received the most votes:

• Route 17 between Deep Creek and the North Caroline state line
• Route 13/460 S Military highway
• Bypass Route 168 toll road
• I-64 between Battlefield Boulevard and I-264
• George Washington Highway South & U.S. Highway 17
• 168 bypass near about 1/2 mile north
• Volvo Parkway near Kempsville Road

Whether you’re in those areas or not, it makes sense to follow speed limits to avoid worrying about speed traps and potential penalties. And, best of all, you’ll help keep yourself and others safe.

Vehicle Theft in Chesapeake

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reports that in 2017, 250 vehicle thefts occurred in Chesapeake.

Neighborhood Scout also tracks crime statistics for U.S. cities. Below is their map of the safest neighborhoods in Chesapeake. Centerville Turnpike South / Battlefield Boulevard South topped the list.

The site gives the city a Crime Index of 21, which means it’s 21 percent safer than other U.S. cities. Overall, your chances of becoming a victim of violent crime in Chesapeake are one in 238. Statewide, your odds decrease to one in 480.

For a closer look at the crimes that occur there, below is a chart showing figures from 2017:

Most of the crime that occurred in Chesapeake was property theft, which includes vehicles and was five times the rate of violent crimes. The property theft rate per 1,000 people was 23.

The news report below details a recent vehicle theft that occurred in the area:

Traffic in Chesapeake

Car insurance companies also look at traffic patterns in an area to see how congested they are — the more cars on the road, the more likely accidents will happen.

Here we’ll cover traffic congestion in Chesapeake, the busiest highways, and the safety of its streets and roads.

Traffic Congestion

According to Inrix, in 2018, the nearest major city to Chesapeake, Norfolk, ranked 189th worldwide for its levels of traffic congestion. It ranked 43rd in the U.S. The chart below reveals more about how the city scored in its rankings.

As shown, Norfolk drivers lost 56 hours in traffic jams that year, which cost each driver $781 in related expenses (gasoline, car repairs, etc.).

During peak traffic in the morning and evening, drivers’ average speed was 30 miles per hour. Outside of “rush hour” commute times, the speed increased to 41 mph, and in free-flowing traffic, it rose to 44 mph.

Your mileage may vary in Chesapeake, but if you travel to Norfolk, keep in mind that you might face delays, especially during peak commute times.

Transportation

Data USA transportation statistics show that on average, Chesapeake commuters have a slightly shorter commute time (24.9 minutes) than those nationwide (25.1 minutes). Further, 1 percent of the Chesapeake workforce faces “super commutes” of 90 minutes or more.

Regarding commute methods, the most common form of travel for Chesapeake residents was driving alone, at 86 percent, followed by those who carpooled, at 8 percent.

Busiest Highways

Some of the busiest roads where the most car crashes occur in the Chesapeake area are Interstate 264 (I-264), I-464, I-64, U.S. Route 17, Route 460, and Route 168.

How safe are Chesapeake streets & roads?

In this section, you’ll find out how many fatal accidents happened on Chesapeake roads in 2017, courtesy of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). We’ll cover everything from the total fatalities of each county to vehicle and railroad accidents.

Chesapeake City considers itself a city independent from a county. These were the number of fatal accidents that occurred there in 2018 alone:

• Fatalities (All Crashes) = 20 total
• Fatalities in Crashes Involving an Alcohol-Impaired Driver (BAC = .08+) = 7
• Single Vehicle Crash Fatalities = 14
• Fatalities in Crashes Involving Speeding = 8
• Fatalities in Crashes Involving a Roadway Departure = 13
• Fatalities in Crashes Involving an Intersection (or Intersection Related) = 4
• Passenger Car Occupant Fatalities = 7
• Pedestrian Fatalities = 5
• Pedal cyclist Fatalities = 0

Most of the crashes involved single vehicles and roadway departures. Notably, there weren’t any car/bicycle accidents.

Further, these figures show the fatalities by state road type in Virginia.

Most of the crashes occurred on arterial roads. An arterial road is a high-capacity urban road. Depending on the amount of traffic, the arterial road may be classified as a highway or a minor arterial road. A collector road gathers traffic from local roads and takes drivers to arterial roads.

Per the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), these are statistics on the railroad and highway crash incidents in the Chesapeake area from 2012 to 2016:

Drivers should be especially careful around Turner Lane, where three car/train incidents occurred.

These statistics emphasize why it’s essential to drive safely at all times. Violations can increase your insurance rates, and even worse, lead to deaths.

Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report

Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report tracks the numbers of accident claims drivers make nationwide. According to Allstate claims data, the average driver in the U.S will experience a collision once every 10.57 years.

In 2019, Chesapeake ranked 46th out of 200 major cities on the report, down one spot from the prior year. The chart below shows residents’ insurance claim statistics.

Chesapeake drivers went an average of 10 years between accident claims, and they were 12 percent more likely to file a claim compared to the national average. Compared to other cities nationwide, drivers there file claims less often, and that shows in the city’s ranking on the report.

Ridesharing

Below are the ridesharing services available in Chesapeake beyond regular taxi rides.

• Blacklane – Blacklane luxury vehicles seat one to five people.
• Lyft – This lowest cost Lyft service will grant you a request for a regular four-seat car.
• Lyft Plus – This is the best Lyft option for larger groups. A Lyft Plus car can seat six or more passengers. Fare prices tend to run higher than a regular Lyft ride to compensate van and SUV drivers for their higher vehicle running costs.
• Lyft Premier – Lyft’s luxury service. A request for a Lyft Premier will grant you a high-end four-seat car.
• Uber X – This budget service gives riders a regular-size car that seats four.
• Uber XL – Uber’s service for larger groups will seat up to six passengers.

E-star Repair Shops

A program from Esurance, E-star helps drivers find the best repair shops in their areas. According to E-star, these are the top five repair shops in and around Chesapeake:

RICK HENDRICK COLLISION CHESAPEAKE
956 PROVIDENCE ROAD
CHESAPEAKE, VA 23325
email: [email protected]
P: (757) 955-2700
F: (757) 955-2710

RICK HENDRICK CHEVROLET NORFOLK COLLISION
6252 VIRGINIA BEACH BLVD.
NORFOLK, VA 23502
email: [email protected]
P: (757) 455-4500
F: (757) 455-4499

HALL BODY SHOP
141 SPRUCE STREET
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23452
email: [email protected]
P: (757) 963-0900
F: (757) 963-0905

RICK HENDRICK COLLISION VIRGINIA BEACH
2700 INTERNATIONAL PKWY., STE. 50
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23452
email: [email protected]
P: (757) 431-0151
F: (757) 431-0152

RICK HENDRICK COLLISION PORTSMOUTH
3310 Airline Blvd.
PORTSMOUTH, VA 23701
email: [email protected]
P: (757) 215-2400
F: (757) 215-2411

Weather in Chesapeake

U.S. Climate Data reveals that nearby Virginia Beach’s temperatures are neither too warm nor too cold throughout the year, with average highs of 96 and lows of 52 degrees.

The Chesapeake area is subject to the following natural disasters:

• Floods
• Hurricanes
• Tornadoes
• Winter storms and extreme cold
• Thunderstorms and lightning
• Extreme heat

The city considers its biggest threat to be flooding and suggests all homeowners there buy flood insurance. Given the risks involved, it also makes sense to buy comprehensive car insurance for protection from floods, storms, and other hazards that can damage your vehicle.

Public Transit in Chesapeake

Bus and passenger rail services are available in Chesapeake.

Norfolk-Southern Corporation and CSX Corporation provide rail service connections through the Norfolk & Portsmouth Beltline.

Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) offers regional bus and light rail service (The Tide) throughout Hampton Roads.

HRT provides several ways to buy bus fares, including at retail locations in Hampton Roads. A single trip for an adult costs $2. Children age 17 and younger may ride free with an adult or with a Student Freedom Pass. Certified paratransit riders also don’t have to pay.

All HRT vehicles except light rail have electronic fare boxes. Fare boxes accept cash, coins, and GoPasses. Fare boxes and/or vehicle operators can’t make change, so please have exact fare when you board. All sales are final. HRT doesn’t offer ticket refunds.

HRT’s GoPass lets you ride all HRT vehicles as many times as you want in one day. You can buy a 1-Day GoPass or a single-trip ride when you board any HRT bus or light rail route. The GoPass365 boarding pass remains active for 365 days, and riders can use it on every mode of transit Hampton Roads offers.

Riders can also buy tickets at vending machines at HRT Transit Centers and light rail stations that accept cash, debit and credit cards at various retail outlets throughout the area.

Cost of Alternate Transportation in Chesapeake

The City of Chesapeake offers bike, canoe, paddleboat, and kayak rentals at the following rates:

• Canoes – $10/hour
• Paddleboats – $5 per ½-hour
• Kayaks – $10/hour
• Bikes – $5/hour

The city invites residents to paddle along its inland Lake Lesa or enjoy a bike ride through the forest.

Rentals must have an adult, age 18 or older, with valid driver’s license present. An adult with a valid license must be on each boat rented. Rentals are available from 9:00 a.m. until about one hour before park closing. Closing hours vary seasonally.

Parking in Chesapeake

In Chesapeake, several parking lots and garages are available, together with street-level parking.

ChargeHub lists 64 electric car charging stations within 10 miles of Chesapeake. Some of them are free. Most of them are Level 2; however, some Level 3 charging stations are also available.

Air Quality in Chesapeake

Pollution from vehicle exhaust has been linked to health issues and even climate change. The pollution not only goes directly into the earth’s atmosphere, but it also reacts with other pollutants, which make the situation worse.

Children and people with chronic illnesses can be most sensitive to the effects.

Below are the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) air quality statistics for Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News from 2016 to 2018.

As shown above, in recent years, there have been more good and moderate days and fewer unhealthy days for sensitive groups.

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requires vehicle emissions tests during inspections, but they’re mandatory only in certain cities and counties, not in Chesapeake.

Military/Veterans

Finding a military discount among the top car insurers can be tough, especially because not every company offers them. It can also be hard to determine which discounts are better than others.

Luckily for our veterans and active military, several companies provide discounts. Below, we’ve gathered information about military discounts, together with facts about when local veterans and military served and military bases nearby.

To find out all you need to know about area military and car insurance discounts, keep reading below.

Veterans by Service Period

According to Data USA, Chesapeake has a large population of military personnel who served in the most recent Gulf War — nearly two times more than any other conflict. The number of Gulf War veterans there is more than double the national average, at nearly 50 percent.

Military Bases Within an Hour

Six naval and marine military bases are within an hour away from Chesapeake.

Naval Air Station Oceana in the heart of Virginia Beach is the east coast home of the U.S. Navy’s fighter-attack jet fleet.

Five miles south of Virginia Beach, the Naval Air Station Oceana Dam Neck Annex strives to provide the most effective specialized training and support services in response to fleet requirements.

The Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek serves as the major operating base for the Amphibious Forces in the U.S. Navy’s Atlantic Fleet. It supports over 15,000 personnel of the 27 homeported ships and 78 resident and/or supported activities.

Its combination of operational, support, and training facilities primarily for amphibious operations makes the base unique among both U.S. and allied naval bases.

As the world’s largest base of its kind, the Naval Station Norfolk supports 75 ships and 134 aircraft alongside 14 piers and 11 aircraft hangars. The base houses the largest concentration of U.S. Navy forces. Air Operations conducts an average of 275 flights daily, or one every six minutes. It’s the hub for Navy logistics going to the European and Central Command operations, and to the Caribbean.

The oldest continuously running naval hospital, the Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, is where 4,300 sailors and civilians work in locations from Yorktown to Chesapeake to deliver health care to 420,000 active duty members, family members, and retirees.

Sector Hampton Roads’ mission is to provide maritime safety, mobility, and security while it offers national and homeland defense and protects natural resources. This multi-mission unit from Portsmouth, Virginia, serves the lower half of the Chesapeake Bay and nearby Atlantic Ocean waters spanning 200 nautical miles.

Military Discount by Providers

If you are or were in the U.S. military, most car insurance companies will want to give back by offering military discounts.

Below is a list of known providers who give military discounts. We excluded those who offer military discounts only to certain states.

*USAA gives a 15 percent military garage discount for garaging cars on a military base.  

USAA Available in Virginia

USAA provides car insurance only to U.S. military personnel and their families. The company’s insurance premiums tend to cost less than those of standard insurers.

Below, you will see how USAA’s and other insurers’ rates compare to the average annual full coverage premiums compare to the state average.

Not surprisingly, among the insurers listed, USAA comes out on top with the lowest rates for veterans and active members of the military.

Unique Chesapeake Laws

With the many laws on the books and more being enacted all the time, it can be hard to keep track of them and ensure that you follow the rules.

To keep you informed of some of the crucial laws in Chesapeake, here, we’ll cover everything from hands-free driving to parking regulations.

Are you ready to learn more about your local laws?

Hands-Free Laws

The City of Chesapeake doesn’t have specific hands-free or cell phone laws, but Virginia bans texting for all drivers. Virginia laws also prohibit drivers younger than 18 from using cellphones.

Drivers can’t use cellphones in highway work zones. For all violators, except those younger than 18, the laws are “primary” offenses, meaning that a law enforcement officer can give them a ticket for catching them in the act.

Food Trucks

Chesapeake city laws define a “mobile food unit” as a “restaurant that is mounted on wheels and readily moveable from place to place at all times during operation.”

New vendors must pay a license tax for operating in the area. Two years after the initial tax payment in the locality where the food truck is registered, the exemption from paying the license tax in other localities will expire.

During those two years, the owner is entitled to exempt up to three mobile food units from license taxation in other districts.

More requirements Chesapeake food truck vendors must meet are below:

• Licensing Requirements
• Valid Driver’s License
• Valid Business License
• Current License Plates
• Current Vehicle Inspection Sticker/Paperwork
• Current State Inspection
• Current Vehicle Insurance
• Chesapeake Fire Marshal Inspection Sticker
• Health Inspection

The food truck owner must also register with the commissioner of the revenue or director of finance in any locality where they operate, regardless of whether they’re exempt from paying the license tax.

Tiny Homes

Tiny homes appeal to people who want to simplify their lives. Before you abandon standard housing, you should be aware that tiny homes have specific regulations.

A tiny home is usually considered a mobile home and must follow the same laws. If you are on a plot of land, you will need access to a septic tank, water, and other utilities before you can be approved to live on the land legally.

Parking Laws

In Chesapeake, reserved parking is for people with disabilities.

Also, it’s illegal to park a vehicle opposite from the general direction of traffic upon:

• any one-way street
• any divided highway
• any highway where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or greater
• the right-of-way of any one-way street, divided highway, or highway where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or more

Chesapeake Car Insurance FAQs

You’ve gone a long way through this guide, and you may still have some questions.

Here, we’ll answer some of the most frequently asked questions about Chesapeake and your car insurance options there.

So, get ready to learn even more.

What is Chesapeake, Virginia, known for?

The central coastal Virginia city of Chesapeake is known for its natural beauty and vast historical and cultural significance.

Is Chesapeake, Virginia, a good place to live?

According to Niche, a site that ranks cities, schools, and neighborhoods based on federal government data, Chesapeake is “an average or nice place to live in” that’s “more friendly and quiet than the other areas in Virginia.” It also offers several fun and lively activities to enjoy and plenty of job opportunities for its residents.

In what county is Chesapeake, Virginia?

Chesapeake is essentially its own county. It formed as an independent city in 1963 through merging with the city of South Norfolk and Norfolk County. The county government of Chesapeake City is found in the county seat of Chesapeake.

What is the state minimum car insurance in Virginia?

The state of Virginia doesn’t require drivers to carry insurance. Uninsured drivers there must pay a $500 Uninsured Motor Vehicle (UMV) fee every year, and will still be held responsible for accidents. Drivers who don’t pay the UMV fee risk suspension of their licenses and registrations.

Those who choose to buy insurance must have bodily injury and property damage liability together with uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage in the state-required amounts.

• $25,000 for bodily injury costs per person in an accident you cause
• $50,000 to cover total bodily injury costs per accident for which you are at fault
• $20,000 for property damages in an accident you cause

Drivers must also have uninsured and underinsured coverage in unspecified amounts.

The law firm video below details Virginia’s minimum car insurance requirements:

How much is the fine for driving without insurance in Virginia?

Unless drivers have paid the UMV fee for driving uninsured, Virginia will penalize drivers who don’t carry the required minimum liability coverage. If you haven’t paid the UMV fee and don’t have the minimum liability insurance, you will receive notice of intent to suspend your car registration.

The DMV will also suspend your driver’s license and license plates. Drivers who want to reinstate their driving privileges must meet the following requirements:

• Pay fines
• File an SR-22 form
• Pay a driver’s license reinstatement fee

You must provide proof of financial responsibility any time a law enforcement officer pulls you over, whether it’s at a traffic stop or an accident scene, and when you register a vehicle. Below are acceptable forms of financial responsibility:

• Valid insurance ID card
• Proof that you paid the UMV fee

Virginia also uses an electronic verification system to check the insurance status of vehicles.

Is car insurance expensive in Chesapeake?

The table below shows how much the average Virginian pays for car insurance yearly. Virginia’s percentages are below the national average of about 2.4 percent.

Quadrant data shows that rates in Chesapeake are more or less in the middle. In other cities, such as Blacksburg and Broadway, average prices are around $1,700 to $1,800 per year, while the highest rates we’ve found in Virginia average $2,400 to $2,500 annually (Fort Belvoir, Springfield, etc.).

How was this comprehensive guide to car insurance in Chesapeake? Did you learn anything new? We hope you found everything helpful.

If you’re ready to compare rates, enter your zip code in our FREE quote tool.

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07.10.2020 / auto insurance in chesapeake va / auto insurance review