Virginia seat belt laws require the driver and front-seat passengers to be belted. Children under 18 must be belted, and drivers are responsible for passengers.

Written by Bonnie Stinson

Reviewed by Kathleen Flear

Updated on Mar 23, 2023

Table of Contents

What are they?
Noncompliance
Cheap insurance

Seat belt laws in Virginia dictate that all front seat passengers must be belted. All passengers under the age of 18 must wear a seat belt, no matter where in the vehicle they are seated. Adult passengers are not required to wear a seat belt in the back seat.

Studies show that people are far more likely to be injured or die in a car crash if they are not wearing a seat belt. Keep safe and buckle up!

The

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has compiled everything you need to know about Virginia seat belt laws so you can avoid fines. Then stick around to learn how to find cheap

car insurance in Virginia

to protect you and your vehicle.

What are the seat belt laws in Virginia?

Virginia seat belt laws say that all passengers under 18 must wear a seat belt. Adult passengers are legally allowed to ride unbelted in the back seat, although studies show that wearing a seat belt is safer than not wearing one.

Drivers and front seat passengers must wear a seat belt in Virginia. In this state, drivers are responsible for ensuring that all their passengers adhere to seat belt laws.

Key Takeaway Anyone in the front seat must wear a seat belt in Virginia, and passengers under 18 must wear seat belts in the back seat.

MORE:

Virginia car seat law

What happens if you break the seat belt laws in Virginia?

You can be pulled over and ticketed if a child is not wearing their seat belt in Virginia, as it’s a primary offense. Breaking the adult seat belt law is considered a secondary offense, so you can only be charged if you are pulled over for another reason.

You will be charged $25 (no additional court fees) for an adult violation. The fine for a youth violation—which the driver must pay—is between $25 and $50. This is a nonmoving violation so you won’t get any

driver's license points

added to your record.

Key Takeaway You may pay a fine between $25 and $50 for breaking the seat belt laws in Virginia.

Could it impact my driving record?

It’s unlikely. In Virginia, breaking the seat belt laws is a nonmoving violation and you won’t receive any points on your driving record. It will show up on your driver abstract, but this shouldn’t have serious consequences.

MORE:

Tips to get a clean driving record

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Could it impact my insurance?

Possibly. However, seat belt tickets don’t affect your insurance in most states.

However, multiple offenses and your credit score can affect your insurance rates. As long as you pay your fines promptly and don’t rack up a ton of seat belt violations, your premium should stay more or less the same.

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Car insurance scams to watch out for

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