Editorial Standards & Rate Methodology

Our Editorial Mission

804Insurance is Virginia's hyper-local auto insurance comparison platform. Our editorial team is committed to providing Virginia drivers with accurate, up-to-date rate data and unbiased guidance. We are Virginia auto insurance comparison specialists, not licensed insurance agents — we help you compare options but do not sell policies directly.

Rate Data Methodology

Standard Driver Profile

Unless otherwise noted, all average rate figures shown on 804Insurance are based on the following standard driver profile:

• Age: 35 years old
• Driving record: Clean — no accidents, violations, or DUIs in the past 5 years
• Vehicle: 2022 mid-size sedan (e.g., Toyota Camry)
• Deductible: $500 for collision and comprehensive
• Credit score: Good (700–750 range)
• Annual mileage: ~12,000 miles

Individual rates will vary based on your specific profile. Always get a personalized quote to determine your actual rate.

Data Sources

Rate data on 804Insurance is derived from:

• Carrier rate filings submitted to the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC)
• Virginia DMV data on statewide accident and claim statistics
• NAIC (National Association of Insurance Commissioners) market share and rate data
• Insurance Research Council (IRC) for uninsured motorist statistics
• J.D. Power Auto Insurance Studies for customer satisfaction ratings
• Proprietary quote data from our carrier network

Update Frequency

Rate data is reviewed and updated at minimum every 6 months. Each page displays a "Rates last updated" date indicating the most recent data refresh. Rate snapshots are stored in our database and updated monthly using our rate refresh process.

Geographic Accuracy

City-level rates represent averages across the metropolitan area. ZIP-code-level rates reflect available data for that specific postal code and may be based on the broader regional average where granular data is limited. Northern Virginia, Richmond Metro, Hampton Roads, and other regions are analyzed separately to reflect meaningful geographic differences.

Content Standards

Virginia-Specific Focus

All content on 804Insurance references Virginia-specific facts and requirements, including:

• Virginia minimum coverage limits: $30,000/$60,000 bodily injury + $20,000 property damage (effective January 1, 2025 — source: Virginia DMV)
• Virginia's mandatory uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage requirement at the same limits as liability
• Virginia's ~11% uninsured motorist rate (Insurance Research Council 2023)
• Virginia-specific carrier availability and rate data

Primary Source Citation

We cite primary sources throughout our content, including the Virginia DMV (dmv.virginia.gov), NAIC data, Insurance Research Council reports, and J.D. Power studies. We distinguish between our own rate calculations and data sourced from third parties.

Reading Level

All content targets a Grade 8–10 reading level (Flesch-Kincaid). We use plain language, short paragraphs, and headers that match search intent. We avoid filler phrases and jargon.

Author Credentials

Content is written and reviewed by the 804Insurance Editorial Team, which specializes in Virginia auto insurance comparison. Our team reviews all rate data before publication and applies the methodology described on this page.

Advertising and Independence

804Insurance earns referral fees when drivers connect with insurance carriers through our platform. This compensation does not influence our rate comparisons, carrier rankings, or editorial content. We present all carrier rates objectively, including carriers that pay us lower referral fees, to ensure our comparison remains useful and unbiased.

Corrections Policy

We correct errors promptly. If you find a factual error in our rate data or content, please contact our editorial team. Corrections are noted with an updated "Rates last updated" or "Corrected" date on the affected page.