Virginia Daycare Insurance

Last updated: September 14, 2026

Virginia child day centers need at least $500,000/$500,000 in public liability insurance. Family day homes follow insure-or-notify with a $100,000/$300,000 threshold to claim coverage—compare those floors with your contracts and each quote.

Virginia daycare liability: centers vs. family day homes

Licensed child day centers must carry public liability insurance for bodily injury of at least $500,000 each occurrence and $500,000 aggregate per center site. 8VAC20-780-40(H) states that floor; evidence must be available to the Department of Education on request. A public sponsor may use equivalent self-insurance; a private center should not treat that alternative as a private savings substitute.

Licensed family day homes and other home-based providers covered by the notice statute follow an insure-or-notify model, not a hard purchase mandate. Under 8VAC20-800-70(A)(5) and Code §22.1-289.050, disclose before the first day whether liability of at least $100,000 per occurrence / $300,000 aggregate is in force, and obtain parent acknowledgment. You may not claim coverage exists unless that Department minimum is met. If coverage lapses, give written parent notice within 10 business days and obtain acknowledgment; civil penalties can reach $500 per failure. Related lapse-notice text also appears in 8VAC20-800-650.

Give the insurer your exact category (center vs. family day home), operator name and licensed capacity so evidence matches licensing paperwork.

How much liability coverage should you buy above the minimum?

The center $500,000/$500,000 requirement—and the $100,000/$300,000 threshold a family day home needs before claiming coverage—are legal floors, not findings that those amounts will cover every loss. Send the provider any lease, school agreement or other contract requiring higher limits. Ask for comparable options at the regulatory floor and at higher limits, with the same covered activities and deductible, so you can see the cost difference.

Review the per-occurrence limit and any aggregate or separate abuse-related limit. Ask how defense costs affect available protection. If considering an umbrella, have the agent identify the underlying policies it requires and the childcare exposures it excludes; do not assume it fills every gap in the base policy.

Coverage to compare for a Virginia daycare or preschool

General liability, professional liability and abuse or molestation coverage answer different questions. Have the provider explain how the proposal handles a premises injury, a supervision allegation and a claim involving a staff member. Confirm that the services you offer are described and that the relevant people and locations are insured.

For a home, ask the residential insurer how business childcare affects its coverage and compare the proposed endorsement with a separate childcare policy. For a center or preschool, distinguish landlord-owned property from your furnishings, supplies and improvements. Ask which causes of loss and interruptions are covered before adding property or business-income protection.

How much does Virginia daycare insurance cost?

There is no single premium for every daycare. As a broad reference, Insureon’s national human-and-social-services customer medians are $91/month for general liability, $135 for a business owner’s policy and $99 for professional liability, checked September 14, 2026. That sample is broader than daycare; these are not state daycare averages or Simply Business prices.

Use those figures only to understand separate budget categories. A business owner’s policy can bundle liability and property, so do not add every figure as though it were a required package. Request a childcare-specific proposal using your program type, child count and ages, payroll, transportation, claims history and required limits.

Compare the total annual premium, deductible, included activities and any separate abuse-coverage limit. Ask about installment charges, endorsements and the cost of changes during the year. Two prices are comparable only after the provider explains the differences in protection.

Request quotes using your actual license category and services, including transport and off-site activities when offered.

Workers’ compensation and employee coverage in Virginia

The Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission employer guidance and Code §65.2-302 explain when coverage is required. Employers that regularly employ more than two employees generally must carry workers’ compensation; part-time and seasonal workers count, and employees of subcontractors performing the same trade, business or contract can count toward the threshold.

Give the agent your business structure, worker roles and payroll, and ask how owners are treated. Keep workers’ compensation separate from childcare liability for children or visitors.

Transport, renewals and keeping evidence aligned

If a center provides transportation, 8VAC20-780-580(B)(3) requires vehicles to carry at least the minimum limits established by Virginia statutes. Code §46.2-472(B) sets those owner-policy floors for policies effective on or after January 1, 2025 at $50,000 / $100,000 / $25,000 (bodily injury one person / two or more / property damage). A premises liability certificate does not establish vehicle coverage.

Calendar policy renewal alongside licensing paperwork. Resolve cancellation notices or a replacement policy before a lapse. Update the agent before a capacity increase, move, additional location or new transport so the policy and evidence reflect the actual program.

Prepare your Virginia daycare insurance quote

• Legal operator name, address, permit or certificate type and requested coverage date.
• Licensed capacity, actual enrollment, ages served, hours and all locations.
• Staff, volunteers, payroll and screening/supervision procedures.
• Transportation, field trips, water activities and other services offered.
• Existing policy, claim history and insurance requirements from leases or contracts.

Ask each provider to identify the named insured, covered activities, limits, deductibles, exclusions and endorsements. Confirm whether defense costs reduce any relevant limit and how claims must be reported. If a quote cannot cover an activity, resolve that gap rather than assuming a certificate will make the proposal acceptable.

Frequently asked questions

What liability insurance minimum applies to a Virginia child day center?

Licensed child day centers must carry public liability insurance of at least $500,000 each occurrence and $500,000 aggregate per site under 8VAC20-780-40(H). Evidence must be available to the Department of Education on request.

Do Virginia family day homes have to buy liability insurance?

Family day homes follow an insure-or-notify rule. Before the first day of care, disclose whether liability of at least $100,000 per occurrence / $300,000 aggregate is in force and obtain parent acknowledgment. You may not claim coverage exists unless that Department minimum is met. A lapse requires written parent notice within 10 business days.

What vehicle insurance is required when a Virginia center transports children?

If the center provides transportation, vehicles must be insured at least at Virginia statutory motor-vehicle minimums under 8VAC20-780-580. For policies effective on or after January 1, 2025, Code §46.2-472 sets $50,000 / $100,000 / $25,000 (bodily injury one person / two or more / property damage).

When must a Virginia daycare buy workers’ compensation?

Virginia generally requires workers’ compensation when an employer regularly employs more than two employees; part-time and seasonal workers count, and subcontractors’ employees in the same trade or business can count toward the threshold. Confirm your facts with the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission.

Related guides

Daycare Insurance · Virginia / Daycare

Requirements and source benchmarks checked September 14, 2026. Policy terms and availability depend on the insurer and your business.