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Media Liability Coverage in Virginia

Virginia generally requires a defamation action within one year after accrual, but tolls that period for an anonymous or false-identity internet publisher until identity is or should be discovered with due diligence. A defendant may also offer an apology in mitigation after written notice of intent. 1,2

What Is Media Liability?

Media liability can help pay defense costs for claims about content you create or distribute, such as allegations of defamation or infringement. Consider it if you publish or produce content for your business or clients; match the quote to each activity. Read the national Media liability guide.

What to Watch for in Virginia

  • Record Virginia’s one-year accrual date

    Code § 8.01-247.1 gives one year after accrual for libel, slander, insulting words, or defamation. Preserve the original post and first publication date, then report the demand promptly. 1

  • Flag anonymous internet publication immediately

    When the publisher used an anonymous or false internet identity, § 8.01-247.1 tolls the period until the identity is discovered or reasonably should have been discovered through due diligence. Preserve account, platform, and identification efforts for counsel. 1

  • Coordinate any apology as a damages decision

    Under § 8.01-46, an apology may be offered in mitigation after written notice of intent to rely on it, with the pleading, before suit or as soon as there is an opportunity afterward. Obtain insurer and counsel review before publishing it. 2

Who Regulates Insurance in Virginia

Virginia State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Insurance

The Virginia State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Insurance administers Virginia insurance laws, oversees insurers and insurance producers within its authority, and provides regulatory and consumer resources. You can use the department's complaint process to raise an insurance issue and its licensing resources to check insurance professionals. 3,4,5

Surplus-lines tax and stamping office

Reported tax rate: 2.25% of premium plus up to 0.1% Bureau Special Fund assessment The NAIC's state chart lists a 2.25% of premium plus up to 0.1% Bureau Special Fund assessment charge for surplus-lines coverage for Virginia (the chart's state entries were reviewed in October 2025). Your broker may collect the applicable amount with the premium. Surplus-lines insurers are not licensed in the state and generally are outside state guaranty-association protection; ask your broker to explain the insurer's financial protections and any diligent-search requirement that applies to your placement. 6,7

Providers With Documented State Licenses

These providers publish a national listing for Media liability; the state records document licenses for the entities and roles shown below. Some records rely on company-reported information rather than independent regulator verification. A national listing does not confirm the product is available in Virginia. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote.

  • CoalitionCoalition Insurance Solutions, Inc.Insurance producer, Surplus-lines broker · checked 2026-09-28Coalition’s license page lists producer and surplus-lines licenses for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc. in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The page separately lists insurers; this record covers the brokerage entity only. 9
  • CorgiCorgi Insurance Services, Inc.Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28Corgi’s company producer-license table lists 50 jurisdictions: 49 states and the District of Columbia, including DC license 3003091619. New Mexico does not appear in the table and is not included here; the omission does not establish that Corgi is unlicensed there. The company-reported table has no stated as-of date and does not establish product availability. 10

Questions to Ask Before You Buy in Virginia

  1. Was the Virginia content published under a real, anonymous, or false identity?
  2. When did the one-year period accrue, and what steps identified an anonymous publisher?
  3. Has counsel given written notice before any apology is offered as mitigation?

Media Liability in Virginia: FAQ

How long does Virginia allow for a defamation claim? 1

Every action for libel, slander, insulting words, or defamation must be brought within one year after accrual under § 8.01-247.1. 1

Does Virginia treat anonymous online publication differently? 1

The statute tolls the period until the online publisher’s identity is discovered or reasonably should have been discovered with due diligence when the content is anonymous or uses a false identity. 1

Media Liability in Other States

Other Coverage in Virginia

Sources

  1. Code of Virginia § 8.01-247.1 — Defamation Limitation. Virginia General Assembly; One year after accrual; anonymous or false-identity internet publisher tolling until discovery with due diligence. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  2. Code of Virginia § 8.01-46 — Justification and Mitigation. Virginia General Assembly; A defendant may offer an apology in mitigation after written notice of intent, with pleading, before suit or as soon as possible afterward. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  3. Virginia State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Insurance. Virginia State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Insurance; Official regulator website; insurance oversight and consumer/professional resources. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  4. Insurance Department Directory. National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Virginia State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Insurance entry; official contact and website listing. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  5. Surplus Lines Insurance Premium Taxes. National Association of Insurance Commissioners; VA row; state surplus-lines premium-tax rate reviewed October 2025. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  6. Guaranty Associations & Funds. National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Coverage of claims from insolvencies of insurers licensed in a state; surplus-lines insurers are nonadmitted. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  7. Licenses. At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21.
  8. Licenses and Carriers. Coalition; Licenses and Carriers, re-read 22 September 2026: Insurance Licenses table for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc., national producer number 18419475, with producer and surplus-lines numbers for all 50 states and DC including California 0L76155, Georgia 196479, Texas 2199630 and 2205589, Pennsylvania 815731 and 817452, Colorado 539028 and Wisconsin 3000108852. Insurance Carriers table naming, with NAIC numbers, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company 36420, Arch Specialty Insurance Company 21199, Ascot Specialty Insurance Company 45055, Ascot Insurance Company 23752, Aspen Specialty Insurance Company 10717, Chaucer Insurance Company DAC, Coalition Insurance Company 29530, Fireman's Fund Indemnity Corporation 11380, Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company 16823, Lloyd's of London, MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. 34886, MS Transverse Specialty Insurance Company 41807, Steadfast Insurance Company 26387, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company 16275 and Zurich American Insurance Company 16535. Accessed 2026-09-22.
  9. Insurance Producer Licenses. Corgi Insurance; Current complete Insurance Producer Licenses table for Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; 50 rows covering 49 states and DC (DC 3003091619); no New Mexico row; no NPN or as-of date shown. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  10. About Hiscox US Insurance. Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  11. Licenses. ERGO NEXT Insurance; Current entity-by-state license table reopened 28 September 2026: 50 rows under Next First Insurance Agency, Inc., including Washington, DC; New York rows instead list Next Insurance Services PC-1423070 and AP Intego BR-1198885. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  12. Insurance Licenses by State. TechInsurance; Current state table; identifies TechInsurance as a division of Specialty Program Group LLC d/b/a SPG Insurance Solutions; lists DC 3000041536 and labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses,” without an agency license number. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  13. Licenses. Vouch; Effective 16 January 2025: Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, NPN 19926463; P&C table (50 states and DC); surplus-lines table includes Idaho 870820; footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses; Idaho retained as producer-only due to conflict. Accessed 2026-09-15.

Updated .

This guide is informational and does not determine whether a policy is available or meets your needs. Editorial policy. To suggest a correction, contact Spot with a supporting source.

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