Virginia Prejudgment Interest Rate
United States Virginia prejudgment interest is discretionary — here is the rate courts apply.
Set by statute Discretionary
In Virginia, prejudgment interest is discretionary: a court may award it, and when it does the rate is 6% per year under Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-382. Prejudgment interest in Virginia is DISCRETIONARY as to both whether to award it and the date it commences — § 8.01-382 says the factfinder "may provide for interest on any principal sum…
When Virginia prejudgment interest applies
Prejudgment interest in Virginia is DISCRETIONARY as to both whether to award it and the date it commences — § 8.01-382 says the factfinder "may provide for interest on any principal sum awarded… and fix the period at which the interest shall commence." It is not mandatory.
When it starts accruing
Discretionary — the factfinder "fixes the period at which the interest shall commence" under § 8.01-382. It may be set as early as the date of loss/breach when interest is awarded, but there is no statutorily mandated accrual date; if no period is fixed, interest runs only from the date of entry of judgment / date the…
Simple or compound
Simple (statutory judgment rate under § 6.2-302 is applied as simple interest; no statutory provision for compounding).
→ Compare with the Virginia post-judgment interest rate (interest after judgment)
Prejudgment interest under Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-382 — 6% (simple interest). This is PREjudgment interest (accruing before entry of judgment) and is separate from Virginia’s post-judgment rate; availability is limited by claim type (see the page). Verify against the statute text. Not legal advice.
Effective-date history
| Effective date | Rate | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2026 | 6% | Statute |
Source & provenance
Latest value retrieved July 10, 2026 (02:55 UTC) from the official source:
https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title8.01/chapter13/section8.01-382/