Virginia prejudgment interest rate
United States Virginia prejudgment interest is discretionary; 6% is the no-rate reference.
→ All Virginia judgment & prejudgment interest rates
Fixed by statute Discretionary
2026 Virginia prejudgment interest at a glance
- Current rate
- 6% per year
- Effective date
- July 9, 2026
- Controlling authority
- Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-382
- Rate basis
- Fixed by statute
- Source checked
- July 9, 2026
- Recorded history
- 1 data point
Va. Code §8.01-382 makes a prejudgment award and its start period discretionary. When an instrument does not state a rate, §6.2-302 supplies a 6% judgment-rate reference; contracts and instruments can require separate treatment. The statutes do not make 6% an automatic award for every claim.
When Virginia prejudgment interest applies
Section 8.01-382 permits the final order, jury verdict, judgment, or decree to award interest on all or part of a principal sum and choose the period when that interest begins. A prejudgment award and its start date are therefore discretionary rather than automatic.
When it starts accruing
The factfinder or court chooses the prejudgment commencement period under § 8.01-382. If the final order, judgment, or decree does not provide for interest, the award or jury verdict instead bears judgment-rate interest from its entry or verdict date.
Simple or compound
The cited statutes do not establish one universal prejudgment compounding and payment-allocation method. Confirm the instrument, verdict or order, selected rate, and period before calculating.
→ 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.
Current recorded observation
| Effective date | Rate | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2026 | 6% | Statute |
Source & provenance
Observation recorded July 9, 2026 (00:00 UTC) from the cited source (Virginia — law.lis.virginia.gov):
https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title8.01/chapter13/section8.01-382/
Cite this page
StatuteRates. “Virginia Prejudgment Interest Rate.” StatuteRates.com. Accessed today. https://statuterates.com/rates/virginia-prejudgment-rate/ Rate recorded under Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-382, effective July 9, 2026.