West Virginia Car Insurance

Everything You Need to Know About Auto Insurance in West Virginia

John Denver made West Virginia a household name with his hit song, “Take Me Home Country Roads” in the early 1970s, but even before that, those who call the Mountain State home already knew about its natural beauty and scenic, winding roads.

This state earned its nickname due to the fact it is the only state located completely in the Appalachian Mountain region. There’s plenty to do here if you are an outdoors enthusiast, including hiking, skiing, snowboarding, fishing and rafting.

If you are a history buff, don’t miss visiting the Matewan Historic District in Matewan, where you can see how a coal mining community lived and worked in the early 20th century. The city is also home to growing labor struggles when miners rose up against Stone Mountain Coal Company’s detectives, hired to put down as labor strike. The resulting gunfight killed 7 detectives and 2 miners.

If you’re looking for the best auto policy to keep you and your loved ones safe on the winding roads of West Virginia, InsureOne has expert agents who can help you find top-rated auto insurance at a great rate.

How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in West Virginia?

West Virginia drivers pay average annual auto premiums of $1,580 for full coverage and $421 for minimum liability insurance.

These premiums are lower than national averages, which trend around $2,014 and $622 for full and minimum coverage, respectively. West Virginians enjoy these lower rates because many people live in rural areas, away from the crime and accident-prone congestion of large cities. There are also fewer uninsured drivers in the Mountain State than many other states, coming in at 36th in a 2019 report. Drivers in West Virginia are required to carry uninsured motorist coverage, so they are protected if hit by someone driving without insurance.

What Does It Mean if West Virginia Is At-Fault?

At-fault states hold the responsible driver (and their insurance company) responsible for paying the medical costs and property damage costs for others involved in an accident. If more than one driver is responsible, the courts will divvy up the responsibility.

Drivers in at-fault states may sue for damages and injuries, as well, if they are not satisfied with the amount an at-fault driver pays them.

Affordable Car Insurance Rates Comparison by Cities in West Virginia

For a comparison of the average monthly premiums drivers pay in different cities across the state, check out our breakdown below.

City	Full Coverage Insurance	Liability Insurance Coverage
Charleston	$127	$40
Harpers Ferry	$118	$34
Morgantown	$123	$36
Wheeling	$118	$36
Huntington	$130	$40

Our average monthly premiums by city are based on the following methodology: male, age 30, lowest possible legal coverage allowed by West Virginia.

What Types of Auto Discounts Are Available in West Virginia?

Insurance discounts allow you to save money on your premiums. As we talked about, a bundling discount, for example, could bring your rate down by as much as 25% and that’s always a good thing.

You can also save some money on many other types of discounts, including:

• Safe driver
• Military or first responder
• Pay premium in advance
• Defensive driver course
• Anti-theft devices
• Less mileage

West Virginia Car Insurance Laws

West Virginia has a 25/50/25 minimum liability coverage mandate and also requires drivers to have uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. Here’s a closer look at what this means.

What Are the Mandatory Car Insurance Requirements in West Virginia?

State law sets mandatory monetary amounts that insurers must pay if a policyholder causes a crash. In West Virginia, these limits are 25/50/25. That means if you cause a crash, a basic policy must provide:

• $25,000 to cover the medical bills or funeral expenses of one person involved if they are hurt or die as a result of their injuries
• $50,000 to cover treatment for injuries or deaths for two or more people
• $25,000 to pay for property damage

Your policy must also include:

• $25,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person
• $50,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident
• $25,000 uninsured property damage per accident

The reason many drivers choose to increase these limits is to protect themselves further. For example, if a driver hydroplanes into someone’s car while driving in the rain, they will be considered at fault for the accident. Given today’s medical costs and vehicle cost, the minimum may not be enough, leaving the at-fault driver to pay the rest out of pocket or possibly face a lawsuit.

What Is the Penalty for Driving Without Insurance in West Virginia?

West Virginia law enforcement uses a real-time system so they can see if you have an active policy anytime you are stopped. Some of the ways you can be penalized for failing to carry insurance include:

• Suspension of your driver’s license.
• Suspension of the your vehicle registration.
• Filing false insurance information may result in jail time.

What Factors Does West Virginia Law Allow in Determining Your Premiums?

Underwriters use a large variety of factors to determine not only your premium, but whether or not you are eligible for renewal. The main factors include your age and driving record. Insurers will also look at items such as where you live, your employment, your educational level and your credit history.

Although you cannot change your age, you can drive safely at all times. Safe drivers receive the best policy rates.Here’s What You Need to Know When Driving in West Virginia

West Virginia uses a point system and traffic infractions are assessed points. When a driver accumulates too many points, their license may be suspended. What you may not know is if you get a ticket while driving out of state and the DMV learns of it, it can add to your points at home.

Here are some common infractions and what the might cost in points:

• Fleeing a police officer: 8 points.
• Speeding in a school zone: 6 points.
• Failure to yield the right of way: 3 points.
• Following too closely: 2 points.

Once you accumulate 12-13 points, you’ll receive a 30-day suspension and it goes up from there, with anything over 20 points causing a driver’s license suspension until some of the points drop off to 11 or less through time (2 years per infraction).

How Many Car Accidents Happen in West Virginia?

In 2021, there were 257 fatal crashes in West Virginia.

City	Fatal Crashes in 2021
Charleston	5
Harpers Ferry	1
Morgantown	7
Wheeling	2
Huntington	5

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

How Many Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists Are in West Virginia?

In West Virginia, more than 9% of drivers aren’t insured. The state ranks 36th in uninsured or underinsured motorists.