Average West Virginia Car Insurance Costs
Since West Virginia has some of the highest insurance costs in the country, you may want to learn some ways to get the best possible rates.
- State minimum liability on average in West Virginia costs $63 a month or $754 a year. Full coverage auto policies costs around $215 a month or $2,580 a year in WV.
InsuranceQuotes cost rates are pulled from our real-time auto insurance database from recent quotes in West Virginia – Rates are based on a used car driver who is single, middle aged & has a clean driving record. Read on to learn about the cheapest local rates filtered by insurance providers, new cars, vehicle types and age.
Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in West Virginia
- In West Virginia the cheapest car insurance companies on average are Erie Ins. Company, State Farm and Allstate. State minimum liability car insurance starts at $44 a month or $529 a year with Erie. The cheapest full coverage car insurance starts at $173 a month or $2,070 a year with Nationwide.
Here are the average policy rates from the cheapest local and national insurance providers in WV from our cost database of used-car drivers who are single, middle aged and have a clean driving record:
| Insurance Company: | State Minimum Liability: | SM Monthly: | Full Coverage: | FC Monthly: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erie Insurance | $529 | $44 | $2,355 | $196 |
| State Farm | $594 | $49 | $2,261 | $188 |
| Allstate | $686 | $57 | $3,829 | $319 |
| Nationwide | $686 | $57 | $2,070 | $173 |
| GEICO | $875 | $73 | $2,789 | $232 |
West Virginia Car Insurance Costs for Popular Cities
Here is a list of popular West Virginia cities and the average costs for car insurance for a state minimum liability and full coverage auto policy.
| West Virginia Cities: | State Minimum: | SM Monthly: | Full Coverage: | FC Monthly: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $754 | $63 | $2,580 | $215 |
| Huntington | $775 | $65 | $2,566 | $214 |
| Martinsburg | $605 | $50 | $2,243 | $187 |
| Morgantown | $670 | $56 | $2,453 | $204 |
| Parkersburg | $712 | $59 | $2,489 | $207 |
See Our List of West Virginia City Cost Guides:
West Virginia State Minimum Liability Coverage
Like most states, West Virginia requires some types of insurance with others being optional. The state has set the following minimum liability limits:
- $10,000 for property damage
- $25,000 for the injury or death of one person, per accident
- $40,000 for the injury of death or two or more people per accident
Two other types of auto insurance you should consider purchasing are collision and comprehensive insurance. Collision covers damage to your car and to the other vehicle(s) damaged in the crash. Comprehensive coverage will pay out if your car is damagd by wind, hail storms, floods, vandalism, theft and if you hit an animal such as a deer.
Average Car Insurance Costs in West Virginia by County:
| Auto Insurance Costs by County: | Sedan: | SUV: | Coupe: | Truck: | Hybrid: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams | $791 | $565 | $783 | $664 | $731 |
| Asotin | $823 | $590 | $783 | $699 | $756 |
| Benton | $766 | $551 | $841 | $649 | $706 |
| Chelan | $789 | $566 | $808 | $670 | $726 |
| Clallam | $815 | $591 | $868 | $698 | $749 |
| Clark | $855 | $621 | $938 | $738 | $784 |
| Columbia | $823 | $590 | $783 | $699 | $756 |
| Cowlitz | $854 | $619 | $923 | $736 | $782 |
| Douglas | $771 | $552 | $808 | $650 | $711 |
| Ferry | $851 | $605 | $900 | $705 | $790 |
Finding Auto Insurance Resources in West Virginia
There is no shortage of insurance companies stretching from Wheeling to Princeton. Each of them claims to have great rates and fabulous service. Smart West Virginians take the time to compare quotes and read online reviews before buying any insurance.
The best place to begin looking is the West Virginia Department of Transportation. There, you’ll find information on driver’s licenses, insurance and car registration. Also check out the West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner’s consumer services pages.
Moving to West Virginia: Important Information
As soon as you arrive in The Mountain State, one of the first things you need to do is get everything set up with your driver’s license, title, registration and insurance. For the driver’s license, you need:
- Proof of identification such as a certified birth certificate or valid passport.
- Proof of Social Security registration (if you do not have your Social Security card, a tax statement such as a Form 1099 or W-2 is fine if they are originals).
- Proof of legal name change if your name has ever changed (usually a marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order is sufficient).
- Two proofs of residency. (See this list of possible sources)
Take all of the above along with your current vehicle title, registration and proof of insurance to any regional office to complete the process.
Understanding Driving Laws in West Virginia
West Virginia has a driver violation point system similar to many other states. However, each state assigns a different number of points to each incident and the expiration of the points differs. The state can suspend your driver’s license if you accumulate 12 or more points at the same time.
Regarding alcohol consumption, West Virginia uses the 0.08 percent benchmark for those who are 21 or older like most other states. It is important to note the limit drops to 0.02 percent for those younger than 21 and 0.04 percent for commercial drivers.
Money-Saving Tips for West Virginia Auto Insurance
Even though West Virginia car insurance is more expensive than most other states, there are ways to make sure you get the coverage you need without breaking the bank.
- Only buy what you need: Avoid buying into agent sales tactics. Keep in mind that insurance agents work on commission and are paid based on the size of the sale. This guide from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners can help you determine how much is right.
- Know your driving record: The No. 1 factor insurance companies base their rates on is how many points are on your record. If you have points that will be added to your license, wait until the points have expired to get new rate quotes.
- Get competitive quotes: Plan to spend a couple of hours gathering about six quotes from different companies. Some companies provide online rate quotes without having to speak with an agent. You need to have your vehicle ID number, driver’s license and current insurance policy. Also, you can get free insurance quotes without even leaving your house by going to insuranceQuotes.com.
West Virginia Auto Insurance: FAQs
Here are some of the questions that often come up in any discussion of West Virginia car insurance:
Can an insurance company cancel a policy if payment is late?
Yes, even if the payment is only one day late. Most companies put your policy back into force once you have made payment.
Do you need to have insurance coverage for damage to your car in an accident?
The state does not require collision or comprehensive insurance. However, if you have financed your car with a commercial lender or a bank, the lender generally does require both. If you have paid off your car, you can choose not to cover physical damage.
Can the insurance company determine where to repair your damaged vehicle?
No, but it is in your best interest to shop around for the best pricing since the insurer sets a limit on how much it pays for parts and labor for most accidents.
