Cheap Auto Insurance in West Virginia 2023

West Virginia drivers navigate forests, mountain roads, and visiting motorists on a daily basis. But despite those challenges, West Virginians also enjoy some comparatively low car insurance rates – the average is just $195 per month.

That’s well below the national average of $233 per month, making West Virginia the 19th-cheapest state for car insurance. If you want to save even more, you should compare quotes online. This is the best way to see all available providers and lock in the cheapest car insurance.

Best cheap car insurance in West Virginia: State Farm

1

State Farm

Best Cheap Car Insurance in West Virginia

State Farm offers the cheapest auto insurance in West Virginia, with average monthly quotes of $65. But on average, drivers spend $195 per month for car insurance in West Virginia. Other top companies that offer below-average rates include GEICO and Nationwide.

Insurify Composite Score (ICS)

To calculate the Insurify Composite Score, a proprietary rating, Insurify data scientists weigh multiple factors that reflect the quality, reliability, and health of an insurance company.

Inputs to the score include J.D. Power ratings, Consumer Reports customer satisfaction surveys and customer complaints, mobile app reviews, user-generated company reviews, and financial strength ratings from A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch.

Minimum car insurance requirements in West Virginia

All motor vehicles operated or parked on West Virginia roadways are required to be insured. Without proof of insurance, it’s illegal to hit the open road. That proof of an adequate insurance policy must be carried in your car at all times and must be available when:

• Requested by law enforcement

• Renewing vehicle registration

• The vehicle is involved in a car accident

The minimum liability insurance requirements for private passenger vehicles in West Virginia are:^[1]

• $25,000 per person for bodily injury/$50,000 per accident for bodily injury: As a major part of your liability insurance, bodily injury coverage covers medical bills for people other than the policyholder who are injured during an accident. West Virginia is an at-fault state, meaning the driver who is responsible for the collision is also responsible for paying for any resulting expenses, either through their car insurance provider or out of pocket.

• $25,000 per accident for property damage: If it’s determined that an insured driver is at fault for an accident, this coverage pays for repairs to the property of the other involved parties. Additionally, property damage coverage can cover legal costs if the insured driver is involved in a lawsuit following the accident.

• $25,000 per person for uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury/$50,000 per accident for uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury/$25,000 per accident for uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage: Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage pays for costs caused by a driver with little or no insurance after a car accident. In West Virginia, motorists are required to purchase the same level of insurance for this coverage as liability coverage.

West Virginia DMV information

The West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles handles many important tasks related to driving, such as issuing and renewing driver’s licenses, ID cards, license plates, and car registrations.^[2]

In addition to staffed DMV offices, the West Virginia DMV offers kiosk locations for 24/7 service.^[3] You can use the kiosk to renew your vehicle’s registration, renew your driver’s license, look up your driver’s license record, or print duplicate registration cards.

Public transportation in West Virginia

Within the West Virginia Department of Transportation, the Division of Public Transit is responsible for coordinating public transit.^[4] There’s no statewide public transportation, according to the West Virginia Public Transit Association.^[5]

Instead, 18 public transit agencies serve 32 counties by providing transportation services. Some serve individual cities, like how the Weirton Transit Corporation serves Weirton. Others are regional and serve several counties.

Tips for getting cheap car insurance in West Virginia

The best thing you can do to find cheap car insurance is to compare quotes from different insurance companies. As you shop, you can look for the right combination of low rates, good service, and more. An online comparison tool can pull different rates together from top insurers, allowing you to see who offers the best coverage and prices.

Liability-only vs. full-coverage insurance in West Virginia

If you live in West Virginia, you can opt to carry liability-only auto insurance, which pays for expenses related to injuries and damage to the other party’s car if you cause an accident. Each state sets its own minimums for how much liability insurance it requires drivers to carry. Liability-only insurance can make sense if:

• You have a low-value vehicle.

• You can afford to repair or replace your car out of your own pocket.

• Getting the cheapest insurance possible is your top priority.

For a higher level of protection, you can choose full-coverage insurance, which includes basic liability plus collision and comprehensive coverage. Collision coverage pays for damages to your car, even if you’re at fault for an accident. Comprehensive coverage pays for damages caused by events out of your control, like vandalism, weather, and animals. Auto lenders and leasing companies typically require drivers to carry full coverage on a car they’ve financed.

You may also opt for full coverage if:

• You have a high-value vehicle.

• You wouldn’t be able to afford to repair or replace your car out of pocket.

• Your car’s actual cash value (the payout you’d likely get if your car is totaled) exceeds your annual premium to carry full coverage.

Here’s a look at the average monthly quotes for the cheapest auto insurance in West Virginia by policy type.

How your driving history affects West Virginia car insurance rates

Your driving history is the factor that most influences your car insurance costs. Good drivers — whose records are free of serious traffic violations like speeding tickets or reckless driving — tend to get the best car insurance rates in West Virginia. But infractions like driving under the influence or at-fault accidents can significantly increase insurance costs.

Here’s a look at average monthly quotes for the cheapest car insurance in West Virginia based on driving and accident history.

SR-22 insurance in West Virginia

SR-22 forms are for drivers who have committed serious driving offenses, like DUIs. They prove that you’re carrying the state minimum requirements for insurance. Although most states require them, West Virginia drivers won’t need to get an SR-22 to get back on the road.^[6]

Instead, drivers with a DUI in West Virginia will have to participate in specialized education and treatment before their license can be reinstated.

How credit scores affect West Virginia car insurance quotes

As car insurance companies determine your rates, they often take your credit history into account. Although some states prohibit the practice, West Virginia permits it.^[7] Generally, people with excellent or good credit scores can qualify for lower car insurance premiums than people with average or poor credit scores.

The table below provides some insight into how credit scores can affect car insurance rates for West Virginia drivers.

How your city affects West Virginia insurance quotes

Car insurance costs in West Virginia can vary significantly by city. That’s because your ZIP code matters to insurance companies. Drivers living in densely populated cities often find higher rates than those in suburban and rural areas. Insurify analyzed the average monthly car insurance costs for the following West Virginia cities. 

Find the average rate for your city in the chart below.

How your age affects your West Virginia car insurance rates

Because insurers generally equate age with experience level, your age will significantly affect how much you pay for car insurance. New drivers, who tend to be teens or people in their early 20s, typically pay more for insurance than drivers 25 and older.

The following table gives a high-level view of how age can affect insurance rates.

Quotes for younger drivers

Although car insurance rates overall in West Virginia are lower than in many other states, younger drivers are still likely to pay more. Insurance companies take into account the relative inexperience of drivers younger than 25, and their likelihood of filing a claim, when deciding car insurance rates. Drivers with infractions on their record will pay even more.

The table below provides some insight into how certain traffic violations can affect car insurance rates for young drivers in West Virginia.

Quotes for middle-aged drivers

The majority of West Virginia residents are middle-aged, according to Census Bureau data.^[8] Middle-aged drivers typically pay less for car insurance than their younger peers. However, accidents and DUIs can push rates higher. Here’s a look at monthly average car insurance rates for middle-aged West Virginia drivers with a DUI conviction on their records.

Quotes for senior drivers

Although senior drivers typically pay the lowest car insurance rates of any age group, a conviction for driving while under the influence can significantly affect their car insurance rates. The table below illustrates the impact of a DUI on average monthly rates for senior drivers in West Virginia.