Car Insurance Requirements in West Virginia (2024)

Whether you live in Huntington, Harpers Ferry, or anywhere in between, it’s important to know the minimum requirements for car insurance in West Virginia. Car insurance requirements differ in every state, and you want to make sure you’re following the law.

Here’s how much car insurance you need in West Virginia, what it costs, how to find the best deal by comparing quotes, and whether you should consider purchasing more coverage than the state minimum.

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West Virginia car insurance requirements

State laws dictate that all residents of West Virginia must carry insurance with the following limits, at a minimum, for each car that they own:^[1]

• Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person, up to $50,000 per accident

• Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident

• Uninsured motorist coverage: Limits matching those for bodily injury and property damage liability

Here’s a closer look at each.

Bodily injury liability

Bodily injury liability coverage helps pay for medical expenses for anyone you injure in an accident (excluding people in your own car).

In West Virginia, a policy offering minimum coverage will pay up to $25,000 in medical bills for any one person. If you injure multiple people in an accident, it’ll pay a collective total of up to $50,000 toward their medical bills.

Property damage liability

Similarly, property damage liability coverage pays for any damage that you cause to someone else’s property in an accident.

Often, that means the other driver’s car. But it could include other things too, such as personal assets that were damaged inside the car, like laptops or beloved pets. It could also apply to things you run into, like mailboxes or sheds.

In West Virginia, the minimum legal limit that all policies must offer is $25,000 for property damage liability. If you damage something costing more than that — such as someone’s brand-new Porsche — you’ll be on the hook to pay the rest from your own pocket.

Uninsured motorist coverage

Having your own liability insurance is all well and good, but what if someone who isn’t carrying this coverage hits you? If this happens, they won’t have any way to reimburse you.

Instead, West Virginia is one of several states that require drivers to also carry uninsured motorist coverage for just this scenario. If someone without liability insurance hits you, then your uninsured motorist coverage will kick in instead.

The minimum limits for an uninsured motorist policy in West Virginia must match those for your own liability coverage — that is, it’ll offer up to $25,000 toward your medical bills and $25,000 toward property damage.

Do you need more than state-minimum coverage in West Virginia?

Generally speaking, state-minimum coverage is always your cheapest option because it covers only the bare minimum you need to drive while following laws. But it’s a good idea to consider whether you should purchase higher limits on your existing liability policies, or even purchase other types of car insurance coverage entirely. 

Full-coverage car insurance is usually the next step up when it comes to buying more insurance, offering coverage for your own car, too. In fact, if you’re paying off your car, your lender may require it.^[2]

In West Virginia, buying a full-coverage policy bumps up your total cost by 150%, on average, compared to a minimum-coverage policy, Insurify data shows. You might also opt for this coverage if you wouldn’t be able to buy a new car outright if an accident totals your current vehicle.

The cost of liability-only car insurance in West Virginia

It costs $74 per month in West Virginia for a minimum-coverage policy, according to Insurify data. If you’re driving in West Virginia, you’ll need to carry at least this amount of coverage to pay for injuries and damage if you cause an accident.

The cost of full-coverage car insurance in West Virginia

If you’re looking for protection for your own car — or if you’re paying off an auto loan or lease — a full-coverage policy might be in order. This adds collision insurance and comprehensive coverage to a basic policy to reimburse you if your car is damaged in an accident, no matter who caused the damage.

In West Virginia, the average price for full coverage is $160 per month.

See which insurers offer the cheapest full-coverage rates in West Virginia in the table below.

Penalties for driving without proof of insurance in West Virginia

State law requires you to carry proof of insurance with you. If a law enforcement officer stops you or you’re involved in a car crash and can’t provide that proof, it’s considered a serious driving offense, with penalties that get increasingly harsh each time you’re caught:

• Driver’s license suspension: 30 days for a first offense, 90 days for subsequent offenses

• Vehicle registration suspension: Suspended until you can provide proof of insurance

• License plate suspension: Suspended after your second or further offenses

• Reinstatement fees and court fees: $50 license reinstatement fee, $100 registration reinstatement fee, plus a $50 fee for license plate confiscation if done by a police officer

In West Virginia, penalties for failure to provide proof of insurance are already strict enough. But if you’re caught providing false information, you’ll face even more severe penalties. Your driver’s license will be suspended for 90 days, and your car registration will be suspended until you get it insured again. Plus, you could face a fine of up to $1,000 or up to one year of jail time.^[3]

Additionally, auto insurance rates tend to be very high if you’ve been convicted of any driving violations, making it even harder to get back on the road.^[4]

Optional car insurance coverages to consider

Whether you drive a lot through urban areas or rural areas, many West Virginia motorists find that other types of insurance coverage come in handy for certain situations. Here are a few others to consider, often available at affordable rates:

• 

  Gap coverage

  If you recently took out a car loan or lease, consider gap insurance, which repays the remaining loan balance after insurance payouts if you total your car.

• 

  Roadside assistance coverage

  If you drive on country roads a lot or just want some peace of mind, roadside assistance coverage is usually very affordable and offers help for things like flat tires, towing, lockouts, and more.

• 

  Medical payments coverage

  Medical payments coverage helps pay the medical bills for you and any passengers in your car if you’re involved in a car crash, regardless of who was at fault.

• 

  Umbrella liability coverage

  This adds extra liability protection on top of your existing car and homeowners (or renters) insurance policies.

• 

  Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage

  State law requires that you buy uninsured motorist coverage. But underinsured motorist coverage kicks in if someone with insurance hits you and your medical costs go beyond their policy limits.

West Virginia car insurance requirements FAQs