Compare West Virginia Car Insurance Rates Online

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west-virginia $71/mo.
National $70.76/mo.

Average Premiums

Need to learn about buying auto insurance in West Virginia? We have all the information you need to make a smart purchasing decision: how to get car insurance discounts, licensing and vehicle fees, minimum coverage requirements for West Virginia and more.

What are West Virginia’s Minimum Car Insurance Requirements?

As in most other states, car insurance is mandatory in WV. To drive legally, you need a policy that meets West Virginia’s minimum auto insurance limits:

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident
  • Uninsured motorist bodily injury: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
  • Uninsured motorist property damage: $25,000 per accident
  • Underinsured motorist bodily injury: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident

You’ll often see the WV auto insurance requirements abbreviated as 25/50/25. Technically, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage isn’t required, but insurers must offer it. West Virginia calls it the “mandatory optional offering of coverage,” which might confuse some drivers: Is it mandatory or is it optional? You can decline UM/UIM coverage in writing, if you want to, but it’s a good idea to keep it so you’re protected.

Medical payments/PIP, collision and comprehensive coverage are not required in West Virginia.

Cheap Liability Coverage in West Virginia

“Why is West Virginia car insurance so expensive?” you might wonder. Well… it’s really not too bad. In its car-insurance cost rankings, the Insurance Information Institute ranks West Virginia 25th — so rates are just about average.

If you’re not happy with how much you’re paying for your insurance, we can help. The best way to find cheap liability car insurance coverage in West Virginia is to compare quotes and see which insurance company will offer you the best deal. If you drive an older vehicle, you may be able to purchase a state minimum (liability only) policy.

When we ran the numbers for a 30-year-old female driver in Huntington with a good driving record, just as an example, her cheapest car insurance quote was $47 per month for liability only. Adding comprehensive and collision coverage for a 6-year-old Honda Accord, her best rate was $119. Of course, your rates for WV auto insurance may be higher or lower, depending on several factors: your driving record, your age, where you live, your credit history, your vehicle make and model, etc. To find out, compare auto insurance quotes.

West Virginia Auto Insurance Discounts

When you’re shopping for auto insurance in WV, don’t forget that you may be eligible for some sizable discounts! Many discounts will be applied automatically in the quote process. For others, you may have to ask your insurer if you qualify. Some of the most common discounts include:

  • Multi-car discount if you insure more than one vehicle on a policy
  • Multi-policy discount for bundling auto insurance with home, renters or life insurance
  • Vehicle safety discounts for features like air bags and anti-lock brakes
  • Anti-theft discounts if you have security features on your car
  • Accident-free or good driving discounts if you have a clean record
  • Driver education discount for older or younger drivers who complete an approved defensive-driving class

West Virginia Vehicle Fees and Other Costs

Like most other states, West Virginia charges certain fees for a vehicle title and registration.

If you’re buying a new vehicle in WV, you’ll pay a $15 title fee, a 6% titling sales tax on vehicles with a purchase price over $500 (or $30 on vehicles with a purchase price under $500), a $10 lien fee (if applicable), and the registration fee and/or registration transfer fee.

If you’re moving to West Virginia, you have to get a WV title and registration within 30 days. It’s not too expensive: You’ll pay a $15 title fee, a $10 lien fee if applicable, and a regular registration fee of $51.50.

If you drive without insurance in West Virginia, that can get really expensive. The first consequence is suspension of your vehicle registration. You’ll have to pay a reinstatement fee of $100 and provide proof of insurance for all of your registered vehicles. If you get a state police secure order on the plate, you’ll pay an additional fee of $50. After that, if you fail to show proof of insurance, your license will be suspended. Showing fake or fraudulent insurance information results in a 90-day suspension of your driver’s license and possible prosecution, with a fine up to $1,000 and jail time up to one year.

You don’t want any of that to happen to you! Protect yourself now by shopping for cheap WV auto insurance on Compare.com.

Average Car Insurance Rates in Different West Virginia Cities

The area you live in is one of the main factors that determine how much or how little you pay for car insurance. If your area has a high auto theft rate, you may pay more. If there is very little traffic on your way to work, you may end up paying less. To help you see how rates vary from city to city, check out our rate comparison table below.

City Average Monthly Car Insurance Premium
Charleston $80
Huntington $86
Martinsburg $75
Morgantown $85

Click on the name of each city in the table above to find detailed breakdowns on all the factors that go into calculating your monthly premium. Here, you’ll find all the information you need on how things like driving record, age, gender, vehicle make and model, and more will affect how much you pay for car insurance in each locality.

And if you want to jump right in and see how much you’ll pay, simply enter your ZIP code below and find your best rate in minutes!