The Best West Virginia Auto Insurance in 2022

The average cost of West Virginia insurance is right around the national average, meaning West Virginia is neither the cheapest nor the most expensive state for insurance. In addition, some drivers will have difficulty finding cheap auto insurance in West Virginia if they have poor driving records or bad credit scores. However, comparing insurance rates can help almost every driver find savings.

We’ve compiled average rates from several auto insurance companies to help drivers find the company with the best cheap auto insurance in West Virginia based on their driving record and desired coverages. Continue reading to get the full rundown on cheap auto insurance in WV.

Finding Cheap Car Insurance in West Virginia

Several factors affect car insurance rates, and each company weighs factors differently than others. So, drivers should compare average insurance rates based on their own driving record rather than choosing a company based on a friend’s recommendation.

The best way to find the best insurance company is to look over our analysis of average rates in West Virginia and pick a few of the cheapest companies based on your needs and driving records. Then, you can get car insurance quotes from West Virginia companies on your list and see which offers you the best rates and coverages.

Cheap Insurance Companies for Minimum Liability Insurance in West Virginia

The average cost of minimum liability auto insurance coverage in West Virginia is $44 per month. So, most insurance companies will offer a rate of about $528 per year for a minimum liability insurance policy. However, depending on the insurance company, this cost may be higher or lower. 

To see how the best auto insurance companies’ average rates compare to the West Virginia state average, look at the table below.

State Farm auto insurance, GEICO auto insurance, and Travelers auto insurance have some of the cheapest average rates in West Virginia for a bare minimum liability policy. Companies with higher starting rates include Allstate, Liberty Mutual, and Progressive.

While insurance companies charge less for minimum liability insurance, you don’t have full protection. Liability only pays for other parties’ accident costs in an at-fault accident, meaning you’ll have to pay your own bills out of pocket. So unless you own an older, depreciated vehicle, consider a full coverage policy, which we’ll overview in the next section. 

Cheap Insurance Companies for Full Coverage Insurance in West Virginia

The average cost of full coverage car insurance policies in West Virginia falls at $132 per month or $1,584 annually on average. Many insurance companies in West Virginia offer affordable rates for full coverage insurance policies that fall around this average. 

Below, you can see how much insurance companies charge on average for a full coverage policy in West Virginia.

Some of the cheapest full coverage car insurance options include companies like State Farm, GEICO, and Nationwide. Less affordable companies are Allstate and Progressive. Therefore, you should start getting quotes from the cheapest companies on our list, as it’ll likely help you find the most affordable option quickly. 

We also recommend that most drivers carry full coverage insurance in West Virginia, as in any state. If you cause an accident, full coverage will ensure your own accident bills get paid. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay out of pocket to repair or replace your vehicle after accidents you cause. 

Cheap West Virginia Auto Insurance Companies for Young Drivers 

Insurance companies increase rates for younger drivers based on age, as younger drivers are more likely to crash and file a claim because of their inexperience. Cheap car insurance for teens and young drivers is difficult to find, so younger drivers should always take the time to get quotes and compare rates, as insurance rates can vary at different companies by hundreds or thousands of dollars for young drivers.

Below, you can see how much West Virginia insurance companies charge on average for younger drivers. 

As you can see, even the cheapest companies for new drivers are still expensive. However, choosing one of the cheapest companies like State Farm or GEICO over a company like Allstate can help young drivers find better rates for their age group.

If possible, young drivers should also consider joining their parent’s insurance policy rather than purchasing their own. Joining a policy as a young driver is much cheaper than buying a separate policy. 

Even if students are away from home at school, they can still join the parent’s policy if they don’t take a family car with them. Insurance companies also sometimes offer discounts on the parent’s policy for car insurance for college students.

Cheap West Virginia Car Insurance Companies for Drivers With Bad Credit Scores 

In West Virginia, a bad credit score could drive up your auto insurance rates. Insurance companies use credit scores to determine rates because drivers with bad credit scores are more likely to miss payments.

Insurance companies will cancel a driver’s policy if missed payments aren’t made by the end of a company’s grace period, leaving drivers without insurance. If drivers don’t procure a new insurance policy before their old one gets canceled, they’re unable to drive legally.

Driving without insurance can result in multiple fines, loss of driving privileges, increased insurance rates, and more. Therefore, missed payments are a big deal in the auto insurance world, but it can be hard for drivers with bad credit scores to pay even higher auto insurance rates. Therefore, comparing rates to find the best auto insurance companies for bad credit is vital.

You’ll likely find some of the cheapest rates at Nationwide, GEICO, and State Farm if you have a bad credit score but a clean driving record. Companies to avoid include Allstate, Liberty Mutual, and Progressive. After all, improving your credit score and getting lower rates will be easier if you aren’t with one of the more expensive companies for drivers with bad credit. 

Cheap West Virginia Car Insurance Companies for Drivers With Traffic Tickets 

Any traffic ticket for a moving violation like speeding will raise driver’s rates at their auto insurance company since tickets indicate a driver is more likely to participate in poor driving habits and get into an accident. 

Even one speeding ticket can affect your insurance rates. So whether you have one traffic ticket or multiple tickets on your driving record, looking into which insurance companies charge the least for tickets can help you find savings.

Below, you can see West Virginia insurance companies’ average rates for drivers with a traffic ticket. 

If you have a traffic ticket on your record, some cheaper companies are State Farm and GEICO. Rates at the most expensive companies like Liberty Mutual are almost double State Farm and GEICO’s rates. 

Cheap West Virginia Auto Insurance Companies for Drivers With At-Fault Accidents 

If you cause an accident, your car insurance rates will increase. Car insurance rates usually stay high for a couple of years after the at-fault accident but decrease once you’ve remained accident-free for a few years. Since rates stay high for a while after an at-fault accident, you may have to shop around to find cheap auto insurance after an accident. 

Below, you can see the average car insurance rates for West Virginia drivers with at-fault accidents on their driving records.

State Farm is one of the best choices for a company if you have an at-fault accident. Rates can be a few thousand dollars less yearly at State Farm than at companies like Progressive and Allstate. Check out our State Farm auto insurance review for more information.

Some car insurance companies also have accident forgiveness programs, which forgive your first accident and keep rates the same. Programs may be free to join for customers who have been at the same company for years without an accident claim, or companies may request a fee to join the program. 

Cheap West Virginia Insurance Companies for Drivers With DUI Convictions 

All insurance companies will raise their rates if drivers get convicted of a DUI. However, some companies have much lower rates for DUI drivers, which can save drivers hundreds of dollars per year if they choose a cheaper company. The table below shows the average rates in West Virginia on auto insurance for drivers with a DUI.

State Farm has some of the cheapest rates on average for drivers with DUIs. 

On the other hand, cheap companies like GEICO have some of the most expensive rates for DUI drivers. GEICO is a great example of why you should always shop around based on your driving record. While GEICO is normally a great option for most drivers as it offers lower rates, if a driver has a DUI, GEICO becomes one of the most expensive companies.

Cheapest West Virginia Cities for Auto Insurance 

Location Even if you move just a few neighborhoods over, you’ll likely see a change in your auto insurance rates. 

Insurance companies look at the following location factors every time an address changes:

• Crash and traffic records. Areas with a high number of claims filed will have higher rates. For example, there may be an intersection near you with a history of multiple crashes, or traffic may be heavy in your area, increasing the likelihood of a crash.
• Crime. If you move to an area with records of car vandalism or stolen cars, your rates will increase.
• Local wildlife. Areas with a known history of wildlife crashes, like those with a heavy deer population, see higher insurance rates for comprehensive coverage.
• Weather. Areas prone to national disasters or with risky weather, such as icy roads, will have more expensive car insurance rates.

So even if you move just 30 minutes away from your old home, the risk level could change depending on traffic, crime, wildlife, and more. For example, if you move 30 minutes from a city to a more rural area, you’ll see a change in rates.

Car insurance in Huntington, West Virginia can get expensive, but you can find cheaper rates in Wheeling and Morgantown. If you’re moving, getting a few insurance quotes for your new area can help determine if your current insurance company still offers the best rates or if a new company might be cheaper.

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Tips for Saving on Auto Insurance in West Virginia

Shopping around and comparing insurance rates is the best way to find savings on West Virginia auto insurance, but there are also other ways you can save on car insurance. 

If you’ve already picked one of the cheapest car insurance companies and still need to lower your auto insurance rates, you can try some of the tips below: 

• Choose a cheaper car to insure. Generally, cars mass-manufactured with cheap, easy-to-find parts are cheaper to insure. Also, cars with multiple safety features that do well in crashes see cheaper rates. 
• Choose a higher deductible for your insurance policy. Choosing a higher car insurance deductible will reduce your auto insurance rates, although we caution you not to raise it to an amount you aren’t comfortable paying out of pocket after a crash. 
• Choose usage-based insurance if you’re a low-mileage driver. Drivers who travel less than 10,000 miles per year could find significant savings with a usage-based car insurance program. With this program, the insurer charges a small daily fee and a small per-mile fee.
• Drop any add-on coverages. Reducing extras like rental car reimbursement or roadside assistance will decrease your insurance rates. You can also consider carrying just a minimum liability insurance policy if your car’s value is low.
• See if there are any eligible discounts. Some companies offer car insurance discounts you need to apply for, such as defensive driving discounts or good student discounts.

Following the above tips could further reduce your auto insurance rates. However, be careful not to sacrifice coverage for cheap rates. Unless you have an older car that’s low in value, you should maintain a full coverage policy. 

You also shouldn’t raise your deductibles beyond an amount you can’t pay out of pocket, or you could be stuck without a car while saving up the money for repairs.

West Virginia Auto Insurance Requirements and DUI Penalties 

Since every state has different auto insurance requirements and DUI penalties, we want to review West Virginia’s laws and how they’ll affect your auto insurance rates. For example, a state requiring drivers to carry multiple coverages to drive legally will have higher average insurance costs than states with fewer requirements. 

Minimum Car Insurance Required by West Virginia 

All drivers must carry bodily injury liability and property damage liability insurance in West Virginia. Bodily injury liability insurance pays for other parties’ medical bills if you cause an accident that injures other people. Property damage liability insurance pays for other parties’ property damage bills if you cause an accident that damages others’ property, such as their vehicles or a fence.

The limits of each required insurance coverage in West Virginia are as follows: 

• Bodily injury liability insurance limits: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident 
• Property damage liability insurance limit: $25,000 per accident 

These limits are the absolute maximum that insurance will pay in a covered claim. You can always choose to purchase higher limits than what is required by West Virginia law. This way, if you cause more damages or injuries than the state minimum, you won’t be stuck with out-of-pocket bills. 

Optional Car Insurance in West Virginia 

Besides bodily injury and property damage liability insurance, West Virginia auto insurance laws don’t require any other coverages. You’ll only be required to carry additional coverages if you have a lease or loan on your vehicle.

Most lenders require in the contract that you carry comprehensive and collision insurance in addition to state liability insurance.

Besides that, the following insurance coverages are usually always optional for most drivers:

• Collision insurance 
• Comprehensive insurance 
• GAP insurance
• Modified car insurance 
• New car insurance  
• Rental car reimbursement insurance 
• Roadside assistance 
• Umbrella insurance 
• Underinsured motorist insurance
• Uninsured motorist insurance 

Out of all of the optional coverages above, the two we recommend most drivers carry are comprehensive and collision insurance, which forms a full coverage insurance policy.

Comprehensive insurance is great for rural areas in West Virginia, as it covers the cost of damages from animal collisions, theft, vandalism, weather, and falling objects. Collision insurance is also a must-have insurance coverage, as it pays for your repairs if you crash into another car or an object like a fence post.

Without these two coverages, you’ll pay for your own accident costs out of pocket if you cause an accident, which can be extremely expensive depending on the nature of the damages. Therefore, we highly recommend carrying these two auto insurance policies in West Virginia. 

DUI Penalties in West Virginia 

West Virginia DUIs carry various penalties that affect the driver’s budget and driving ability. Below, you can see the common penalties for West Virginia drivers convicted of a DUI. 

Drivers may only have to deal with a few penalties on the list, or they may have to deal with all of them:

• DUI classes 
• Criminal charges 
• Fines and reinstatement fees  
• Ignition interlock device
• Jail time
• License suspension 
• SR-22 certificate

In addition to the possible penalties above, DUI drivers pay higher insurance rates for years after a DUI. Penalties vary depending on the number of DUIS and whether the crash involved other people. 

SR-22 Certificate Requirements in West Virginia 

An SR-22 insurance certificate simply proves that a driver carries the required auto insurance amounts in West Virginia. Drivers often need an SR-22 certificate to reinstate their licenses after serious driving infractions. 

Some of the types of drivers who might need to provide an SR-22 certificate include:

• Drivers caught driving impaired or under the influence 
• Drivers caught driving without West Virginia insurance coverage 
• Drivers with multiple points on their driving record 
• Drivers caught driving with an expired or suspended driver’s license 

If a driver already has an auto insurance policy, they’ll need to contact their current insurance company and ask to file an SR-22 certificate. Sometimes, insurance companies will drop high-risk drivers, forcing them to find a new company.

Drivers looking for a new insurer must tell companies they need an SR-22 certificate. You may have to pay a small fee to car insurance companies for filing. Not letting your insurance company know about your SR-22 certificate is dishonest and may be considered fraud, so your company may drop you.

If you don’t have a car and aren’t sure how to get an SR-22 certificate, you’ll need to get a non-owner SR-22 car insurance policy before asking for an SR-22 certificate. Non-owner insurance coverage works like basic liability insurance for non-owner drivers and fulfills West Virginia’s requirements. Additionally, non-owner car insurance is often cheaper than owner car insurance.

The Final Word on Cheap West Virginia Auto Insurance 

The best way to find cheap auto insurance in West Virginia is to shop around and compare companies’ rates based on driver’s coverage needs and personalized driving records. However, drivers can also find savings through discounts, reducing coverages, and raising insurance deductibles.

If you’re ready to compare insurance companies’ rates in West Virginia, use our free quote comparison tool. It’ll help you find the best rates in your area based on your personalized profile, making finding cheap car insurance quick and easy. 

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