Looking for Cheap Car Insurance in West Virginia?
West Virginians have no shortage of reasons to hit the road. But there's one thing standing between you and all those open roads: car insurance. High crime rates, a lot of uninsured drivers, and poorly maintained roadways make finding cheap car insurance in West Virginia a challenge. It's an issue facing most states now, but for West Virginia, it's about keeping its reputation as one of the most challenging states to insure.
At Carlay, we provide the information you need to make the right decision about your insurance. Our rates calculator gathers data from many providers to give you a snapshot of your options.
Carlay will handle the switchover from one insurance provider to another for you. You need not fill out any forms, call around for quotes, or do any of the legwork involved in switching insurers—Carlay's service does all of that for you. Carlay users often save $879 per year on their car insurance premiums.
Some of Carlay's customers in West Virginia said they saved money by switching to our company:
How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in West Virginia?
You can expect to pay an average of $1,745 a year for liability-only car insurance in West Virginia and about $2,264 a year for full coverage car insurance.
The average nationwide cost of basic liability auto insurance is $1,783 per year, while the national average for full coverage car insurance is $2,485 per year.
What contributes to the insurance rates in West Virginia?
These are the considerations involved in getting car insurance in West Virginia:
- High crime rates
West Virginia's crime rates are above the national average. The small mining towns that dot the state have high crime rates due to historically high poverty and drug use.
- Poorly maintained roads
West Virginia is a wonderful place to visit, but it's not the best when it comes to poorly maintained roads. The main reason for poorly maintained roads in West Virginia is that the oil industry is in decline and the state has very little tax revenue from oil companies. It also doesn't help that West Virginia has one of the highest poverty levels in the country.
- High number of uninsured drivers
The West Virginia traffic laws are fair and, when followed, prevent all types of incidents. Some issues noted, however, include a high number of uninsured drivers and narrow winding roads that do not allow for safe passing.
- Severe weather and risk of natural disasters
Situated in the Appalachian Mountain range and filled with natural formations, West Virginia is a state filled with mountains and rolling hills. But the state is also known for its weather which can change without warning and natural disasters like floods.
Here's how West Virginia stacks up against the rest of the nation in terms of insurance savings:
| All Coverage Before Carlay | All Coverage After Carlay | Minimum Coverage Before Carlay | Minimum Coverage After Carlay | Full Coverage Before Carlay | Full Coverage After Carlay | |
| WV | $2,153 | $1,414 | $2,051 | $973 | $2,662 | $1,802 |
| National Average | $2,489 | $1,671 | $2,360 | $1,390 | $2,761 | $1,963 |
| WV | National Average | |
| All Coverage Before Carlay | $2,153 | $2,489 |
| All Coverage After Carlay | $1,414 | $1,671 |
| Minimum Coverage Before Carlay | $2,051 | $2,360 |
| Minimum Coverage After Carlay | $973 | $1,390 |
| Full Coverage Before Carlay | $2,662 | $2,761 |
| Full Coverage After Carlay | $1,802 | $1,963 |
Top auto insurance providers in West Virginia
In West Virginia you can choose from a wide range of insurance carriers, including top companies like Nationwide, State Farm, GEICO, and Erie.
Because insurance providers calculate premiums in different ways, private companies can have very different rates for their policies, even when they are offering the exact same coverage. Car insurers in West Virginia use your age, driving history, the location where you live, and the type of car you drive to calculate your rates.
Consider the example of West Virginia, where one carrier is seeing car theft and vandalism claims for your geographic area, leading to higher rates (for all drivers in that area). Here are some deals from Carlay customers who have found car insurance offers from companies in West Virginia:
What Car Insurance Do You Need in West Virginia?
West Virginia law mandates that drivers carry the following minimum car insurance coverage levels:
| Coverage | Amount | Description |
| Bodily injury liability | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident | Helps cover any medical bills or other costs associated with injuries you cause to others |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 per accident | Helps covers the cost associated with damages you cause to vehicles or property that belong to other people |
| Uninsured motorist bodily injury | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident | Helps cover medical bills and other costs resulting from an accident caused by an uninsured driver |
| Uninsured motorist property damage | $20,000 per accident | Helps cover the costs of property damage resulting from an accident caused by an uninsured driver |
The state of West Virginia requires drivers to purchase car insurance so you can be financially responsible for injuries and damages in the event of a collision.
If you fail to maintain your car insurance or let it lapse, you might face serious penalties if you are in an accident.
- An expensive ticket
- A driver's license suspension
- A towed and impounded car
- A lack of financial protection if you get into an accident
You should definitely consider getting more than the required liability coverage if you can afford it. If you can't, then at least make sure your insurance will cover all the expenses of an accident.
Here are some additional types of coverage that West Virginia drivers might want to consider:
| Coverage | Description |
| Collision coverage | Helps cover any damages to your vehicle if you get into a collision with someone else's vehicle or another object |
| Comprehensive coverage | Helps cover damage to your car from something other than a collision, such as contact with animals, natural disasters, fire, vandalism, or theft |
Carlay has a personalized solution for you. With coverage options and discounts to fit your needs, you'll get the best price on insurance.
Carlay simplifies the process of finding new auto insurance. They'll compare quotes from multiple companies so you can find the policy that's right for you. They'll even help make the process of switching to your new coverage easy by canceling your old policy. Also, Carlay won't let you pay more than you have to. Every time your policy comes up for renewal it'll automatically get a new quote.
How is Your Cost of Car Insurance Determined in West Virginia?
Your car insurance premium is affected by many factors, including your age, driving record, and the type of vehicle you drive.
- Cost to insure your car in West Virginia by age
Insurance companies consider your driving experience as well as your age. The younger you are, the less driving experience you'll likely have, which will be reflected in higher insurance premiums.
If you're a young driver in West Virginia, you'll probably pay more for car insurance than your parents did. You can still get cheap car insurance quotes by shopping around, looking for discounts, and maintaining a clean driving record.
You may be young or old, but if you haven't experimented with a quote search on Carlay, you're probably missing out.
Here are the prices Carlay found for drivers by age:
| Age Group | Average Cost | Annual Savings with Carlay |
| 18-20 | $3,049 | $942 |
| 21-24 | $2,699 | $988 |
| 25-34 | $2,327 | $885 |
| 35-44 | $2,178 | $946 |
| 45-54 | $2,423 | $803 |
| 55-64 | $1,977 | $590 |
| 65+ | $1,200 | $408 |
- Cost to insure your car in West Virginia with a poor driving record
If you've been in an accident or received a speeding ticket or a DUI, your car insurance rates will likely be higher.
West Virginia's lookback period is ten years. If you commit another violation within that period, it will be considered a second offense and you'll be hit with more serious penalties.
But there's good news! Carlay can help West Virginia drivers find great car insurance even with a blemish on their driving record.
| Driving Violation | Average Cost | Annual Savings with Carlay |
| Clean Record | $2,623 | $881 |
| Failure to Obey Traffic Sign | $3,510 | $1,831 |
| DUI | $3,320 | $1,319 |
| Defective Equipment | $2,676 | $1,084 |
| Speeding under 15 | $2,847 | $1,053 |
| Careless Driving | $2,229 | $924 |
| Leaving scene of an Accident/Hit and Run | $1,716 | $808 |
| Speeding over 15 | $1,920 | $242 |
| Other | $2,851 | $869 |
- Cost to insure your car in West Virginia based on where you live
Many people misunderstand the relationship between ZIP code, vehicle insurance rates, and urban centers. Drivers in cities tend to pay more than drivers in rural areas because urban centers have higher rates of accidents, thefts, and claims.
While West Virginia cities offer plenty of activities, they are also areas where many traffic accidents occur. Rural areas are also potential trouble spots—speeding is one of the main causes of fatal accidents.
Although traffic fatality rates are quite high, there has been a downward trend across West Virginia. The following are the cheapest car insurance rates in West Virginia by city:
| City | Average Cost | Annual Savings with Carlay |
| Beckley | $2,463 | $1,144 |
| Bluefield | $2,447 | $733 |
| Charleston | $2,573 | $965 |
| Fairmont | $1,860 | $624 |
| Huntington | $2,412 | $874 |
| Martinsburg | $2,387 | $845 |
| Morgantown | $2,370 | $844 |
| Parkersburg | $2,645 | $753 |
| Princeton | $1,727 | $470 |
- Cost to insure your car in West Virginia based on the type of car you drive
The Ford F-Series pickup is the most popular car in West Virginia, along with the Honda Accord and the Ford Focus. Most of these vehicles are fairly affordable with reasonable gas mileage and average auto insurance costs.
If you drive a relatively inexpensive car, your insurance company is likely to charge lower premiums than if you drive a more expensive car. This is because it will cost less to repair or replace a common car than a rare and expensive vehicle.
If you desire fancier coverage, like for a vehicle like an Infiniti Q50 or BMW 3-series, expect higher premiums. Here's a breakdown of what you pay for auto insurance with and without Carlay:
How to Save Money On Car Insurance in West Virginia?
Here are a few tips on how to lower your auto insurance without jeopardizing your protection.
- Shop around for quotes
If you're looking to reduce your insurance premiums, one of the best ways to do so is by obtaining quotes from a variety of insurance companies. Carlay can help bring a sense of ease to your search by guiding you through the car shopping process.
Carlay offers a free quote comparison system, so you can find a new car insurance policy with ease. All you need to do is enter a few details of your previous policy and you'll get an instant quote from up to 50 providers.
You know how hard it is to keep your car insurance premium from going up. That's why Carlay reassesses your policy every six months. When you are ready for a premium update, Carlay can help by reviewing your records, updating your address and other important information, and making sure you get the best deal possible on your coverage.
- Look for discounts
When you want to find cheap car insurance quotes, always seek out special discounts offered by insurance companies.
There are a lot of discounts in West Virginia. Here are some examples:
| Discount type | Who is eligible? |
| Paperless billing and automatic payments | Enroll in paperless billing and you could qualify for a discount between 2 and 25%. |
| Good student discounts | West Virginia drivers who have been accident-free for several years can usually get a “safe driver” discount. If you've never had a crash or a speeding ticket, ask about this discount. |
| Driver education discounts | Older drivers who refresh their driving knowledge can get a 5-10% discount on their premium. Ask your insurance company about approved courses. Usually, it's as simple as taking an online course. |
| Bundling your policies | Get your car and home policies from the same company and you could enjoy a reduced premium. |
| Telematics discounts | Many companies offer customers a free telematics device that tracks driving behavior. It plugs into your vehicle and reports back on your starts, stops, and speeding. Safe drivers become eligible for a discount, and there's often a discount simply for enrolling. |
If you marry, your auto insurance company may lower your rates. If you move to a rural area, you may qualify for discounted rates; since you're less likely to get in an accident, you'll file fewer claims.
- Increase your deductible
The deductible is the amount of money you have to pay out of pocket before your car insurance covers the rest. Your premium might go up if you raise your deductible—but you can also expect to shell out more money to repair an accident.
Registering Your Car in West Virginia
If you want to buy a car in West Virginia, you'll need to get the following paperwork organized:
- A driver's license or ID card
- Proof of insurance
- Proof of sales tax payment
- A car title or signed lease agreement
- Proof of a safety inspection
- Proof of a smog test, depending on the age of the vehicle
Once you have all the documents, visit a DMV office. Usually, you'll need to make an appointment first. At the DMV, fill out a registration form that asks for personal details and information about your car.
West Virginia drivers must renew their vehicle registrations annually.