West Virginia Auto Insurance
West Virginia has minimum auto insurance requirements which must be met by all vehicles registered in the state. Failure to do so will result in severe penalties including fines and possibly driver license and/or vehicle registration suspension. More importantly, anyone driving with no auto insurance opens up the window to great personal liability in a car accident.
What are the minimum auto insurance requirements in West Virginia?
Anyone operating a vehicle in West Virginia must have an auto insurance policy in-force with at least the following minimum level of auto insurance:
- $20,000/$40,000 bodily injury liability
- $10,000 of property damage liability
- $20,000/$40,000 uninsured motorist coverage (UIM)
- $10,000 in uninsured motorist property damage
The West Virginia Department of Transportation openly acknowledges that these minimum requirements are extremely low. As such, all licensed auto insurance companies in the state are required to offer their clients slightly extended coverage at an affordable rate, though the driver is under no obligation to accept and can deny the additional coverage at his or her own risk. The extended policy amounts include at least $100,000/$300,000 in bodily injury liability and uninsured motorist coverage and at least $50,000 in general property damage coverage. These amounts are much more in line with what a person would actually require in the event of an accident, and drivers are strongly encouraged to hold at least this amount of automobile insurance. West Virginia is the only state which requires auto insurance companies to offer drivers higher auto insurance coverage by law, even though almost all states have very low minimum auto insurance requirements.
How much is auto insurance in West Virginia?
West Virginia is one of the more expensive states to insure a vehicle with drivers averaging around $1,600 a year in premiums. This is about 10% higher than the national average but good drivers can often pay much less by comparing auto insurance quotes and shopping around.
West Virginia Auto Insurance Companies
West Virginia is home to many auto insurance companies so its strongly suggested to shop around and compare quotes from multiple providers. Almost all of the big brand names like Progressive, GEICO and Allstate have a presence in West Virginia but there also many smaller providers who provide very reliable coverage at affordable rates. Your risk profile will often determine the number of choices you have for a provider but even high risk drivers can often find affordable auto insurance by shopping around and comparing auto insurance companies in West Virginia.
How do I find cheap auto insurance in West Virginia?
The key to finding lower auto insurance rates in West Virginia is to treat the purchase of auto insurance the same as buying a new car. Would you simply walk in a dealership and buy the first car you see? No, there is often much time spent researching a vehicles mileage, warranty and reviews before committing to a purchase. Auto insurance is something many drivers take for granted but some would argue that auto insurance is even more important than the vehicle itself. With the right coverage you can feel secure operating a vehicle no matter what kind of accident occurs but the wrong type of coverage can lead many to bankruptcy with even a minor accident.
Start with learning about the basic types of auto insurance, what discounts are available and how policy deductibles work. These three (3) elements form the basis of most auto insurance comparison searches since they help drivers define how much auto insurance they need, what discounts they are eligible for and how much they can afford to pay out of pocket in an accident. Once you understand the basics then its time to start an auto insurance comparison search and compare premiums.
