Average Cost for Auto Insurance in West Virginia
- State minimum liability on average in West Virginia costs $66 a month or $757 a year. Full coverage auto policies costs around $220 a month or $2,585 yearly.
CheapCarInsurance pulls cost data from recent real time auto policy quotes across the state. Data is based on a driver profile of a single person with a clean driving record that is middle aged and drives a modern vehicle.
West Virginia makes its home in the Appalachian Mountains. As the only state located completely within Appalachia, “The Mountain State” prides itself on the attractions hidden in those hills. Cheapcarinsurance.net wants to make the touring a little more simple, so this list of all the important driving laws and facts have been researched and organized for easy reference.
Auto Policy Rates for WV Counties by Vehicle Types
Below is a breakdown of average costs based on vehicle type and county in West Virginia:
| Auto Insurance Costs by County: | Sedan: | SUV: | Coupe: | Truck: | Hybrid: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams | $791 | $565 | $783 | $664 | $731 |
| Asotin | $823 | $590 | $783 | $699 | $756 |
| Benton | $766 | $551 | $841 | $649 | $706 |
| Chelan | $789 | $566 | $808 | $670 | $726 |
| Clallam | $815 | $591 | $868 | $698 | $749 |
| Clark | $855 | $621 | $938 | $738 | $784 |
| Columbia | $823 | $590 | $783 | $699 | $756 |
| Cowlitz | $854 | $619 | $923 | $736 | $782 |
| Douglas | $771 | $552 | $808 | $650 | $711 |
| Ferry | $851 | $605 | $900 | $705 | $790 |
| Franklin | $766 | $551 | $841 | $649 | $706 |
| Garfield | $823 | $590 | $783 | $699 | $756 |
| Grant | $791 | $565 | $868 | $664 | $731 |
| Grays Harbor | $814 | $590 | $892 | $697 | $748 |
| Island | $806 | $590 | $868 | $700 | $738 |
Cheap West Virginia Auto Insurance Providers
- In West Virginia the cheapest auto insurance providers on average are Erie, State Farm and Allstate. State minimum liability car insurance starts at $44 a month or $529 a year with Erie. The cheapest full coverage car insurance starts at $173 a month or $2,070 a year with Nationwide.
Minimum Requirements for Car Insurance in WV
- West Virginia Law (W.V.C. §17A and §17D) makes it mandatory for every vehicle to be covered with Liability Insurance.
- Liability minimums in West Virginia:
- $20,000 covers a person if he/she is injured or killed in an accident.
- $40,000 covers an accident if there is more than one person injured or killed.
- $10,000 covers property damage in an accident.
New Driver Licensing Requirements
- According to the West Virginia Driver’s Handbook, every resident who wishes to drive a vehicle in the state has 30 days from residency to obtain a license. A valid license may be transferred from out-of-state with certain requirements. For new drivers under the age of 18, the Graduated Driver License (GDL) program is a 3-step process to train young drivers before awarding them a full license. The GDL includes the following elements.
- Instruction Permit. Applicants who have reached age 15, passed the vision and written tests, acquired parental consent and submitted a school enrollment verification form may qualify for this permit. The restrictions and requirements include:
- The applicant must have a licensed driver age 21 or older with him/her to be allowed to drive.
- The applicant may drive only between 5am and 10pm.
- Only 2 unrelated passengers are allowed in the vehicle when the permit holder is driving.
- All occupants must wear a safety belt.
- The applicant must maintain a clean driving record while holding the permit for 180 consecutive days.
- Intermediate Driver’s License. Between the ages of 16 and 17, applicants may apply for the Intermediate Driver’s License. To do so, the following requirements and restrictions apply:
- The driver must complete 50 hours of driving, or complete an approved driver education course.
- The applicant needs to provide a School Driver Eligibility Certificate.
- The driver may drive unsupervised between 5am and 10pm. If supervised, there is no driving time restriction.
- For the first 6 months, the driver is limited to no unrelated passenger under the age of 20.
- For the second 6 months, the driver is limited to one unrelated passenger under the age of 20.
- Upon turning 17 and holding the Intermediate Driver’s License for 12 violation-free months, the applicant may obtain a Regular Driver’s License.
- Vision Screening. Drivers must have a visual acuity of at least 20/40 with or without corrective lenses. Restrictions exist for drivers with differing visual acuities.
- Knowledge Test. West Virginia’s Driver’s Handbook is the study material for the knowledge test, and the WVDMV has provided a sample test on their website.
- Road Test. The vehicle used for the road test must be insured, registered and licensed. Only the test administrator is allowed in the vehicle with the applicant during the test. The administrator will have the applicant perform basic driving maneuvers to demonstrate that he/she is capable of safely and legally driving on the road.
- Fees. All permits and licenses hold a $5 fee
DUI & DWI Laws in WV
- BAC limit: .08 For a concise list of DUI factors and penalties, refer to the WVDMV impaired driving brochure. The general penalties for DUI convictions in West Virginia are:
- First Offense:
- Jail: 6 months
- License revocation: 90 days
- Fine: $100 to $500
- Ignition Interlock: possible 15 days
- Second Offense:
- Jail: 6 months to 1 year
- License revocation: 12 months with interlock device
- Fine: $1,000 to $3,000
- Third Offense:
- Jail: 1 to 3 years
- License revocation: 12 months with interlock device
- Fine: $3,000 to $5,000
- Refusals receive these additional penalties:
- Jail: 24 hours to 6 months
- Fine: $100 to $500
- License revocation: 1 year and 45 days with interlock devices
