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. From the massive New River Gorge Bridge to the historic Green Brier hotel and resort, wilderness or luxury awaits the residents and tourists of West Virginia. Cheapcarinsurance.net wants to make the touring a little more simple, so this list of all the important driving laws and facts have been dug up and organized for easy reference.
Average Costs for Car Insurance in West Virginia
The average costs for car insurance in West Virginia for full coverage is $1,532 a year or $456 for state minimum coverage.
Below is a breakdown of average costs based on vehicle type and current city 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
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
West Virginia Department of Transportation 1900 Kanawha Blvd. E Building 5 Charleston, WV 25305 (304)558-0444 Get Directions
Department of Motor Vehicles
West Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles State Department of Transportation 5707 MacCorkle Ave., SE Charleston, WV 25317 1-800-642-9066 (West Virginia residents only) (304)-558-3900 (Out-of-state) Get Directions