Average Cost of Car Insurance in West Virginia

In general, West Virginians can expect to pay an average of $1,819 per year ($152 monthly) for full coverage and $561 per year ($47 monthly) for minimum coverage. The cost of car insurance in West Virginia can vary greatly based on a variety of factors, so we’ve compiled the average costs for different demographics to give you a better idea of how much you might pay.

By Age

Teen drivers pay the highest premiums of any group by far, given their limited experience on the road. Usually, teens under 18 are added to a family policy, which is a great way to save on costs. They can also get an individual policy if a parent or guardian agrees to cosign, but it will be much more expensive.

Costs decrease throughout drivers’ 20s, and middle-aged drivers pay the least. Premiums tend to increase again once drivers hit 70.

*Average cost on a family policy

By Gender

Premiums can also vary by gender, particularly for young drivers. This is because young men are statistically more likely to be involved in an accident¹, so they usually pay more for car insurance — except in California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, which don’t allow insurers to use gender as a rating factor.

By Marital Status

People who are married can expect to pay slightly less for car insurance than those who are single or divorced.

By Coverage Level

When you’re buying car insurance, one of the choices you must make is whether to get only minimum coverage — which usually includes only liability coverage, although it varies by state — or full coverage, which also includes collision and comprehensive coverage.

The following chart shows which companies offer the lowest rates in West Virginia for various demographics.

West Virginia already has relatively low car insurance rates on average, but there are several ways you can lower your premiums further:

1. Check for discounts. Car insurance companies offer many discounts that you may be eligible for, including multicar discounts, bundling discounts, pay-in-full discounts and paperless discounts.
2. Raise your deductibles. If you have full coverage, consider increasing your collision and comprehensive deductibles as long as you can afford to cover them if you need to file a claim. Higher deductibles mean lower premiums.
3. Shop around. It’s a good idea to shop around for insurance every year before your policy renews. Get quotes from several insurers to see if you could be paying less with another company. Some insurers offer loyalty discounts, which you could miss out on by switching providers frequently, so take this into consideration.

West Virginia requires that all drivers carry the following insurance at a minimum²:

West Virginia is an at-fault state, which means that whichever party causes an accident is responsible for paying for damages and medical costs. If you are hit by a driver who doesn’t have insurance, the uninsured motorist coverage you’re required to carry per state law will kick in and cover some of the costs.

An SR-22 is a certificate of financial responsibility that you may be required to file if you commit a severe driving violation, such as a DUI. West Virginia is one of the few states that does not require SR-22s, but insurers will still charge you higher rates following a violation.

Drivers in West Virginia enjoy slightly lower car insurance rates than the national average. However, your premium will depend on specific personal factors, such as your driving history, age, location and credit history. Always shop around for quotes and compare rates before you select a provider.

AutoInsurance.com has been in the car insurance industry for over 20 years, connecting people to the best and most affordable car insurance providers. To give you an idea of how much you might pay for car insurance, we evaluate aggregated data along with state-specific information regarding state-mandated minimum coverage requirements, fault systems and SR-22s.