Car insurance in hilly, beautiful West Virginia can be among the most expensive in the country. Insurance rates in coal country, in West Virginia's southwest corner, often are nearly double those paid by an identical driver in another part of the state. You'll find state car insurance rates for every ZIP code mapped below. The good news is that if you compare rates, you can save money, no matter where you live. No two insurance companies will charge the same price for the same policy as each uses its own formula to calculate costs. So, if you shop around to see who has the lowest, you won't overpay. Enter your ZIP code, age and coverage level to see how much rates differ among insurers. You'll see the average rate, plus the highest and lowest, for your neighborhood, so you know what you can expect to pay.
West Virginia Car Insurance Requirements
Average Car Insurance Rates in West Virginia
Car Insurance Companies in West Virginia
West Virginia mandates that motorists buy $25,000 worth of bodily injury liability coverage (up to $50,000 per accident) and $25,000 worth of property damage liability coverage as well.
Those minimum limits for liability insurance are low compared with other states, perhaps not enough to protect a driver who owns a home or has other assets. Even a minor accident involving a newer car can cost more than $10,000 to fix or exceed $20,000 in medical bills.
The state also requires drivers to buy uninsured motorist coverage for both bodily injury and property damage. About 11 percent of West Virginia drivers are uninsured, according to the Insurance Research Council.
West Virginia uninsured motorist penalties: You may be fined $200 to $5,000 and be sentenced to 15 days to one year in jail. Your license and registration may be suspended.
Watch out during deer season: Your odds of hitting a deer are higher in West Virginia than in any other state: 1 in 39, according to data gathered by State Farm. The damage isn't covered unless you buy comprehensive coverage.
Riding shotgun: Among the offenses that can add two points to your West Virginia driver's license: having more than three passengers in the front seat.
Defensive-driving classes: Drivers can remove three points from their motor vehicle records by taking a state-approved defensive-driving class, but only once every two years. Suspensions begin when 12 or more points have accumulated; points drop off after two years but notices of the conviction remain for five.
Rank | Company / Group | Direct Premiums Written ($) | Market Share (%) |
1 | State Farm Group | 303,227 | 26.23 |
2 | Nationwide Group | 184,008 | 15.92 |
3 | Erie Insurance Group | 142,976 | 12.37 |
4 | Allstate Insurance Group | 88,202 | 7.63 |
5 | Berkshire Hathaway Insurance | 84,754 | 7.33 |
6 | Progressive Insurance Group | 54,873 | 4.75 |
7 | Liberty Mutual Insurance Companies | 51,373 | 4.44 |
8 | Hartford Insurance Group | 42,947 | 3.72 |
9 | USAA Group | 37,346 | 3.23 |
10 | Westfield Group | 31,620 | 2.74 |
Source: A.M. Best market share rankings are based on direct premiums written in 2013. |