West VirginiaCar Insurance

Find the Best Car Insurance Quotes & Options in West Virginia

West Virginia has some of the highest car insurance rates in the nation. At an average of $1,716 per year, drivers in West Virginia pay well above the current national average of $1,311 annually. Still, that's no reason not to get your vehicle properly covered. Especially considering that discounts can help reduce the cost of your premiums.

An independent insurance agent can help you find all the car insurance you need. Until then, here's a closer examination of West Virginia car insurance requirements and rates.

Best Car Insurance Companies in West Virginia

Though car insurance is available from many car insurance companies in West Virginia, why not skip to the best first? That's why we've put together a list of our top picks for you. Check out our list of the best car insurance companies in West Virginia by category.

• Best West Virginia Car Insurance Company Overall: USAA
• Best West Virginia Car Insurance Company for Minimum Liability: Erie
• Best West Virginia Car Insurance Company for Full Coverage: Nationwide
• Best West Virginia Car Insurance Company for Young Drivers: Nationwide
• Best West Virginia Car Insurance Company for Accident History: Erie

A West Virginia independent insurance agent can help you further browse the options for car insurance.

Best West Virginia Car Insurance Company Overall: USAA

Our top choice for the best West Virginia car insurance company overall goes to USAA. A high ranking on J.D. Power's 2021 US Auto Insurance Study and in terms of customer service automatically bumps USAA up toward the top of the pack. USAA offers highly affordable car insurance, especially compared to average rates in West Virginia, at just $1,227 per year.

Originally founded in 1922, USAA has been around for more than a century. The carrier was started by a group of Army officers who decided to insure each other’s vehicles. Since then, USAA has grown to now servicing millions of customers nationwide with a wide variety of insurance products.

USAA’s net worth surpassed $35 billion a couple of years ago. The insurance company now has over 13 million members (i.e., policyholders) and about 35,000 employees. USAA reportedly has also paid out $2.4 billion in returns to its customers. As if that wasn't enough, USAA also recently received high ratings and awards from major agencies like Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s. AM Best rates the insurance company at "A++," the highest available, for financial strength.

Best West Virginia Car Insurance Company for Minimum Liability: Erie

Our pick for the best car insurance company in West Virginia for minimum liability-only coverage goes to Erie Insurance. With highly affordable coverage of just $270 per year to meet the state's minimum requirements, drivers can't look past Erie. The carrier also offers several auto insurance discounts to help reduce costs no matter how much coverage you buy.

First started in 1925 as the Erie Insurance Exchange, Erie has been in the industry for nearly a century. Since then, the insurance company has grown to have more than 5,000 employees. Erie's official website states that the carrier currently has more than five million insurance policies in force.

By 2020, Erie had earned several major titles, like being the 12^th largest auto insurer in the US, the 11^th largest home insurer in the US, and the 12^th largest business insurer in the US. The insurance company has also been a Fortune 500 company since 2003. AM Best awards Erie an “A+” or superior rating in terms of financial strength.

Best West Virginia Car Insurance Company for Full Coverage: Nationwide

Our pick for the best West Virginia car insurance company for full coverage goes to Nationwide. The company offers a plethora of car insurance discounts for its customers and highly affordable rates to begin with. The carrier had the cheapest rates in the state for full coverage by far, at an average of just $101 per month.

Founded in 1925, Nationwide has been around for nearly a century. The carrier has grown over time from a small auto insurance company to one of the largest insurance and financial services companies globally. They now have more than 10,000 employees.

In terms of financial size, AM Best places Nationwide in the $2 billion or greater category. The company also awards Nationwide an "A+" or superior rating overall for financial strength. Nationwide also earned an impressive 876 out of 1,000 points on J.D. Power's Customer Satisfaction Survey in recent years.

Best West Virginia Car Insurance Company for Young Drivers: Nationwide

Our top pick for the best car insurance company in West Virginia for young drivers also goes to Nationwide. Many drivers know that adding a teen or student to their policy can cause rates to increase exponentially, but this doesn't have to be the case if you know where to look. Nationwide helps keep car insurance for families with teen or young drivers and students affordable, with rates averaging $1,170 per year, which is lower than many other carriers in the state. 

Best West Virginia Car Insurance Company for Accident History: Erie

Our top pick for the best car insurance company in West Virginia for drivers with an accident history goes to Erie. The carrier also offers accident forgiveness, better car replacement coverage, and rental car reimbursement, which can appeal to drivers with poor records. Rates for car insurance for drivers with at least one accident on record average just $1,002 from Erie.

West Virginia Car Insurance Requirements

You'll need at least the state's mandated minimum car insurance requirements before you can legally drive in any part of the US. This goes for folks in West Virginia, as well. In West Virginia, all drivers must have at least the following coverages by law:

• Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident is required. It can pay for medical treatment for another driver and their passengers after an accident you're at fault for.
• Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident is required. It can pay for repairs to someone else's property, like a car or a shed, if you damage it with your car.
• Uninsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident is required. It can help cover your costs after an accident caused by another driver who lacks any or adequate car insurance of their own.
• Uninsured motorist property damage coverage: $25,000 of this coverage is required. It can help cover costs if an uninsured or underinsured driver damages your property with their vehicle.

Optional car insurance coverages in West Virginia include:

• Medical payments: Covers the medical treatment of your injuries or injuries to your passengers after an accident you're at fault for.
• Roadside assistance: Covers the costs of towing, etc., if you break down on the side of the road.
• Rental car reimbursement: Covers the costs of a rental car after a covered accident.
• Comprehensive: Covers the costs of damage caused by threats other than collision, including hail damage, theft, vandalism, windshield breaks, and more. 
• Collision: Covers the costs of damage to your vehicle after an accident you're at fault for.
• Gap coverage: Covers the difference between what your vehicle is worth and what you owe on your remaining vehicle loan after a collision.

A West Virginia independent insurance agent will be able to advise you on the coverages you most need to add to your car insurance policy.

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Average Cost of Car Insurance in West Virginia

Rates of car insurance in West Virginia average $1,716 annually. The current US average is just $1,311 annually. West Virginia has the nation's sixth-highest rate for car insurance. But note that car insurance costs can vary depending on which type of policy you get and where you get it. A minimum coverage-only policy can cost an average of just $270 per year in West Virginia, while a policy offering "full coverage" can cost an average of $1,216 annually.

Average West Virginia Car Insurance Costs By City

Thanks to factors like local car costs, crime rates and traffic rates, risks of storms, and more, car insurance costs vary by city. In West Virginia, drivers in Vienna pay the lowest average car insurance rates for the state, at just $1,492 per year. In contrast, drivers in Charleston pay the highest average car insurance premiums in the state, at $1,897 per year.

Finding Car Insurance Discounts in West Virginia

Car insurance is typically more expensive in West Virginia than in most other states. However, you can still find ways to save money on your policy. Thanks to car insurance discounts offered by many car insurance companies in West Virginia, you can enjoy big breaks on your premiums. Look for these discounts for car insurance in West Virginia.

• Paperless billing discount: Signing up for paperless billing statements could save you some money on car insurance.
• Anti-theft device discount: Buying a vehicle with an anti-theft device like a car alarm could save you money on car insurance.
• Student driver discount: Adding a student driver to your policy could save you some money on car insurance.
• Safe driver discount: Maintaining a clean driving record with no tickets or accidents could help you save a substantial amount on your car insurance.
• Military discount: Being an active or retired military member could save you a great deal on your car insurance.
• Other discounts: Belonging to specific organizations like unions, groups, or the government or being a teacher could earn you an additional discount on your car insurance premiums.

Your West Virginia independent insurance agent can help you add these discounts to your car insurance policy if you qualify.

How to Find the Best Car Insurance Quote in West Virginia

West Virginia independent insurance agents exist to help make your coverage journey easier. They can help shop and compare multiple car insurance companies. Then they'll present you with the best car insurance quotes in West Virginia in one convenient place. Let them do the hard work.

How to File a Car Insurance Claim in West Virginia

Filing a car insurance claim in West Virginia may not be your idea of a good time, but the process itself doesn't have to be confusing. We're hoping to demystify the process of filing a car insurance claim when the time comes with this simple step-by-step process:

1. File a police report ASAP: If you've been involved in an accident, file a police report ASAP, ideally from the scene.
2. Get medical help: Next, get any injured parties the medical treatment they need.
3. Call your independent insurance agent: Your West Virginia independent insurance agent can take it from here. They can even contact your car insurance company and file the claim for you.
4. Arrange for a rental vehicle: Next, you'll want to arrange to get a rental vehicle from your car insurance company if needed, and if you have this coverage in your policy. 
5. Schedule a visit with an adjuster: You'll most likely then need to schedule a visit by an insurance adjuster to evaluate your vehicle's damage before your claim can proceed.

A West Virginia independent insurance agent can walk you through every step of the car insurance claims process and answer any additional questions.

How does your city measure up to the national average?

National average time spent commuting 26.9 Min

National average car thefts per 1,000 2.3 Year

National average car insurance cost $1,311 Year

City	Commute time (min)	Auto theft rate / 1,000	Annual insurance cost
Beckley	18.3	1.91	$1,612
Bluefield	20.1	0.51	$1,506
Charleston	17.5	5.18	$1,897
Clarksburg	21	1.38	$1,585
Fairmont	21	1.68	$1,615
Huntington	18	4.14	$1,777
Martinsburg	25.5	0.86	$1,663
Morgantown	16.6	1.12	$1,503
Parkersburg	17.1	3.71	$1,768
South Charleston	16.2	1.78	$1,573
St. Albans	23.1	1.81	$1,738
Vienna	17.4	0.49	$1,492
Wheeling	18.8	0.78	$1,517

West Virginia Car Insurance FAQ