West Virginia Auto Insurance Laws, Minimums, Requirements

What mandatory auto insurance laws exist in West Virginia?

• In the state of West Virginia, all drivers must be covered by liability insurance in the minimum amounts of $20,000 for one injury or death per accident, $40,000 for two injuries or death per accident, and $10,000 for property damages.
• All West Virginia drivers must carry auto insurance at all time and proof of coverage at all times. If you fail to show proof of insurance, your license and registration will be suspended for 30 days. A second offense costs 90 days.
• In order to reinstate your license in the state of West Virginia, you will have to show proof of insurance and pay a $100 fee, plus a $50 reinstatement fee. 

What is the Minimum Liability Coverage (Bodily Injury amounts per person, per accident, and property damage amounts):

If you buy automobile insurance in West Virginia, your policy must include minimum liability coverage of:

$20,000 for one injury or death per accident,
$40,000 for two injuries or death per accident,
and
$10,000 for property damages

What are the Rental Car Insurance Requirements?

In the state of West Virginia, it is illegal to operate any motor vehicle without insurance, this includes rental cars. Rental cars must carry the minimum liability coverages required by Louisiana law. It is important to keep in mind that most West Virginia auto insurance policies include car rentals. Most credit cards cover car rentals as well, so be sure to check your auto insurance policy and/or check with your credit card issuer. If you find that your credit card and/or auto insurance policy do not cover rental cars, you must purchase car rental insurance from the car rental company. It typically costs an extra $7-$14 a day.

What are the rules pertaining to Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage?

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage is not required in the state of West Virginia. Because West Virginia is a Tort state, most insurance companies recommend that driver’s consider carrying higher coverages than the state minimums. The state recommends Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage in the amounts of $20,000/$40,000 for bodily injury and $10,000 for property damage.

What are the rules pertaining to the exclusion from coverage of a driver living in household?

In the state of West Virginia, it is legal to exclude a member of your household from your policy. It is also legal for your auto insurance company to write a policy that excludes household members that may be considered high-risk due to driving history, etc. These exclusions are listed in the exclusions section of the policy, which also includes a list of all possible circumstances that would free the insurance company from the responsibility of paying a claim. Because a household exclusion means that the excluded person will not be covered under any circumstance, this included emergencies, it is extremely important to examine your auto insurance policy carefully before signing on the dotted line.

What are the rules regarding whether a driver has prior insurance? That is, how does state law handle it if a driver has no prior insurance or has let their previous insurance lapse?

West Virginia state law requires that all vehicle owners purchase the minimum coverage for liability. The West Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles conducts a random sample of registered vehicles to ensure that vehicle owners have purchased the minimum required insurance coverage. If the Department of Motor Vehicles cannot verify coverage, it will suspend your driver’s license and vehicle license plate. If your insurance lapses the insurance company will notify the DMV. This means that the system will show that you are not covered.

What are the rules and guidelines auto insurance companies must follow regarding the use of Personal Credit History in selecting applicants and setting rates?

In the state of West Virginia, it is legal for auto insurers to use Personal Credit History to help determine which products they will offer as well as rates. Your Personal Credit History may also be used to determine whether you will be making monthly or quarterly payments or if you will be required to pay the entire premium upfront. Personal Credit History is also used to create an “insurance risk score.” This score also helps determine your auto insurance rates. In order to enjoy a lower insurance premium, pay your bills on time in an effort to improve your score. This will also help improve your credit history so that in the long run, you can save money on your car insurance premium. That said, Personal Credit History is not the only assessment tool West Virginia auto insurance companies may use. They also consider age, gender, where you live, car make and model, how much you drive, and driving record.

Is the state a No Fault or Tort state? What does either mean to the policy owner?

The state of West Virginia follows a Tort System. What this means is, if you are involved in an accident, someone must be found to be the cause or fault of the accident. The person deemed at fault is responsible for all damages. Damages are usually handled through the at-fault person's insurance company. Because West Virginia is a Tort state, most insurance companies recommend that driver’s consider carrying higher coverages than the state minimums. 

What is the average auto insurance premium in this state? As of what year?

As of 2006, West Virginia resident’s average insurance premium was approximately $827, the 19th most expensive in the nation. This was down 3.7% from the previous year. The national average was $817.

Sources

Insurance Information Institute

West Virginia Insurance Commission