The Cheapest Car Insurance in West Virginia (September 2023)

Nationwide offers the cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in West Virginia. MoneyGeek found that State Farm and Erie also provide the cheapest rates for certain types of drivers in the state.

The best overall car insurance in West Virginia should be researched by those who want to balance price and quality service.

Our study shows that the following insurers provide West Virginia drivers with the cheapest car insurance rates for a minimum coverage policy:

• Nationwide: $419 per year
• Erie: $426 per year

Allstate is the most expensive auto insurance company in the state for this level of coverage, with an average annual premium of $755.

The state's minimum auto insurance regulations only include property damage, bodily insurance, uninsured motorist and uninsured motorist property damage coverage.

A minimum coverage policy does not cover damage to your vehicle, only damage you cause to others. You should purchase a full coverage policy, generally referred to as a comprehensive and collision insurance policy, to cover damages to your own car.

For the cheapest full coverage in West Virginia, MoneyGeek discovered that the following insurance providers are, on average, the best options:

• Erie: $1,013 per year
• Nationwide: $1,079 per year

Allstate is the most costly insurer in the state for full coverage, charging about $1,451 a year.

If you increase your auto insurance to include comprehensive and collision coverage, your yearly premium can increase. With Erie, comprehensive coverage costs $587 more than minimum coverage.

Full coverage auto insurance provides extra security if you file a claim. It includes coverage for losses caused by both on- and off-road incidents.

How much car insurance you need will impact your premiums. The full coverage sample policy from MoneyGeek provides the following liability insurance limits:

• $100,000 bodily injury per person
• $300,000 bodily injury per accident
• $100,000 property damage per accident

By reducing your liability limits, forgoing comprehensive and collision coverage or raising your deductible, you can reduce your rates. However, you may end up with insufficient coverage if you are in an accident.

Car insurance companies frequently offer an online quote tool, but it can take up to 15 minutes and requires entering personal information. Plus, to compare rates, you must upload your information onto numerous insurance websites, which takes extra time.

MoneyGeek offers an auto insurance calculator so you can get a quick quote that won't require you to provide personal information to various insurers. To begin, select your age, gender and driving history from the options below. You can then use this information as a starting point to find the cheapest insurer for your financial profile.

Age is one of the biggest factors affecting car insurance rates in West Virginia. MoneyGeek found that Nationwide and Erie offer the cheapest options on average, depending on what age group you and your family belong to.

On average, the following companies offer the most affordable auto insurance in West Virginia to teen drivers on a parent's policy:

• Nationwide: $1,791 per year for male teens and $1,573 per year for female teens
• Allstate: $2,159 per year for male teens and $2,030 per year for female teens

Progressive charges teenagers the highest prices, which average $4,105 for men and $3,767 for women.

As the teen's age increases, their car insurance rates decrease, with 19-year-olds getting the lowest rate. A 19-year-old West Virginian male can get the cheapest car insurance rate from Nationwide ($1,675).

These rates are for a 16-year-old who is covered under their parent's policy. Adding a teen to their parent’s insurance usually costs less than getting them their own policy. A 16-year-old West Virginia male may spend around $6,010 per year if they purchase their own policy as opposed to approximately $2,796 if their parents add them to an existing policy. This is a difference of $3,214.

Families who want to save on car insurance costs might be able to get discounts for young drivers. Most insurers, including State Farm, Allstate and Progressive, offer discounts to both distant students and students with excellent grades. GEICO and Nationwide only provide a good student discount.

On average, the following insurers in West Virginia provide the cheapest young adult auto insurance rates:

• Erie: $1,251 per year
• GEICO: $1,256 per year

Westfield offers young adults the most costly auto insurance plan in the state, with an average yearly premium of $1,810. Young drivers in West Virginia pay around $238 more annually for auto insurance from State Farm than middle-aged drivers.

On average, the cheapest auto insurance companies in West Virginia for seniors are:

• Nationwide: $992 per year
• Erie: $998 per year

Allstate offers senior drivers the most expensive auto insurance, costing around $1,529 a year. The average annual car insurance premium in Nationwide for drivers in their 60s is around $87 less than it is for drivers between the ages of 40 and 50. However, rates usually increase when drivers reach their 70s and 80s.

Seniors who want to save on car insurance might be able to get discounts. Both Allstate and GEICO provide discounts to seniors in West Virginia. Comparing providers is the simplest way to find affordable, competitive coverage because age is just one factor that insurers account for when calculating premiums.

Drivers with a history of moving violations usually pay higher prices for auto insurance. Erie offers the most affordable rates in West Virginia for drivers who have tickets and at-fault accidents, while State Farm has the cheapest policies for those with DUIs on their records.

On average, the following auto insurance companies in West Virginia provide the cheapest full coverage policies for motorists who have received a speeding ticket:

• Erie: $1,105 per year
• Westfield: $1,130 per year

Progressive is the most expensive provider in the state for this category of offender, costing approximately $1,721 per year. Your car insurance rates may rise by $202 on average as a result of a speeding ticket in West Virginia.

On average, these companies offer the most affordable full coverage auto insurance policies for West Virginia drivers with an at-fault collision on their records:

• Erie: $1,233 per year
• State Farm: $1,381 per year

With an average annual premium of $2,186, Progressive charges the highest rate for drivers who have been at fault in an accident. Being at fault in a car accident in West Virginia could result in a $490 increase in yearly premiums.

If you have a DUI on your record, these are the least expensive options for full coverage car insurance in West Virginia, on average:

• State Farm: $1,287 per year
• Erie: $1,591 per year

For this particular demographic, Westfield is the most expensive insurer in the state, charging $2,640 yearly for drivers who have a DUI on their records. In West Virginia, a DUI normally causes your annual premium to increase by $759.

On average, the cheapest rates for customers with bad credit in West Virginia are provided by the following companies:

• Nationwide: $1,448 per year
• Westfield: $1,593 per year

State Farm charges the highest rates of approximately $2,487 for drivers with bad credit in West Virginia. If you have a poor credit score in West Virginia, you could end up paying $808 more for auto insurance compared with someone with a credit score above 750.

Some insurers increase insurance premiums because drivers with poor credit scores are more likely to file claims. Although this isn’t allowed in all states, it is legal in West Virginia.

If your credit score gets better over time, your insurance rate might decrease. You can also compare rates or search for insurers who offer common discounts.

On average, West Virginia's most affordable sports car drivers' auto insurance companies are:

• Nationwide: $1,242 per year
• State Farm: $1,439 per year

Progressive has an average annual premium of $1,553 and is the most costly company to insure a sports car with. Because these vehicles have higher repair and replacement expenses, sports car insurance is often more expensive than a policy for a regular automobile. Compared with Toyota Camry LE owners in West Virginia, sports car owners spend an additional $234 in annual auto insurance premiums.

MoneyGeek used a Ford Mustang for the aforementioned quotes. A car's make and model can impact insurance rates. Sports cars, electric automobiles and premium cars frequently have higher insurance costs than other car models. However, this can vary between states.

USAA offers the most affordable auto insurance for veterans and active duty service members in West Virginia with an average annual rate of $713. Its services are offered in all states and are specifically designed for those with a military affiliation.

In West Virginia, all vehicles must have auto insurance. The law specifies the minimum liability limits that each driver must maintain. Most states demand property damage liability and bodily injury liability. Beyond these general requirements, West Virginia mandates uninsured motorist coverage.

In West Virginia, drivers are required to have proof of insurance with them. When registering your vehicle, renewing your insurance or if a law enforcement officer requests it, you must present your insurance card. If you get into an accident, you'll also need proof of insurance.

Drivers are required to carry bodily injury liability, property damage liability and uninsured motorist coverage.

MoneyGeek recommends getting as much coverage as you can reasonably afford for added protection.

MoneyGeek suggests getting liability insurance with minimum limits of $100,000 for each injury and $300,000 for each accident, as well as increasing the property damage coverage to $100,000. Comprehensive and collision insurance may also be required if you financed the purchase of your vehicle.

Comprehensive insurance will cover any required repairs or replacements if your vehicle sustains damage in an off-road collision. Collision insurance will pay to repair or replace your car if it is damaged by another car or object.

We also recommend getting comprehensive and collision insurance if you own an expensive car.

Drivers in West Virginia who are ineligible for coverage on the voluntary market because of their driving records or other circumstances can acquire insurance through high-risk auto insurance programs. Usually, these programs have higher rates. There are no alternate options to auto insurance in West Virginia, and the state does not permit vehicle registration without it.

For those who do not own cars in West Virginia, non-owner car insurance might be worth looking into.

It's normal to have questions about both cost and quality when it comes to auto insurance. Read our answers to frequently asked questions regarding auto insurance in West Virginia to find out more.