Updated: May 20, 2024
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Insurance companies may consider you high risk based on certain factors, such as your age and driving record, and charge higher rates. You can shop around and compare rates from different providers to find the most affordable option for you.
In West Virginia, Erie offers the best and cheapest car insurance for high-risk drivers. A policy from this insurer costs an average of $861 per year. However, your actual rate will depend on various personal factors.
Best & CheapestAuto InsuranceHigh-RiskBest Companies for High-Risk Drivers in 2023
Typically, car insurance companies view drivers who are more likely to file an auto insurance claim as risky to insure. Drivers who fall into this category include students, those with poor credit and those with bad driving records (e.g., multiple at-fault accidents, traffic violations like tickets or a DUI conviction).
If you’re considered a high-risk driver in West Virginia, expect to pay around 27% more for car insurance than those with a low-risk profile. Keep in mind that auto insurance companies tend to charge high-risk drivers a more expensive premium to, for example, offset the costs of covering them in an accident.
There are various reasons why some drivers are considered by insurance companies as risky to insure. The most common is committing serious violations, like drag racing, driving with a suspended or revoked license, driving recklessly or driving under the influence of alcohol.
But in some cases, insurance companies may still view you as a high-risk driver even with a clean record. Below, MoneyGeek highlights the different types of high-risk drivers.
Based on MoneyGeek’s analysis, the cheapest insurance for high-risk drivers in West Virginia is offered by Erie at approximately $861 per year.
Find out more about this insurer and its pros and cons by reading MoneyGeek’s Erie auto insurance review.
| Erie | Annual Premium$861 |
| State Farm | Annual Premium$890 |
| Nationwide | Annual Premium$1,154 |
| Allstate | Annual Premium$1,317 |
| Progressive | Annual Premium$1,644 |
| GEICO | Annual Premium$2,134 |
SR-22 insurance is a form that your insurer will file to show you meet your state’s minimum car insurance requirements. It’s not required in West Virginia, but drivers registered there may need to file it if they commit a serious driving infraction in a state where it is mandatory.
MoneyGeek’s analysis found that the best high-risk auto insurance company in West Virginia is Erie, with a score of 97 out of 100. The next-best option is State Farm, which received a score of 93 out of 100.
Our Erie auto insurance review and State Farm auto insurance review provide an in-depth look at the companies’ affordability, financial stability and customer service.
Erie provides coverage for high-risk drivers in West Virginia at an average cost of $861 per year. That is around 19% higher than the rate for drivers with a low-risk record.
Erie provides cheap car insurance for many driver profiles, including those considered as high risk. Policyholders can add better car replacement coverage, which is rarely offered by companies. But Erie doesn’t have gap insurance or roadside assistance.
To further reduce insurance costs, Erie policyholders can earn discounts for having airbags, paying in full or bundling multiple policies. Additionally, young unmarried drivers can get a discount if they live at their parents’ home.
At approximately $890 per year, State Farm’s high-risk auto insurance in West Virginia is 10% more expensive than its policy for low-risk drivers.
State Farm is a top-rated car insurance company known for being affordable and widely available. It offers various discounts, including airbag, defensive driving, distant student and driver’s education.
The company also has common add-on coverages, such as rideshare insurance, roadside assistance and rental car and/or travel reimbursement. However, it doesn’t offer accident forgiveness, gap insurance, new car replacement or better car replacement.
Those on a budget can still get coverage by purchasing low-income car insurance in West Virginia. Since the state doesn’t have a government-supported car insurance program, MoneyGeek recommends purchasing state minimum coverage or pay-per-mile insurance for those who rarely drive. But remember, low cost may mean sacrificing customer service.
According to MoneyGeek’s research, the most affordable car insurance company in West Virginia for drivers with a DUI is State Farm. A policy from this insurer costs an average of $869 per year. Find out more about its average rates, coverages and customer service by reading our State Farm auto insurance review.
Active service members and veterans with a DUI conviction in West Virginia may also find USAA’s high-risk car insurance inexpensive.
| State Farm | Annual Premium$869 |
| Erie | Annual Premium$1,021 |
| Nationwide | Annual Premium$1,338 |
| Allstate | Annual Premium$1,409 |
| Progressive | Annual Premium$1,534 |
| GEICO | Annual Premium$3,425 |
How long a DUI conviction stays on your driving record depends on your state’s look-back period. In West Virginia, the look-back period for DUIs is 10 years. That means if your second DUI offense happens after a decade, it will be considered as your first. Note that look-back periods are typically long to accommodate criminal sentencing for repeat offenders.
At roughly $2,448 per year, State Farm is the cheapest car insurance company in West Virginia for teen drivers. However, your actual rate depends on your age and other factors, such as whether you qualify for discounts. Check out our State Farm auto insurance review to know more about what the company offers for teen drivers.
| State Farm | Annual Premium$2,448 |
| Nationwide | Annual Premium$2,809 |
| GEICO | Annual Premium$4,602 |
| Allstate | Annual Premium$5,073 |
| Progressive | Annual Premium$10,441 |
Because they’re considered high-risk, teen drivers usually pay very expensive car insurance premiums. Nevertheless, MoneyGeek recommends purchasing full coverage car insurance over minimum coverage. The added coverage can play a significant role in the event of an accident. Find the cheapest car insurance for students by shopping around and comparing rates.
For individuals with bad credit, the cheapest company for car insurance in West Virginia is Nationwide. A policy from this insurer costs around $1,144 per year, roughly 29% higher than the rate for those with good credit.
MoneyGeek provided an in-depth look at this company in our Nationwide auto insurance review.
| Nationwide | Annual Premium1,144 | Percent Change29% |
Insurance companies take your credit score into account in West Virginia when determining a car insurance premium. As a result, those with poor credit scores find it challenging to get low-cost coverage. Thankfully, it’s possible to find cheap car insurance with bad credit. MoneyGeek recommends shopping around to get the best option for your unique situation.
Insurance companies assess a driver’s risk when determining their car insurance rate. They consider those with a history of at-fault accidents, tickets or a DUI conviction as high risk and charge a higher rate.
In West Virginia, for instance, high-risk drivers pay around $1,333 per year for car insurance, while low-risk drivers pay approximately $908 per year for the same coverage. That’s a difference of more than $400.
Low-Risk Driver
$908High-Risk Driver
$1,333This is 47% more expensive.
When shopping around for car insurance, it’s best to have a rough estimate of how much you’ll pay for a policy to find the best option for your needs. MoneyGeek’s West Virginia car insurance calculator can help you get a ballpark figure of your insurance costs by providing your personal information, like age, gender and credit score.
MoneyGeeks's car insurance calculator will give you a customized estimate of your auto insurance cost. It's free to use, requires no personal information and we won't send you any spam.
Rates updated:
Jul 26, 2024
Although MoneyGeek partners with some of the companies we recommend, our content is written and reviewed by an independent team of writers, editors and licensed agents. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Insurance companies may refuse to cover you if they consider you risky to insure. Reasons why you may be viewed as high-risk include being a student driver, having poor credit or a history of traffic violations, at-fault accidents or a DUI conviction.
If this happens, your next course of action is to shop for a residual market plan through the Automobile Insurance Plan Service Office (AIPSO). This organization maintains a state-by-state database to help high-risk drivers find car insurance where they live.
High-risk drivers in West Virginia who can’t purchase car insurance through the voluntary market may consider the West Virginia Automobile Insurance Plan (WVAIP). Residents with a West Virginia driver's license and a vehicle registered in the state qualify to apply for this residual market plan.
Office Hours
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
wvaip@aipso.com
Phone
(888) 820-0170
Fax
(800) 516-1923
Mailing Address
Mid-Atlantic Region, P.O. Box 6530, Providence, RI 02940-6530
High-risk drivers often find it difficult to buy car insurance. MoneyGeek answered some frequently asked questions about high-risk car insurance in West Virginia to help you find coverage that fits your particular needs.
Erie is MoneyGeek’s pick for the best car insurance company in West Virginia for high-risk drivers.
Our data includes the average rates for the following high-risk drivers in West Virginia:
You may be perceived as high risk if you are a student driver, have poor credit or committed multiple traffic violations.
The West Virginia Automobile Insurance Plan provides car insurance for high-risk drivers who can’t find coverage in the voluntary market. You can contact the organization by emailing wvaip@aipso.com or calling (888) 820-0170. Alternatively, you can visit its office from Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
MoneyGeek calculated average rates using full coverage car insurance policies with 100/300/100 liability insurance and comprehensive and collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible. Minimum coverage car insurance policy rates were calculated based on each state’s minimum car insurance requirement.
To calculate rates for high-risk drivers, MoneyGeek averaged the premiums insurance companies charge for three of the most common driving violations: speeding, at-fault accident and DUI.
To determine the best car insurance company for high-risk drivers, MoneyGeek scored companies based on affordability, customer satisfaction and complaints — obtained from J.D. Power surveys and NAIC complaint scores — and financial strength ratings as calculated by AM Best. Affordability received the greatest weighting in our calculations.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick has analyzed the property and casualty insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. Currently, he leads P&C insurance content production at MoneyGeek. Fitzpatrick has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.
