What are my options for cheap car insurance in West Virginia?
MarketWatch has highlighted these products and services because we think readers will find them useful. This content is independent of the MarketWatch newsroom and we may receive a commission if you buy products through links in this article.
Car insurance in West Virginia is cheaper than the national average. According to our estimates, full coverage car insurance can start as low as $903 a year in the state. Read on to discover the cheapest providers for different types of West Virginia drivers.
You will find different prices depending on the car insurance discounts and programs you qualify for, so we recommend getting multiple car insurance quotes when you shop to find the best fit for your needs.
In this article:
Our cost estimates show USAA is typically the cheapest car insurance company in West Virginia, with an average rate of $903 a year. Our estimates apply to full coverage car insurance for a 35-year-old driver with a clean driving record and good credit.
Many factors affect your rates, so we will look at a few other scenarios below.
Car Insurance Company Estimated Annual Cost* USAA $903 Erie Insurance $960 Nationwide $962 State Farm $1,014 Progressive $1,221 Geico $1,415 Allstate $2,174 How much is car insurance in West Virginia?In 2018, West Virginia drivers paid an average of about $939 a year for car insurance, including minimum coverage and full coverage policies, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). This was about 11% less than the national average for that year of $1,057.
Compared with other states, West Virginia ranked in 25th place for its average cost of car insurance.
Cheapest West Virginia car insurance for young driversBeing a young driver can substantially raise your cost for a car insurance policy in West Virginia. Our full coverage rate estimates show that drivers in their early 20s can generally find the most affordable plans from Erie Insurance, Nationwide, USAA and State Farm.
Car Insurance Company Estimated Annual Cost* Erie Insurance $1,269 Nationwide $1,308 USAA $1,317 State Farm $1,358 Geico $1,528 Cheapest West Virginia car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticketFor drivers with a recent speeding ticket on their record, USAA, Erie Insurance, State Farm and Nationwide are all more affordable options.
Car Insurance Company Estimated Annual Cost* USAA $1,039 Erie Insurance $1,052 State Farm $1,097 Nationwide $1,130 Progressive $1,680 Cheapest West Virginia car insurance for drivers with a recent accidentHaving a recent accident on your record makes you a riskier driver in the eyes of car insurance companies. Our rate estimates show USAA is typically the cheapest option, with an estimated cost of $1,076 a year.
Car Insurance Company Estimated Annual Cost* USAA $1,076 Erie $1,150 State Farm $1,180 Nationwide $1,349 Progressive $2,003 Cheapest West Virginia car insurance for drivers with poor creditWest Virginia drivers with poor credit scores can pay hundreds more for car insurance premiums every year. We found that Nationwide tends to be the most affordable option, with a full coverage rate estimate of $1,255 a year. After that, USAA can be around $1,500, while coverage from other providers runs about $2,000 a year.
Car Insurance Company Estimated Annual Cost* Nationwide $1,255 USAA $1,525 Progressive $2,034 Geico $2,099 State Farm $2,161 5 car insurance options in West VirginiaThere are a number of affordable car insurance options in West Virginia, and many of them provide good customer service. Here are five options for consumers.
West Virginia Car Insurance Companies Overall Rating Coverage Rating Cost Rating 1. Erie Insurance 7.5 8.0 9.0 2. USAA 9.1 8.5 9.5 3. State Farm 8.6 8.5 8.0 4. Nationwide 8.2 9.0 7.0 5. Progressive 9.0 9.0 8.5(Our research team considers nationwide factors when scoring providers. The ranking of providers in this table is specific to car insurance in West Virginia.)
1. Erie InsuranceOur estimates show Erie is one of the most affordable car insurance companies in West Virginia, especially for young drivers. Erie offers a number of benefits and add-ons, including roadside assistance, rental car coverage and auto glass repair. The company also performed very well in J.D. Power surveys.
Erie Insurance highlights include:
2. USAAUSAA provides cheap car insurance for many drivers in West Virginia. You can get car insurance from the company if you are a military member or a veteran, or if you have immediate family in the service. USAA also has high ratings from J.D. Power, and it offers a number of extra coverage options, including accident forgiveness, roadside assistance and car replacement assistance.
USAA highlights include:
State Farm can be a good option for students in West Virginia. With the Steer Clear® app, young drivers can improve their skills and qualify for discounts of up to 20%. State Farm also offers the highest student discount in the industry, up to 25%. Extra coverage options from State Farm include rideshare insurance, roadside assistance and rental car reimbursement.
State Farm highlights include:
Our rate estimates show Nationwide is one of the cheapest providers in West Virginia, especially for people who have poor credit scores.
Nationwide’s usage-based insurance, SmartMiles®, is available for drivers in West Virginia. With this program, you pay a base rate per month and a rate per mile. It can be a good option for those who work from home or drive infrequently. Additional coverage from Nationwide includes accident forgiveness and gap insurance.
Nationwide highlights include:
Our rate estimates show Progressive might be a good option for high-risk drivers in West Virginia, such as those with accidents on their records or poor credit. One thing that sets Progressive apart from its competitors is that it allows you to compare car insurance quotes from other insurance companies on its website, which makes shopping easy.
Beyond standard car insurance coverage, Progressive offers extras such as roadside assistance, rideshare insurance and a deductible savings bank. Drivers in West Virginia can use the Progressive Snapshot® program to save money based on their driving habits.
Progressive highlights include:
According to the West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner, the state requires drivers to carry $25,000 of bodily injury liability insurance per person, $50,000 of bodily injury liability per accident and $25,000 of property damage liability per accident. The state also requires uninsured motorist coverage with the same limits.
West Virginia requires car insurance companies to offer you the maximum level of uninsured motorist coverage, which is $100,000 in bodily injury liability per person, $300,000 per accident and $50,000 for property damage. You can decline those amounts on your insurance policy. The state also requires companies to offer you underinsured motorist coverage with limits that match minimum liability insurance.
As you may have noticed, the state minimum requirements don’t cover your car if you cause an accident or encounter environmental damage. They also don’t cover any of your injuries if you were at fault. To be covered under these situations, consider adding:
How to get car insurance in West VirginiaWe recommend comparing auto insurance quotes each time you shop for insurance to find the best price and coverage.
Frequently asked questions Why is car insurance so expensive in West Virginia?Car insurance in West Virginia is cheaper than in 24 other states, according to the NAIC. Our own rate estimates show that some of the more affordable companies in the state include USAA, Erie Insurance and Nationwide. If you are finding car insurance rates in West Virginia to be too expensive, shop around with providers or try a usage-based program.
Does West Virginia require car insurance?Yes, West Virginia requires liability insurance and uninsured motorist insurance with limits of 25/50/25. Car insurance companies are also required to offer you higher levels of uninsured motorist coverage and some underinsured motorist coverage, but you can decline those.
Is West Virginia a PIP state?No, West Virginia is not a PIP state, and you can’t get PIP in the state. If you want to cover medical bills, you can get medical payments coverage, also called MedPay.
Our methodologyWe created a rating system to formulate our rankings of car insurance companies. We collected data on dozens of auto insurance providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider.
Here are the factors our ratings take into account:
*Data accurate at time of publication.