Car insurance · West Virginia
Car insurance requirements in West Virginia
Liability 25/50/25 plus uninsured motorist 25/50/25. Claims system: fault-based claims.
Verified summaryAll West Virginia insurance topics
Requirements
Minimum car insurance requirements in West Virginia
| Coverage | Requirement in West Virginia |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 per event |
| Injury protection | Not listed as required |
| Uninsured / underinsured motorist | Uninsured motorist coverage is mandatory at the same 25/50/25 limits |
What the law requires you to carry
- Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $25,000 per event
- Uninsured motorist coverage at limits of 25/50/25
- Continuous auto insurance, as required by law
Uninsured drivers
Uninsured motorist coverage in West Virginia
Uninsured motorist coverage is mandatory at the same 25/50/25 limits.
- The Insurance Commissioner's annual auto survey describes the mandatory minimum limits as 25/50/25 under West Virginia Code section 17D-4-2, and says 25/50/25 limits are mandatory for uninsured motorist coverage as well.
- The survey compares insurers' rates for the minimum liability and uninsured motorist limits only. Other coverages are not included.
Optional coverage
Coverage you can add in West Virginia
- Underinsured motorist coverage
- Medical payments
- Collision
- Comprehensive
Penalties
Penalties for driving without insurance in West Virginia
Under West Virginia Code 17D-2A-7, for a first offense the Commissioner suspends the driver's license for 30 days and until current proof of insurance is presented on all registered vehicles. If the owner complies and pays a $200 penalty fee before the effective date, the 30-day suspension and the registration revocation are not imposed and no reinstatement fees are required. Under the DMV's rules, a second or later offense within five years brings a 90-day license suspension and a suspension of the vehicle registration.
Good to know
Other things to know in West Virginia
- The Commissioner advises consumers to know what coverage and limits they are buying, because the mandatory minimums may not replace a vehicle or cover serious injuries.
- The DMV must send written notice of a suspension or revocation by certified mail at least 30 days before it takes effect, and a hearing request must be made within 10 days of receiving it. The hearing is limited to questions of identity or whether insurance was in effect at the time.
General information only. It is not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm with the official sources listed below.
Contacts
Who to contact in West Virginia
- West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner
- Website: wvinsurance.gov
- NAIC directory of state insurance departments
Sources
Where this summary comes from
Reviewed 2026-10. Check each source for the current rule.
- West Virginia Insurance Commissioner: 2023 West Virginia Automobile Survey (PDF)wvinsurance.gov
- West Virginia Insurance Commissioner: Auto insurance statute text (PDF, 2025)wvinsurance.gov
- West Virginia Code 17D-2A-7: Suspension or revocation of license, registration; reinstatementcode.wvlegislature.gov
- W. Va. Code R. 91-13-6: Traffic citations (DMV rules)law.cornell.edu
Keep reading
Guides that explain these coverages
- Minimum car insurance requirements by state
- Which States Require Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
- No-Fault vs. At-Fault Car Insurance: Which States Use Which
- States That Raised Minimum Car Insurance Limits Since 2018
- Liability coverage explained
- Collision vs. comprehensive coverage
- What affects your car insurance rate
- After an accident: what to do and what to expect
More about West Virginia.
Home insurance resources and the health marketplace for West Virginia are on its overview page.