Best car insurance in West Virginia for 2023

Our 2023 Bankrate Score considers variables our insurance editorial team determined impacts policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These rating factors include a robust assessment of each company’s product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. Each factor was added to a category, and these categories were weighted in a tiered approach to analyze how companies perform in key customer-impacting categories.

Like our previous Bankrate Scores, each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. This year, our 2023 scoring model provides a more comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and better highlighting where they fall short.

• Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto and home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, 2023 quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services (if available), as well as any of the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best and the NAIC, were analyzed.
• Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated each company’s discount options listed on its website.
• Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways an auto insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from S&P and Moody’s and factored a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.

Almost every state requires its drivers to maintain a certain level of liability insurance to drive on public roads, and West Virginia is no exception. Although it’s impossible to buy a West Virginia car insurance policy that fails to meet the state minimum limits, knowing what those limits are can help provide a baseline when you’re building your coverage package.

If you finance or lease your car, your lending institution likely has a say in how much coverage you need. If you lease your car, for example, the lender has ownership of the vehicle. They will want to be covered in the event of damage to the vehicle. The same is true for a loan — the bank or loan originator has a vested interest in your car. Because of this, they are likely to require you to have collision and comprehensive coverage, which helps pay for damages to your car if you are in an at-fault accident.

The best car insurance policy is specific to your needs, and West Virginians have some unique considerations regarding coverage options. With its rural, mountainous roads, West Virginia is rugged. While this may lead to scenic drives, it could also present a problem if you break down on the side of the highway. As such, West Virginians may want to consider adding emergency road service. Depending on where you live, you may have limited access to public transportation which means that rental car reimbursement could be helpful to have. Although these endorsements will likely cost extra, the expense may be worth it.

When you contact a West Virginia car insurance company for a quote, the agent will typically need to know your age, the type of car you drive, your annual mileage and information about your driving record. You will also need to provide this information for all the drivers and vehicles you’d like listed on your quote. The agent may ask for your social security number to run a credit check, and while providing this information is usually optional, your quoted premium may be more accurate if you do. Some companies might provide anonymous car insurance quotes that require very little information, but these tend to be inaccurate.

Compared to the national averages, car insurance in West Virginia is affordable. Nationwide, the average cost of car insurance is $622 for state-mandated minimum insurance. Full coverage, which includes collision and comprehensive insurance, costs an average of $2,014. In West Virginia, however, the averages are a relatively inexpensive $421 and $1,580, respectively. Keep in mind, however, that the rate you pay will be specific to your own circumstances. Factors such as your age, gender and driving history will all play a role in determining what you pay for the best car insurance in West Virginia.

There is no single company that is always going to have the cheapest prices for everyone in West Virginia. Every insurer uses proprietary algorithms and actuarial statistics to determine your rate, and these differ from company to company based on factors like your driving history, age and make and model of your car. So the carrier that gives your neighbor a great price may not be able to do the same for you. That said, some of the companies that offer the lowest average rates in West Virginia include Encompass, Erie, USAA and State Farm.

It depends. West Virginia drivers ages 16- to 17-years-old will need to be on a parent’s policy in order to be insured, because of their age. Fortunately, some insurance companies offer numerous teen driver discounts which could help offset the high rates that are typically associated with younger drivers. Drivers who are 18- or 19-years-old can purchase their own car insurance policy, but may still save by remaining insured on their parents' policy. Exploring car insurance quotes for each scenario may help you decide if it's better to keep your adult teen on your policy or have them purchase their own.