West Virginia car insurance: minimums, SR-22 rules and costs

Last updated: November 12, 2026

West Virginia drivers must carry at least $25,000/$50,000 of bodily injury liability and $25,000 of property damage liability, plus uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. In 2023, insured drivers in West Virginia spent an average of $1,062.98 on car insurance, 17% below the national average of $1,281.60, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). That makes West Virginia the 20th least expensive of the 50 states and D.C. by that measure.

Minimum car insurance required in West Virginia

Coverage	Minimum
Bodily injury liability, per person	$25,000
Bodily injury liability, per accident	$50,000
Property damage liability, per accident	$25,000
Uninsured motorist (UM)	Required

You'll often see this written as 25/50/25. The first two numbers are the bodily injury limits in thousands of dollars (per person and per accident), and the last is property damage. Those amounts are the most the policy pays for injuries and damage you cause to others. Anything above them can come back to you personally.

Is West Virginia a no-fault state?

No. West Virginia isn't one of the 12 no-fault states listed by the Insurance Information Institute, so the driver who causes a crash, and their insurer, is generally responsible for the other people's injuries and damage. That's why the liability limits above matter so much.

SR-22 rules in West Virginia

West Virginia's Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Law (W. Va. Code §17D-4-2) defines proof of financial responsibility for the future as being able to pay at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash for injuries and $25,000 for property damage. Those are the same as the state's minimum limits. That proof is usually an SR-22 filed by your insurer.

The definition section doesn't set a filing period, so ask the West Virginia DMV how long yours must stay in place.

What drives car insurance costs in West Virginia

Average spending in West Virginia rose 13% from 2019 to 2023, compared with 19% nationwide. Here's average annual spending per insured vehicle, from the NAIC:

Year	West Virginia average	U.S. average
2019	$939.04	$1,075.08
2020	$914.53	$1,047.76
2021	$918.53	$1,060.23
2022	$952.67	$1,124.45
2023	$1,062.98	$1,281.60

The NAIC's "average expenditure" is total written premium divided by insured vehicles. It isn't a quote, and your own price depends on your driver profile and the coverage you choose.

Uninsured drivers. An estimated 7.8% of drivers in West Virginia were uninsured in 2023, lower than the national estimate of 15.4%. That's the 6th lowest rate among the 50 states and D.C. When more drivers are uninsured, insured drivers' own uninsured motorist coverage pays more claims, which pushes up its price.
Crash deaths. West Virginia recorded 256 motor vehicle crash deaths in 2024, or 1.49 per 100 million miles driven, higher than the U.S. rate of 1.19 (the 7th highest of the 50 states and D.C.). Severe crashes drive up bodily injury claim costs.
Where and how crashes happen. In 2024, 56% of West Virginia's crash deaths happened in rural areas (U.S.: 41%), 30% involved speeding (U.S.: 29%), and 10% of those killed were pedestrians (U.S.: 18%).

Ways to save on car insurance in West Virginia

Compare at least three quotes. Insurers weigh the same facts differently, so prices for the same driver in West Virginia can vary widely. More ways to lower your bill.
Check your uninsured motorist limits anyway. Even at 7.8%, uninsured and underinsured drivers are common, and UM coverage is usually inexpensive. How UM coverage works.
Shop at renewal. Even where prices rise more slowly, your own renewal can jump after a claim, a move or a new car. When to compare.
Keep comprehensive if your car is worth it. Most crash deaths in West Virginia happen on rural roads, where animal strikes and long distances are common. Comprehensive covers hitting an animal; collision covers crashes. Comprehensive vs. collision.
Ask about discounts. Common ones include safe driver, multi-car, bundling, paying in full, good student and usage-based programs. They're not always applied automatically.

See other states in our car insurance guides by state.

Sources

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DriveCheaper may be paid by companies shown on this site. How we make money. This page is general information, not insurance or legal advice. Laws and prices change, so confirm details with your insurer or your state's insurance department or DMV.