West Virginia Car Insurance – Car Insurance Advice. Before you start looking for a West Virginia Car Insurance company, you will have to learn a thing or two about the basic car insurance requirements in West Virginia. And the very first thing that you need to know is that driving around without car insurance can lead to fines and penalties, specifically the ones assessed by the West Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.
Like other states, West Virginia also has its minimum requirement for liability car insurance, and you must comply with these requirements before you can start driving. Moreover, you will be required to carry proof of your compliance (usually a simple card) whenever you go out for a drive. And since law enforcement officers have the mandate to ask motorists to ask for proof of financial responsibility with regards to car insurance, it’s prudent to always carry one whenever you’re driving.
Failure to present the necessary proof that you have sufficient coverage can lead to penalties. Moreover, in traffic accidents, if the party “at fault” is not insured, he or she can end up facing a civil suit. So it’s important to comply with the requirements of West Virginia car insurance laws and to present the necessary proof whenever they are requested by law enforcement officers.
Now, that we’ve covered that issue briefly, let’s move on to the main one, which is the minimum state coverage in West Virginia. The minimum requirement can be summed up as 20/40/10, or in more elaborate terms:
- $20,000 per person injury coverage
- $40,000 per accident injury coverage
- $10,000 property damage coverage per accident
Once you have complied with these requirements, you can begin driving as a registered motorist in West Virginia. However, although compliance with these requirements will allow you to start driving, they are also quite insufficient when it comes to real accidents wherein everybody suffers from extensive damages. It is for that simple reason that you need to buy more coverage than what is required from you by the state.
Finally, you’ll be glad to learn that most of the largest car insurance companies have branches in many cities in West Virginia, including Allstate, Farmers, Liberty Mutual, Mercury, and Nationwide to name a few.
In terms of cost, the State of Virginia usually ranks around 35th or 36th in comparison to the rest of the country. And compared to the average rate of the entire country, which is around $1,550, West Virginia car insurance premiums are usually cheaper provided you live in the right town. As a general rule, living in a large city will likely result in higher premiums whereas being a resident of small towns will likely result in lower ones.
And of course, you should remember also that car insurance costs are determined by several factors (and not just where you live), including your credit rating, driving record, and even your annual mileage. So given the different factors involved, it’s only practical to shop around as much as possible. DUI Laws in West Virginia.
Another thing that you should learn about is what sort of penalties you can expect from the state of West Virginia with regards to DUI. As you may guess, drunk driving is one of the leading causes of traffic accidents and fatalities. So to reduce the severity of these accidents, West Virginia traffic officials have formulated the following penalties for people charged with DUI’s.
- Around 2 Days to 12 Months Worth of Jail Time (Depending Upon Your Blood Alcohol Levels)
- $100 to $1,000 in Fines (Again, the Severity of this Penalty Depends Upon Your Blood Alcohol Levels)
- 15 to 45 Days Worth of License Suspension
- The Possible Installation of an Ignition Interlock Device on Your Car
These penalties only apply to first-time offenders though. Subsequent traffic violations will certainly lead to more severe penalties and fines. And that’s not the only thing you should worry about. Because of the added risk that a DUI record represents, people who have a DUI or two on their driving record can expect to pay higher premiums in the foreseeable future.Most Stolen Cars in West Virginia
Aside from traffic laws and violations, you should also familiarize yourself with the issue of car theft. Like all other states, West Virginia car insurance companies also have to deal with problems related to car theft if for no other reason than that it tells them how many more claims they can expect to receive in a particular town or city.
It should also be noted that different states will have a list of cars that are most likely to get stolen. And if it so happens that your car belongs to this list then you can expect your car insurance provider to increase your car insurance costs by a significant margin.
In 2010, the top 10 most stolen cars in West Virginia included:
- 2002 Ford Explorer
- 1997 Chevrolet S-10
- 1999 Ford Taurus
- 1999 Dodge Ram
- 1500 1997 Ford F-150
- 1994 Ford Ranger
- 1994 Honda Accord
- 2002 Dodge Caravan
- 1990 Chevrolet C/K 1500
- 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
However, even if you can find your car on the list above, it’s also worth mentioning that different cities will have varying problems with regards to car theft as well as other related crimes. What this means is that where you live and which car insurance company you have chosen to work with will determine exactly how much more you’ll be expected to pay. For example, if you own a 1999 Ford Taurus, you can expect your premiums to increase to some degree. However, if car theft is not a problem where you live, and your car insurance provider is willing to offer lower premiums to clients who are willing to install alarms on their vehicles, then you have a very good chance of maintaining or even reducing your current premiums.
And of course, you should try to keep your car in a garage or a safe area. From the perspective of car insurance companies, this reduces your car’s chances of getting stolen, and that certainly warrants lower car insurance costs.
