Cheapest car insurance for high-risk drivers in West Virginia

Which company has the cheapest car insurance in West Virginia for a bad driving record?

Nationwide offers the cheapest average rate in West Virginia for drivers with a poor driving record at $1,955 per year. Erie Insurance and Progressive also rank among the more affordable insurers for high-risk drivers.

Having accidents, DUIs or traffic tickets on your driving record will make you pay more for insurance. Most tickets will affect your rates for three to five years. A DUI can affect your rates for up to 10 years and can stay on your record for life.

Company	Average annual premium for clean record	Annual premium for high-risk driver
Nationwide	$1,215	$1,955
Erie Insurance	$1,709	$2,343
Progressive	$1,825	$2,494
State Farm	$1,691	$2,664
Allstate	$3,132	$4,020
Westfield Insurance	$2,111	$4,376
Farmers	$2,442	$4,733
GEICO	$2,248	$4,971
USAA	$1,189	$1,749

Read our methodology

How much is high-risk car insurance in West Virginia?

The average cost of high-risk car insurance in West Virginia is $3,381 annually. However, some insurers offer rates far below the state average, with premiums starting around $1,955 per year.

Not every high-risk factor affects premiums equally. A single speeding ticket may cause only a moderate increase, while multiple violations, at-fault accidents or poor credit can raise rates substantially.

Average annual car insurance rate for At-fault bodily injury accident in West Virginia, WV is $3,091

Show Graph View

Company	Annual premium for clean record	Annual premium after violation
USAA	$1,189	$1,745
Nationwide	$1,215	$1,870
Erie Insurance	$1,709	$2,014
Progressive	$1,825	$2,830
Westfield Insurance	$2,111	$3,095
Farmers	$2,442	$3,616
Allstate	$3,132	$4,392
GEICO	$2,248	$5,105

Read our methodology

Average annual rate

People ask

Who is considered a high-risk driver in West Virginia?

Each insurance company has its own rules for deciding who is a high-risk driver. But usually, things like a DUI, several tickets or accidents, or serious violations like reckless driving will put you in the high-risk category.

What company offers the cheapest car insurance in West Virginia after a DUI?

State Farm has the cheapest average DUI insurance rates in West Virginia at $1,795 annually.

Driving under the influence (DUI) is a major traffic violation that will hurt your driving record. It can increase auto insurance rates for almost a decade, in addition to fines and other penalties. Multiple DUIs will increase your premiums even more, but improving your driving habits can help you get better rates over time.

The table below shows the average car insurance rates for a clean record vs. a DUI in West Virginia.

Company	Average annual premium for clean record	Annual premium for a DUI
State Farm	$1,691	$1,795
Nationwide	$1,215	$2,310
Progressive	$1,825	$2,429
Erie Insurance	$1,709	$2,552
Allstate	$3,132	$4,187
Westfield Insurance	$2,111	$5,062
GEICO	$2,248	$5,259
Farmers	$2,442	$5,561
USAA	$1,189	$2,160

Read our methodology

What is the cheapest car insurance in West Virginia with multiple tickets?

State Farm offers the lowest average rates for drivers with multiple traffic tickets at $1,795 annually or $150 monthly.

One ticket will affect car insurance rates, but multiple tickets will increase rates by a lot more. Repeated failure to obey speed limits and traffic laws means insurers are more likely to pay claims because of your risky driving.

This table shows West Virginia drivers how much multiple tickets increase premiums.

Company	Average annual premium for clean record	Annual premium with a speeding ticket
State Farm	$1,691	$1,795
Nationwide	$1,215	$1,799
Erie Insurance	$1,709	$1,876
Progressive	$1,825	$2,322
Allstate	$3,132	$3,477
Farmers	$2,442	$4,150
GEICO	$2,248	$5,094
USAA	$1,189	$1,372

Read our methodology

Expert's Insight Two minor tickets can sometimes cost you more on insurance in the end than one major violation.

Which company offers the cheapest insurance for reckless driving in West Virginia?

State Farm offers the cheapest average reckless driving insurance rates in West Virginia at $1,795 per year.

Engaging in driving behaviors that put others at risk can lead to a reckless driving charge. A conviction for reckless driving results in higher car insurance rates.

The table below compares car insurance premiums for drivers with a clean record and those with a reckless driving conviction.

Company	Average annual premium for clean record	Annual premium for reckless driving
State Farm	$1,691	$1,795
Erie Insurance	$1,709	$1,876
Nationwide	$1,215	$2,310
Progressive	$1,825	$2,521
Allstate	$3,132	$4,187
Westfield Insurance	$2,111	$5,062
Farmers	$2,442	$5,561
GEICO	$2,248	$5,907
USAA	$1,189	$1,668

Read our methodology

Expert's Insight Some insurers may limit your coverage options after a reckless driving conviction, making quote comparisons even more important.

Which company has the cheapest car insurance for drivers with bad credit in West Virginia?

Nationwide has the cheapest average rates for drivers with poor credit in West Virginia at $1,715 annually or $143 monthly.

Your credit score may affect your insurance rates, even though it is unrelated to your driving skills. Insurers often charge higher premiums to drivers with lower credit scores because they are statistically more likely to file claims.

Check the table below to see how credit scores impact car insurance costs in West Virginia.

Company	Annual premium for good credit	Annual premium for bad credit
Nationwide	$1,215	$1,715
Westfield Insurance	$2,111	$3,005
Progressive	$1,825	$3,052
GEICO	$2,248	$3,383
Erie Insurance	$1,709	$4,004
Farmers	$2,442	$4,826
Allstate	$3,132	$5,314
State Farm	$1,691	$7,008
USAA	$1,189	$2,550

Read our methodology

What company has the cheapest car insurance in West Virginia after an accident?

Nationwide has the cheapest average rates after an accident at $1,870 per year. State Farm also offers lower-than-average rates at $1,926 annually.

Drivers with accidents on their record usually pay higher insurance premiums than drivers with a clean record. A single accident can raise your rates, and multiple accidents can push them even higher.

This table shows car insurance rates for drivers with a clean record, a single at fault accident, and multiple accidents.

Company	Average annual premium for clean record	Annual premium for one at-fault accident	Annual premium for multiple accident
Nationwide	$1,215	$1,870	$2,516
State Farm	$1,691	$1,926	$1,926
Erie Insurance	$1,709	$2,014	$2,724
Progressive	$1,825	$2,830	$3,893
Westfield Insurance	$2,111	$3,095	$4,274
Farmers	$2,442	$3,616	$5,022
Allstate	$3,132	$4,392	$5,401
GEICO	$2,248	$5,105	$8,558
USAA	$1,189	$1,745	$2,526

Read our methodology

Expert's Insight Accident forgiveness programs can prevent rate increases, but eligibility varies by insurer, and often only minor accidents qualify.

Which city has the cheapest car insurance for high-risk drivers in West Virginia?

Martinsburg has the cheapest average high-risk car insurance rates in West Virginia at $3,025 per year. In comparison, drivers in Ravenswood pay the highest average rates at $3,472 annually.

Where you live in West Virginia also affects car insurance rates. For example, if you live in a high-traffic or high-theft area, rates will increase because your vehicle is more likely to be damaged or stolen.

City	Average annual premium for clean record	Annual premium for high-risk driver
Martinsburg	$1,807	$3,025
Wheeling	$1,810	$3,033
Clarksburg	$1,886	$3,182
Parkersburg	$1,932	$3,245
Vienna	$1,944	$3,270
Dunbar	$1,958	$3,337
Beckley	$1,984	$3,368
Charleston	$1,987	$3,378
Ravenswood	$2,082	$3,472

Read our methodology

How can high-risk drivers lower their car insurance rates in West Virginia?

Even if you're considered a high-risk driver, there are still several ways to lower your insurance premiums in West Virginia, including shopping around, taking a defensive driving course and avoiding further infractions.

You may be able to save money by:

Carefully consider filing claims. Covering minor damage out of pocket can be less expensive than filing an insurance claim, which might raise your premiums for years.
Avoid costly infractions. Practice safe driving to prevent additional traffic violations on your record. Tickets typically impact your insurance rates for only a few years, and your premiums may decrease if no new violations occur during that time.
Improve your credit score. Improving your credit score can lower your car insurance premiums. Paying bills on time and managing your credit utilization responsibly will help raise your score.
Take a defensive driving course. Many insurers offer discounts for completing the course, and certain states will even remove points from your driver's license once you complete it.
Shop around for coverage. Each car insurance company evaluates factors differently and sets its own rates. Comparing quotes can help you find the lowest price.

People ask

How long are you considered a high-risk driver in West Virginia?

Three years is common, but how long you are considered a high-risk driver in West Virginiadepends on the insurance company's guidelines. The state determines how long a violation stays on your record, but the insurance company determines how long you're charged for that violation.

What are West Virginia's insurance requirements for high-risk drivers?

If you're considered a high-risk driver in West Virginia, you may be required to file an SR-22. This form is filled out by your car insurance company, stating that you have at least the minimum required coverage. The court will let you know how long you must file an SR-22.

An SR-22 is not an insurance policy and doesn't require special coverage, but rates are much higher for high-risk drivers, and not all carriers insure such drivers.

Methodology

170+

insurance companies analyzed

34,000+

ZIP codes examined

$53M

insurance quotes analyzed

National and state average rates are based on three coverage levels: state minimum, 50/100/50 liability-only, and full coverage with 100/300/100 liability and $500 deductibles.

All base rate averages are based on our full coverage data set. This data set is based on:

Bodily injury liability of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per incident
Property damage liability of $100,000 per incident
Comprehensive and collision deductibles of $500
40-year-old driver
Honda Accord LX
Good credit
A clean driving record
12-mile commute, 10,000 annual mileage

Our data is then adjusted to reflect the rate increase from this base rate for the following infractions and issue:

DUI
Reckless driving
Multiple speeding tickets
Bad credit
One at-fault accident over $2,000

FAQ: High-risk car insurance in West Virginia

Can high-risk drivers get full coverage car insurance in West Virginia?

Yes, you can get full coverage insurance as a high-risk driver. However, you can expect it to cost a lot more than liability-only coverage.

Does an SR-22 automatically make your insurance more expensive in West Virginia?

An SR-22 doesn't increase your rates, but the violation that resulted in the requirement will; as a result, having an SR-22 means higher rates. An SR-22 is the form the insurance company has to file with the state, and by itself, it doesn't increase your rates.