Cheapest car insurance for high-risk drivers in West Virginia

Cheapest car insurance in West Virginia for a bad driving record

Nationwide, Erie Insurance, Progressive provides affordable car insurance for high-risk drivers with bad driving record in West Virginia.

Traffic infractions, accidents and DUIs wind up on your driving record, meaning youll pay higher car insurance rates in addition to any fines assessed. While most violations only affect your insurance rates for a few years, a DUI may affect rates for a decade and never be removed from your record.

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

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

A problematic driving record or poor credit score may mean higher insurance rates, but affordable options exist. In West Virginia, high-risk car insurance costs $3,381 per year. However, you can get rates as low as $1,955 annually from Nationwide.

Many things can make you a high-risk driver, but some affect your rates more than others. For example, having multiple speeding tickets or a ticket for speeding in a school zone will increase your rates more than a single basic speeding ticket.

Read on as we explain high-risk car insurance factors and rates below.

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

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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

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Average annual rate

PEOPLE ASK:

Who is considered high-risk for insurance 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.

Cheapest car insurance in West Virginia with a DUI

Although many insurance companies provide coverage after a DUI, State Farm offers the most affordable rate at $1,795 a year.

Driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious traffic violation that damages your driving record. It can raise auto insurance premiums for nearly 10 years, on top of fines and other penalties. Multiple DUIs drive rates even higher, but consistent safe driving over time can gradually lead to lower premiums.

The table below compares average car insurance premiums in West Virginia for drivers with a clean record versus those with a DUI.

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

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Cheapest car insurance in West Virginia with multiple tickets

For drivers with multiple tickets, State Farm offers the lowest premiums, averaging $1,795 per year or $150 per month.

A single ticket can raise your car insurance premiums, but multiple tickets will push them even higher. Repeatedly violating speed limits and other traffic laws signals risky behavior, increasing the likelihood that insurers will have to pay claims.

This table shows drivers in West Virginia how much having multiple tickets can raise their insurance 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

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Cheapest car insurance in West Virginia with a reckless driving conviction

State Farm offers the cheapest rates for drivers with reckless driving convictions at $1,795 per year.

You can be charged with reckless driving for many reasons, such as excessive speed, multiple accidents in a short time or street racing. Regardless of the cause, a reckless driving conviction raises car insurance rates.

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

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Cheapest car insurance in West Virginia with bad credit

In West Virginia, Nationwide provides the lowest premiums for drivers with poor credit, averaging $1,715 per year or $143 per month. Even with a low credit score, you can still find affordable auto insurance.

While your credit score doesn't reflect your driving ability, it can impact your car insurance rates and place you in a higher-risk category. Insurers view lower credit scores as an indicator of increased risk based on statistics showing that these drivers are 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

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Cheapest car insurance after an accident in West Virginia

Nationwide offers the lowest rates after an accident, averaging $1,870 per year. State Farm is another budget-friendly option, with rates around $1,926 a year.

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

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Cheapest car insurance in West Virginia by city

Martinsburg has the cheapest car insurance rates in West Virginia at $3,025 per year. But the most expensive city is Ravenswood with rates of $3,472 per year.

Your location in West Virginia also matters. For example, if you live in an area with heavy traffic or a high vehicle theft rate, rates will reflect the increased chance of claims.

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

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How to reduce car insurance rates in West Virginia for a bad driving record

Finding affordable car insurance in West Virginia is possible, even with a bad driving record. Ways to lower car insurance rates include:

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.

Carefully consider filing claims. Paying for minor damage out of pocket may be cheaper than filing an insurance claim and increasing rates for years.
Avoid costly infractions. Drive carefully to avoid adding traffic infractions to your record. Tickets only affect insurance rates for a few years, which will decrease if more tickets aren't added.
Improve your credit score. Raising your credit score lowers car insurance rates. Make on-time payments and consider credit usage to improve your rating.
Take a defensive driving course. Many insurance companies offer a discount for doing so, and some states remove driver's license points for successfully completing the class.
Shop around for coverage. Every car insurance company weighs factors differently and offers different rates. Compare quotes to find the cheapest rates.

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 California depends 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.

West Virginia car insurance laws for high-risk drivers

If you're a high-risk driver in West Virginia, you may need to file an SR-22. Your insurer submits this form to confirm you carry the state's minimum required coverage. The court will specify how long you must maintain the SR-22.

An SR-22 is not a type of insurance; it's simply a form. You don't need special coverage, but your premiums may be higher since you're classified as high risk. Additionally, not all insurance companies offer policies for high risk drivers or handle SR-22 filings.

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:

A 40-year-old driver
A clean record
Good credit
State minimum insurance, which includes liability coverage and may also include personal injury protection, medical payments and uninsured motorist coverage

Best company rankings use the rate data outline above, as well as:

Customer complaints ratios from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaints database, where a score of 1.00 is considered the baseline and anything below is a low complaint volume while anything above is considered a high volume.
Overall customer satisfaction ratings from J.D. Power's U.S. Auto Insurance Study, where companies are scored out of 1,000.
AM Best financial ratings were used to indicate financial stability, where the best possible score is A++.