Auto Insurance in West Virginia WV
Reader’s Question:
I notice my wife’s auto insurance premium rates are always lower than mine every year. Our cars are from the company we work for as performance incentive and was given to us the same exact year, and are exactly the same make and model. Do auto insurance in West Virginia give any consideration for women drivers?
William
Parkersburg, WV
It’s good that you asked, William.
Auto insurance companies are not exactly chauvinist but generally give lower premium rates to women drivers. And who said women are such bad drivers? Lower auto insurance premium rates than what men get might probably prove otherwise, right?
I know exactly what you’re thinking right now with regards to your wife’s auto insurance in West Virginia. Most probably you are adamant to know why women receive better auto insurance rates than men. Well, the most obvious reason is that women in general are less involved in car accidents as compared to men. If women are involved in car accidents, these are typically less expensive and less damaging than those which men are involved in. Good statistics also show evidence that women are less likely to commit traffic violations while driving than the male counterparts.
So are men such bad drivers for auto insurance policies to charge higher insurance premiums? Being a good or bad driver is not exactly the reason why premium rates can go lower. Driving skill is not the ultimate reason why women are less likely to get lower auto insurance premium rates. For example, women drivers purchase fewer high end sports car and luxury vehicles compared to a number of men drivers. If a car is expensive, it also follows that it becomes more expensive to insure. Most women drive less expensive cars than many men car owners…which means one thing: men are more interested with cars than women!
On this note, I still cannot tell if men are better drivers than women though!
West Virginia Car Insurance Question
Reader’s Question:
I have a suspended license in West Virginia due to a accident when I was a juvenile, but have a permit to operate a vehicle to and from work and school. Is it still possible to finance a vehicle and obtain car insurance?
Justin
Huntington, WV
It sounds like your full license is suspended in West Virginia but you have a conditional or restricted driving privilege permit. If this is the case there are insurance providers that will insure your car. Because of the type of license or permit that you hold auto insurance will likely be more expense then if you held a full valid drivers license. So once you are able to get a full license again, be sure to let your insurance carrier know.
As for financing a new car with a restricted license, you will have to speak with financial institutions in West Virginia to check if this permit would be a problem in getting a loan. There are banks or other lien holders that are typically willing to assist someone in your position finance a vehicle.
Teen Car Insurance West Virginia
Reader’s Question:
How old do you have to be to get car insurance in West Virginia?
Dan
Wheeling, WV
I find no information regarding age restriction for West Virginia for a person to be able to purchase car insurance in this state. You may want to verify with the West Virginia Insurance Commissioner or WV DMV though to make certain if WV requires you to be of certain age in order to obtain car insurance.
An insurance company will require any minor or teen to have a parent or guardian sign on an insurance policy if you are getting it on your own and are a minor or teen. An insurance policy is a legal document between you and your insurance provider. A minor or teen can not enter into a legal contact. That is the reason why your parent or legal guardian would need to sign the documents with you.
An insurance provider will also require you to have a driver’s license so you cannot be below the licensing age and get car insurance.
Auto Insurance West Virginia WV
Reader’s Question:
What are the penalties in West Virginia if you have no insurance and got involved in an accident, yet you were not at fault?
Jim
Huntington, WV
West Virginia has many penalties in place for drivers who fail to show proof of insurance, regardless if there is accidents involved. Penalties can include suspension of your car registration and drivers license as well as criminal penalties that may result from a conviction in magistrate court.
Criminal penalties for operating a vehicle without insurance can include fines of between $250 and $5000 and jail time of between 15 days to one year or both.
If for instance you were the one at fault in the car accident, the other driver would be allowed to file a judgment through civil court against you. This accident report and judgment could then be sent to the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles for a driver’s license suspension to last until the judgment was paid in installments or in full.
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West Virginia WV Car Insurance
Reader’s Question:
Is it in West Virginia state law where medical coverage follows the owner of the car rather than the insured when the insured is operating someone else’s vehicle?
Charles
Charleston, WV
Medical payment coverage typically pays for you, your family members and passengers whether you caused the accident or not. Depending on the terms of the insurance policy you might also be covered if you are injured in someone else’s vehicle or hit by a car while walking or bicycling.
There is no information that I have found that says West Virginia differs in the way its car insurance medical payment coverage is dispensed.
It might be best to contact the West Virginia Insurance Commission consumer division to find out if there is a state law regarding if medical payment coverage follows the owner of the car or the insured instead of going through the whole West Virginia Code for Insurance.
Car Insurance West Virginia WV
Reader’s Question:
I hold a West Virginia license and recently received a ticket in Virginia. Will the state of Virginia report that violation to WV? Thanks. I live in Huntington, West Virginia.
Fred
Huntington, WV
West Virginia and Virginia are both members of the Drivers License Compact and that means once you are convicted of your VA ticket the Virginia courts will report the infraction back to the West Virginia DMV.
The WV Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has decided to assess points for all moving violation convictions, regardless of what state they are committed in. So moving violations you receive in other states will become part of your West Virginia driving record and points will be assessed.
Points in WV are assigned according to the severity of the violation. Points for a given violation stay on a driver’s record for 2 years after the date of the infraction. The violation itself stays on the driver’s record for 7 years.