Mandatory Insurance 

IT'S THE LAW “ West Virginia law requires all registered vehicles to be insured. The minimum amount of coverage required is $20,000 for one accident, one injury, $40,000 for one accident, two or more injuries, $10,000 for property damage. All vehicle insurance policies must be issued by a company licensed to sell insurance in West Virginia. The Compulsory Insurance Law is designed to protect you and all motorists who operate a vehicle in the state of West Virginia.

KEEP IT IN THE GLOVEBOX OF YOUR VEHICLE: Motorists are required to carry proof of insurance in the form of a (WV-1) Certificate of Insurance. in their vehicle at all times. Law enforcement officers will request this information during any traffic stop or accident.

HOW THE DMV VERIFIES YOUR INSURANCE COVERAGE: The Division will verify the insurance information provided at the time of registration. The verification of insurance may be conducted at any time during the registration year. If you receive a notice, you will be required to send back proof of coverage. Failure to do so will result in the suspension of your registration as well as your driver's license.

IF YOU CANCEL YOUR INSURANCE: You must bring or mail in the license plate to the Division and fill out a notice of insurance cancellation. The Owner's Notice of Cancellation (WV-4C) may be brought in to any DMV location or mailed to the Division.

ALL CURRENTLY REGISTERED VEHICLES ARE SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION: If you own a vehicle with a valid license plate and the vehicle becomes inoperable or out of use for any reason, you must maintain insurance or complete a WV-4C form and return the plate to DMV.

IF YOUR VEHICLE IS USED SEASONALLY: If you have a motorcycle, camper or antique vehicle that is only used for part of the year, it is required to be insured for the time it's used. You may be required to show proof of insurance for the time the vehicle is used. During the time the vehicle is stored, you must complete a (WV-4B) Seasonal Statement of Insurance and submit it to the Division.

THE PENALTIES FOR LACK OF INSURANCE ARE STRINGENT: Several penalties are in place for motorists who fail to present proof of insurance during a verification or are found driving without insurance by any law enforcement agency. These administrative penalties affect your vehicle registration, as well as your driver's license. This does not include any criminal penalties that could result from a conviction in magistrate court. Criminal penalties include fines and jail time and have no bearing on the administrative penalties. Dismissal of the ticket through the court system does not release you from any obligation to provide insurance to the division upon request.

SUSPENSION OF VEHICLE REGISTRATION: If you fail to show proof of insurance, the registration of your vehicle will be suspended. The reinstatement fee is $100, plus proof of insurance. If the division sends a state police secure order on the plate, an additional fee of $50 will be assessed.

SUSPENSION OF YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE: If you fail to show proof of insurance during a notice for verification of coverage, your driving privilege will be suspended for 30 days. If a law enforcement officer or insurance company reports you are operating a vehicle without insurance, your license will be suspended for 30 days. A second offense will result in a 90-day suspension. There is no provision in the Motor Vehicle code for a driving permit during a suspended period. After the suspension period ends, you will be required to pay a $50 reinstatement fee.

AN UNPAID TICKET SUSPENSION HAS NO BEARING ON A MANDATORY INSURANCE SUSPENSION: Failure to pay or appear in Court for a ticket, may result in suspension of your driving privileges. Accordingly, when the Court later submits the PAID TICKET to the Division, this will cause any tickets for No Insurance to require additional suspension action. Any suspension time for the unpaid ticket issue does not count towards your insurance suspension requirement.

ACCIDENT WITH AN UNINSURED DRIVER: If you are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver, you may file a judgment through civil court. Once the judgment is awarded, you must submit a copy of the court order and the accident report to the division. Upon receipt, the division will notify the defendant of suspension of the driver's license. The suspension will remain in effect until the judgment is either paid in full or the defendant has entered into an installment agreement.

FILING OF FALSE OR FRAUDULENT INSURANCE INFORMATION WILL RESULT IN A MANDATORY 90-DAY SUSPENSION OF YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE, REVOCATION OF YOUR VEHICLE AND POSSIBLE PROSECUTION THAT CARRIES A FINE OF NOT MORE THAN $1,000 AND JAIL TIME NOT TO EXCEED ONE YEAR.

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE AND REGISTRATION ARE SUSPENDED: If you are sent a notice of suspension, we urge you to obtain insurance immediately and send proof to the division. To reinstate your vehicle registration, you must show proof of insurance and pay a required reinstatement fee.

If your driver's license is suspended, you are required to complete the suspension period. You may pay the reinstatement fee before the suspension period is complete andthe division can set a date of reinstatement at that time.

All insurance questions and reinstatement transactions can be handled by mail or in person at our Capitol Complex office.

COMPULSORY INSURANCE SECTION
PO Box 17020
Charleston, WV 25317
(304) 558-0274 or 1 (800) 642-9066

To check if a company is licensed in West Virginia or to obtain a consumer complaint form contact the West Virginia Insurance Commission.