Insurance in West Virginia: State Rules and Requirements

Car insurance in West Virginia (25/50/25)

Minimum car insuranceWest Virginia requires at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage. Uninsured motorist coverage is mandatory at the same 25/50/25 limits, and insurers must offer underinsured motorist coverage and higher UM limits; PIP is not required. Source
Fault systemWest Virginia is an at-fault (tort) state: the driver who causes a crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the other party's injuries and damage. Source

Business insurance rules in West Virginia

Workers’ compensationAll West Virginia employers are required by law to carry workers' compensation, with exemptions reviewed by the Insurance Commissioner's Employer Coverage Unit. The market has been open to private insurers since July 1, 2008, after the state fund was replaced. Source
Contractor licensingThe West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board licenses contractors under the Contractor Licensing Act (WV Code 30-42), which applies to work costing $5,000 or more for residential projects or $25,000 or more for commercial projects. Source

Home insurance in West Virginia

Home insurer of last resortState law sets up the West Virginia Essential Insurance Association to provide fire and extended coverage on homes and commercial property for owners who can't get it in the voluntary market. Flooding is the most significant natural hazard for many West Virginia homes, and standard homeowners policies don't cover it. Source

Disasters, floods, hail, tornadoes and earthquakes in West Virginia

West Virginia disasters, floods, hail, tornadoes and earthquakes, from federal records
Measure	West Virginia	Rank among the states	Detail
Federal major disaster declarations since 2000	44	#10 (tied) of 51	Most often for severe storm (24), flood (13), hurricane (2). Lincoln County has been in 22 of them.
National Flood Insurance Program claims, 2005–2025	6,030	#26 of 51	$141.8 million paid; 24% of claims with a known flood zone were outside FEMA’s high-risk zones.
Homes in high-risk flood zones with a federal flood policy	10%	#50 of 50	6,324 policies for 61,606 homes in the counties FEMA can measure; US: 40%.
Hail reports, 2016–2025	702	#32 of 51	35 of them 2 inches or larger. Largest stone 4.25 inches, Kanawha County, May 2019.
Tornadoes, 2016–2025	40	#35 of 51	4 rated EF2 or stronger; 177 recorded since 1950.
Earthquakes of magnitude 4.0+, 2000–2025	0	—	None of magnitude 4.0 or greater recorded in or near the state.

From the public FEMA, NOAA, Storm Prediction Center, USGS and FMCSA records behind each linked report; ranks count all 50 states and Washington, DC unless noted.

Look up the storm history of any county in West Virginia.

Worth knowing in West Virginia

West Virginia's mandatory uninsured motorist coverage includes property damage (25/50/25), and the state switched workers' comp from a state-run fund to a private market in 2008.

West Virginia’s insurance regulator

Insurance in West Virginia is regulated by the West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner, which handles consumer complaints and licenses insurers and agents.

Sam Alishahi holds a nonresident insurance producer license in West Virginia (NPN 21022298), so requests from West Virginia are handled by him directly.

Common questions

What is the minimum car insurance in West Virginia?

West Virginia requires at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage. Uninsured motorist coverage is mandatory at the same 25/50/25 limits, and insurers must offer underinsured motorist coverage and higher UM limits; PIP is not required.

Is West Virginia a no-fault state?

West Virginia is an at-fault (tort) state: the driver who causes a crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the other party's injuries and damage.

Do employers in West Virginia need workers’ comp?

All West Virginia employers are required by law to carry workers' compensation, with exemptions reviewed by the Insurance Commissioner's Employer Coverage Unit. The market has been open to private insurers since July 1, 2008, after the state fund was replaced.

What can a West Virginia homeowner do if no insurer will write the house?

State law sets up the West Virginia Essential Insurance Association to provide fire and extended coverage on homes and commercial property for owners who can't get it in the voluntary market. Flooding is the most significant natural hazard for many West Virginia homes, and standard homeowners policies don't cover it.

Sources

General information as of October 2026, not legal advice; confirm current rules with the agency.

Tell me what you need insured.

Home, car, business, trucks or something harder to place. One request, and I take it from there.

Alishahi Insurance · Saman Alishahi, independent insurance broker, 439 N Canon Dr, Penthouse, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. General information, not a quote or a promise of coverage.

Insurance in West Virginia