West Virginia driving lesson · Driver Responsibilities
Insurance and reporting a crash
A 3-minute lesson from the West Virginia course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Every car on a West Virginia public road must be covered by WV liability insurance, and you must be able to prove it on the spot. If you crash, some crashes must also be reported to police within days.
When you register or renew a vehicle, you sign a statement, under penalty of false swearing, that it is insured and will stay insured for the full registration year.
Carry a certificate of insurance (or other proof) and a valid registration card in the vehicle at all times. An image shown on a wireless device is also valid proof.
The DMV verifies insurance electronically with insurers at any time. If you can't prove coverage, your license and registration are suspended, with reinstatement and/or penalty fees; repeat offenses bring longer suspensions.
You back into a parked car in a Charleston lot, causing about $1,800 in damage. Because damage is over $1,000, you must report it to the Charleston police within five days, and you must show your proof of insurance to the investigating officer.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
What is the minimum WV liability insurance coverage for one death or injury?
$50,000
$10,000
$100,000
$25,000
Answer: $25,000
WV law requires minimum liability coverage of $25,000 for one death or injury.