How long do points stay on your license in West Virginia?

You can check how many points are on your license in West Virginia by going to the West Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles website. Checking your license points in West Virginia will cost you $7.50 if you provide the driver's license number, otherwise $8.50, since you will need to pay for a copy of your driving record.... read full answer

West Virginia uses driver’s license points to track violations. Accumulating 12 points in 24 months will result in a suspended license. Insurance companies also check customers’ driving records for points, since having a poor driving record is associated with an increased risk of filing a claim. Consequently, license points will result in higher premiums. For instance, one DUI conviction will raise your premium by an average of 104% in West Virginia.

For more information, check out WalletHub’s guides to license points and driving record checks.

Car insurance points are how insurance companies grade each customer’s risk as a driver. Major auto insurance companies assign points based on certain behaviors by the driver, like filing accident claims or getting a speeding ticket. The points, in turn, help the insurance companies decide how much to charge drivers for a policy. The more points a driver has, the more they are likely to cost the insurance company, and the more they will have to pay for coverage as a result.... read full answer

Auto insurance points are not the same as driver’s license points, though there is a lot of overlap between them. In 41 of the 50 states, the department of motor vehicles assigns and tracks license points. You get points for different traffic violations, such as speeding or driving under the influence. Once you cross the state’s limit for license points, your license gets suspended. The other nine states also keep track of traffic violations to determine when to suspend a driver’s license, but they do not assign a point value to each violation.

One of the biggest differences between insurance points and license points is that insurance companies track more than just traffic violations. They also take your insurance claims and accidents into account. If you file a claim for any type of accident, you’ll probably pay more for your next insurance policy. Even a one-car accident (from accidentally hitting a mailbox or a deer) has the potential to raise your insurance costs.

No, West Virginia does not require SR-22 insurance. Even though West Virginia does not have an SR-22 requirement, drivers in the state should still expect their insurance rates to go up if they’re convicted of a serious driving-related offense. For example, premiums in West Virginia go up by an average of 104% after a DUI conviction.... read full answer

Unlike West Virginia, many states require drivers to file an SR-22 form with the DMV in order to verify that they meet the state’s minimum insurance coverage requirements after being convicted of a major moving violation like DUI. West Virginia is one of 12 states without such a requirement.

To learn more, check out WalletHub’s guide to SR-22 insurance.