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Checked against official sources · Last reviewed October 13, 2026

What homeowners insurance costs in West Virginia: average premium, 2023 $1,179 a year in West Virginia vs. $1,737 countrywide · 43rd highest of 51 · All states (HO-3 policies; NAIC)

West Virginia's market right now

The West Virginia Essential Property Insurance Association (the West Virginia FAIR Plan) says it issued "just 303 policies" in 2024, up 13.06% from 2023, with earned premium of $241,575, according to its April 16, 2025 annual meeting report. It reported 11 losses in 2024 totaling $173,751.27 and an underwriting loss of $106,591.72. The report says "much of the Association's business has come from the southwest corner of the state," though it has policies in most areas.

In the first half of 2026, the plan wrote $120,366 in premiums and reported members' equity of $511,320.16 on June 30, 2026.

The Insurance Commissioner's office says that as West Virginians "recover from disasters, we recognize concerns regarding insurance claim delays and denials," and that it investigates claims against insurers and intervenes to resolve disputes. [4][6][8]

Last resort: the West Virginia FAIR Plan

West Virginia law (W. Va. Code 33-20A) created the West Virginia essential insurance association "to make fire and extended coverage insurance available" to people with property in the state who are "unable to secure such insurance in the voluntary insurance market." Every insurer writing those kinds of insurance in West Virginia must take part. It began operating November 1, 1986, and is known as the West Virginia FAIR Plan.

What to expect:

- Basic coverage only. On homes, the plan issues a policy based on the basic dwelling form (DP-00 01): fire and extended coverage perils. Vandalism coverage is not provided, and the plan says coverage for other perils, or for "time element or indirect loss," is not provided. - Apply through an agent. A licensed property insurance agent or broker must file the application, with front and rear photos of the building. - Limits. For an occupied one- to four-family dwelling, the plan's maximum is $150,000 for building and household contents combined. Losses are paid at actual cash value. - Its own notice rules. The state's homeowners cancellation law below does not apply to residual-market policies like the FAIR Plan. The plan's own rules require at least 30 days' written notice before it cancels or doesn't renew (5 days for listed conditions such as abandonment or unpaid utilities).

Full details: our West Virginia FAIR Plan page. [3][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]

If your insurer cancels or won't renew

West Virginia's property cancellation law (W. Va. Code 33-17A) covers homeowners policies on homes with up to four units and on household belongings. It does not cover residual-market (FAIR Plan) policies.

Nonrenewal. Each insurer chooses, for five years at a time, one of two methods:

- Standard method (33-17A-4): At least 30 days before the policy period ends, the insurer must send notice of what it intends to do at renewal. A nonrenewal notice must explain "the specific reasons." A policy in force four years or longer can be nonrenewed only for the cancellation reasons in 33-17A-5 or "other valid underwriting reasons which involve a substantial increase in the risk." An insurer using this method may also nonrenew for "two or more paid claims under a policy within a period of thirty-six months." - Percentage method (33-17A-4a): The insurer may nonrenew "for any reason that is consistent with its underwriting standards," with at least 30 days' notice, but those nonrenewals can't exceed 1% a year of its policies in force statewide, or in any county. The notice must state the specific reasons, tell you the nonrenewal is subject to a hearing before the Insurance Commissioner, and tell you about possible eligibility for the West Virginia Essential Property Insurance Association. The Commissioner's rule says reasons like "underwriting reasons," "claims" or "increase in risk" are not clear enough.

Weather claims (policies in force at least four years). An insurer can't cancel or nonrenew solely because of a single first-party property claim in the past 36 months that "arose from wind, hail, lightning, wildfire, snow, or ice," or two claims in 12 months that were both caused by an event with a declared state of emergency in your county, unless it has evidence that you "unreasonably failed to maintain the property" and that this contributed to the loss.

Cancellation mid-term. After coverage has been in effect more than 60 days, or after a renewal takes effect, an insurer can cancel only for reasons the law lists: nonpayment; conviction of a crime that increases a hazard; fraud or material misrepresentation; willful or reckless acts that increase a hazard; a change in the risk that substantially increases a hazard; a code violation that substantially increases a hazard; a Commissioner finding that continuing would violate insurance law; property taxes delinquent two or more years; the insurer leaving that line or the state; or a substantial breach of the policy. The cancellation notice must be in writing, give the effective date and explain the specific reasons.

Other protections:

- If an insurer turns down your application, it must give you a written explanation of the specific reasons. - If the insurer renews with less coverage, a new exclusion or a different deductible, the renewal notice must explain the changes. - An insurer can't turn you down or drop you based on your race, religion, sex, age or marital status; on another insurer having declined or dropped you; on your having had a FAIR Plan policy; or solely on an adverse credit report or score.

2026 bill: Senate Bill 452, introduced January 16, 2026, would have barred cancelling or nonrenewing a homeowners policy for a claim from "an isolated incident." As of Oct. 13, 2026, the Legislature's bill status page showed its last action as referral to the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee on January 16, 2026; it did not become law. The rules above (33-17A-4 last amended in 2019) still apply. [1][2][5][15][16][17][18][19]

Mine subsidence coverage

Many West Virginia homes sit over old coal mines. State law says every insurance policy issued or renewed on a structure in the state "shall include, at a separately stated premium, insurance for loss ... caused by mine subsidence unless waived by the insured." In 15 counties (Berkeley, Cabell, Calhoun, Hampshire, Hardy, Jackson, Jefferson, Monroe, Morgan, Pendleton, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt and Wood) it is provided only if you ask for it.

- The state reinsures up to $200,000 of insured value, and never more than the fire insurance on the structure. - The deductible is between $250 and $500. - New mine subsidence coverage takes effect on the 30th day after you apply.

The West Virginia FAIR Plan also provides mine subsidence coverage, up to $200,000 or the amount of fire insurance, whichever is less. [7][10]

Flood is a separate policy

The Insurance Commissioner's office reminds consumers that "flood is not covered in standard homeowners policies" and that most flood policies must be bought 30 days before a flood. For flood zones and flood insurance, see our sister site FloodHawk. [20]

Where to get help

The Property and Casualty Consumer Services unit of the West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner helps with homeowners insurance questions and complaints. To let it investigate with your insurer, you complete the online complaint form, or it can mail you a form.

• Toll-free: (888) 879-9842 (1-888-TRY-WVIC)
• Property and casualty unit: (304) 720-8580
• Email: OICConsumerServicesPC@wv.gov
• Complaint forms: WVOIC Consumer Services

If your insurer used the percentage method to nonrenew you, the Commissioner reviews each complaint, and either you or the insurer may demand a formal hearing within 30 days of the Commissioner's notice of findings. More on your options: homeowners insurance nonrenewal. [4][18]

Questions people ask