Updated July 2026
What Is Reinstatement Coverage Insurance?
West Virginia reinstatement coverage is standard liability insurance that meets the state's minimum requirements: $20,000 per person for bodily injury, $40,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $10,000 for property damage. When you purchase a policy from a licensed West Virginia insurer, they automatically transmit a WV-1B Certificate of Insurance to the state's Online Insurance Verification Program. The DMV sees that you're insured, you pay the reinstatement fee for your specific suspension type, and your license is restored. There is no separate filing, no certificate fee, and no ongoing filing period—just continuous proof of active insurance.
- Your license was revoked for DUI. You complete the Safety and Treatment Program, install an ignition interlock if required under the Test and Lock program, and purchase a liability policy meeting 20/40/10 minimums. Your insurer files the WV-1B electronically. You pay the DMV reinstatement fee and your license is restored. If you let the policy lapse during the interlock period, the DMV is notified immediately and your license is suspended again until you reinstate coverage.
- You lost your license due to unpaid fines and no longer own a vehicle. You cannot reinstate without proof of insurance, but standard policies require a car. You purchase a non-owner liability policy from a West Virginia insurer. They file the WV-1B showing you meet state minimums. You pay the reinstatement fee and outstanding fines, and the DMV restores your license. The non-owner policy stays active as long as you maintain payments, even if you never buy a car.
Who Needs Reinstatement Coverage Insurance?
You need reinstatement coverage if your West Virginia license is currently suspended and the DMV requires proof of insurance before restoration. This includes all DUI revocations, suspensions for driving uninsured, and most point-based suspensions. If you don't own a vehicle, a non-owner policy satisfies the requirement and costs less than insuring a car you don't have.
Check your DMV reinstatement letter or contact the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles to confirm whether proof of insurance is required for your specific suspension. If required and you own a vehicle, purchase standard liability meeting 20/40/10 minimums. If required and you don't own a vehicle, purchase a non-owner policy. If not required, decide whether to carry coverage based on how often you'll drive once reinstated—West Virginia law mandates insurance for all licensed drivers who operate vehicles, even occasionally.
How Much Does Reinstatement Coverage Insurance Cost?
Reinstatement coverage costs the same as standard liability insurance if you own a vehicle—the WV-1B filing itself has no separate fee. Non-owner policies for suspended drivers without a car typically cost less because there's no vehicle risk.
- Suspension cause—DUI revocations signal higher risk than administrative suspensions and result in higher premiums from most carriers.
- Length of suspension—longer revocations correlate with higher risk profiles and steeper rate increases.
- Driving record before suspension—prior violations or accidents compound the suspension's rate impact.
- Vehicle type if you own one—higher-value or higher-performance vehicles increase collision risk and raise liability premiums.
- County of residence—urban counties with higher accident rates and uninsured driver percentages cost more to insure.
- Credit-based insurance score—West Virginia allows insurers to use credit history in underwriting, and suspended drivers often have lower scores.