West Virginia driving guide

As you prepare for your journey across West Virginia, it’s good practice to know more about the general driving rules within the state. From toll roads and speed limits to the legal car seat requirements in West Virginia, Hertz’s driving guide has all the information you need.

Jump to a section:

• Quick rules of the road
• Speed limits
• Toll roads
• Driving ages
• Essential equipment
• Speed violations
• Driving with children
• Gas prices
• Electric car charging
• Driving between West Virginia and other states
• Driving conditions  

Quick rules of the road

• Motorists should always give way to pedestrians in crosswalks and unmarked intersections.
• When you reach a four-way stop, yield the right of way to vehicles that arrived before you.
• You must always give way to emergency vehicles. Failure to give way in West Virginia will result in three demerit points on your driver’s license.
• In West Virginia, you can make a right on a red light when you arrive at a complete stop and it's safe to continue. If attempting to turn right on red is not permitted, you will see a sign that states "No Turns on Red" or "No Right on Red."
• You must use your headlights from sunset to sunrise. Lights should also be turned on when there is insufficient light to clearly discern persons and vehicles on the highway at 500 feet ahead.
• Driving with any communications device is prohibited unless using a hands-free system.

Speed limits in West Virginia

Speed limits in West Virginia vary depending on the road you’re driving on, special zone presence and vehicle type – trucks and heavy vehicles usually have slower limits. Over-speeding can lead to penalization in the form of fines, license suspension and even arrests.

The absolute speed limits in West Virginia are as follows:

Sensitive zones such as school zones and hospital zones often have different speed limits, so look out for dedicated road signs in these areas.

Toll roads in West Virginia

There are several toll roads to be aware of when driving in West Virginia.

West Virginia Turnpike

The turnpike opened in 1954 and is known for its 116 bridges - more than one every mile. This point has been divided into three separate tolls plazas, which are:

1.     Ghent Plaza A at milepost 30

2.     Pax Toll Plaza B at milepost 56

3.     Chelyan Toll Plaza C at milepost 83

Cost for a car: $4.25 ($2.73 with WV E-ZPass)

Cost for a truck or car with a trailer: $5.25 ($3.42 with WV E-ZPass)

Large trucks (over 3-4 axles) also have separate costs per axle at toll roads in West Virginia. You can find out more about rates on the West Virginia state government site.

North Beckley Side Toll

This toll road is found on route 19 via the North Beckley Exit (exit 48).

From: Charleston via Route 64

To: Princeton via Route 77

Cost for a car: $0.75 ($0.55 with WV E-ZPass)

Cost for a truck or car with a trailer: $1.50 ($1.09 with WV E-ZPass)

How to pay: You can pay the toll electronically via a West Virginia E-ZPass, other national E-ZPass or alternative e-ticket transponders, or with cash. Debit and credit cards are not accepted. Failure to pay will result in a toll notice violation with additional fees.

Driving ages and license requirements in West Virginia

• The minimum driving age in West Virginia is 17 years old for a full level 3 license.
• An intermediate permit can be obtained at 16 once a Driver's Eligibility Certificate is submitted and the road skills test has been passed.
• The minimum age to rent a car with Hertz in West Virginia is 21 years old.

If you’re under the age of 25, you can choose from a wide assortment of vehicles including SUVs, hatchbacks and sedans. Though certain vehicle lines, such as Hertz’s Dream Car® collection, are not available to rent. You can find out more in our under 25 rental car guide.

Essential equipment to carry in your car in West Virginia

In your vehicle, it is good practice to have the following items in case of emergencies:

• Extra tires
• Booster cables
• Blankets/tarpaulin sheets
• Multipurpose utility tool/shovel
• Lighter/matches
• Car tool kit
• Snacks and packed food
• First aid kit
• Bottled water.

Please check your rental agreement for a list of prohibited items while driving through West Virginia in a Hertz rental car.

West Virginia speed violations, infractions, and penalties

West Virginia has a basic speed limit defined in more subjective terms which is “reasonable and logical under the current conditions and the actual and potential hazards present”. The regulations also force a driver to slow down and drive carefully around railway crossings, curves, hill crests, etc.

Speeding above absolute speed limits will usually result in a fine, such as:

• First violation in a year: Up to $100
• Second violation in a year: Up to $200
• Third (or more) violation in a year: Up to $500
• School/hospital zone violation: $100 to $500.
  
  

Driving with children in West Virginia

As per West Virginia’s Child Passenger Safety Law, every child passenger under the age of eight years old must be secured in a car seat that complies with federal vehicle safety standards. Any person who violates this law could be fined between $10 and $20.

• It’s recommended that infants ride in a rear-facing car seat until the age of two.
• There is no legal statement on the forward-facing car seat age in West Virginia. However, the DMV recommends children two to four years old can ride in a forward-facing seat with a 5-point harness.
• Once the child is 4 years old and weighs at least 40 pounds, they must ride in a booster seat.
• A safety belt is sufficient to meet the legal requirements if the child is under the age of eight years and at least 4’9”.
• Children should remain in the backseat until the age of 13.

Gas prices in West Virginia

The average gas price in West Virginia is $3.55 per gallon.

Based on manufacturers’ average fuel figures:

• For a compact car like a Ford Focus, that’s about $0.09 per mile.
• For a family car like a Nissan Pathfinder, you can expect to pay about $0.13.
• For a large SUV like a GMC Yukon, it works out at $0.19 per mile.

Gas price figure last updated October 31, 2022.

Electric car charging in West Virginia

Electric car charging ports in West Virginia are currently limited, with 14 stations and 28 individual EV ports publicly accessible as of now – but the infrastructure is quickly improving.

The West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT) is pushing EV infrastructure across the state, making charging much more accessible. Partnering with organizations such as Electrify America under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) funding plan, the number of charging stations is rapidly set to grow.

Driving between West Virginia

With Hertz, you can travel between states with ease – just pick up your car in one state, then drop it off in another. West Virginia’s neighboring states – Virginia, Ohio, Washington and Kentucky – all have Hertz pick-up and drop-off points to suit your rental plans.

Please keep in mind that if you are planning a trip across several US states, you may have to follow separate state driving rules. If you are traveling between major cities or across Canada, please consult a Hertz team member for additional guidelines and restrictions.

Driving conditions in West Virginia

West Virginia has seasons of about equal length. It has a humid continental climate with annual temperatures ranging from around 56°F in the south to 52°F in the north. January is usually the coldest month, averaging around 33°F, while July is the warmest with a 73°F (23°C) average.

One of the best times to travel within West Virginia is between May and June, or from September to mid-November. The weather is usually comfortable and steady, with great music festivals to enjoy during the fall.