West Virginia Title Insurance Cost: What an Owner's and Lender's Policy Costs
An owner's title insurance policy on a $253,300 West Virginia home costs about $911, and the lender's policy issued with it about $100, under the filed rate schedule. The owner's policy rate is $3.90 per $1,000 up to $100,000, $3.40 per $1,000 from $100,000 to $500,000, $3 per $1,000 from $500,000 to $5,000,000, $2 per $1,000 from $5,000,000 to $10,000,000, $1.75 per $1,000 from $10,000,000 to $20,000,000, $1 per $1,000 above $20,000,000, with a minimum premium of $200.
West Virginia title insurance by purchase price
| Purchase price | Owner's policy | Lender's policy (issued together) | Both policies |
|---|---|---|---|
| $150,000 | $560 | $100 | $660 |
| $200,000 | $730 | $100 | $830 |
| $250,000 | $900 | $100 | $1,000 |
| $300,000 | $1,070 | $100 | $1,170 |
| $350,000 | $1,240 | $100 | $1,340 |
| $400,000 | $1,410 | $100 | $1,510 |
| $450,000 | $1,580 | $100 | $1,680 |
| $500,000 | $1,750 | $100 | $1,850 |
| $600,000 | $2,050 | $100 | $2,150 |
| $700,000 | $2,350 | $100 | $2,450 |
| $800,000 | $2,650 | $100 | $2,750 |
| $1,000,000 | $3,250 | $100 | $3,350 |
West Virginia uses filed rates: underwriters file their rate manuals with the state insurance department, and the filed schedule below is what a policy costs; competing underwriters file similar or identical schedules. Schedule shown: Stewart Title Guaranty Company.
West Virginia title insurance calculator
Enter a purchase price to see the owner's and lender's policy premiums from the filed West Virginia rate schedule.
Who pays for the owner's policy
Who pays for the owner's policy in West Virginia is negotiable in the purchase contract. Several closing-cost guides say the buyer customarily pays both the owner's and lender's premiums, while at least one says the seller often pays the owner's policy. The purchase contract controls; no state law assigns it. Source
When the owner's and lender's policies are issued together at closing, the lender's policy is charged at the reduced simultaneous-issue rate (a flat $100); that is the lender figure used on this page.
Title insurance at the county median price
The rate schedule is statewide; what changes from county to county is the home price. The ten most populous counties are shown; every West Virginia county is in the list below.
| County | Median home price | Owner's policy |
|---|---|---|
| Berkeley County | $248,000 | $893 |
| Cabell County | $156,100 | $581 |
| Harrison County | $158,500 | $589 |
| Jefferson County | $324,500 | $1,153 |
| Kanawha County | $135,000 | $509 |
| Mercer County | $118,600 | $453 |
| Monongalia County | $254,200 | $914 |
| Putnam County | $214,200 | $778 |
| Raleigh County | $142,600 | $535 |
| Wood County | $153,700 | $573 |
All 55 West Virginia counties
- Barbour County
- Berkeley County
- Boone County
- Braxton County
- Brooke County
- Cabell County
- Calhoun County
- Clay County
- Doddridge County
- Fayette County
- Gilmer County
- Grant County
- Greenbrier County
- Hampshire County
- Hancock County
- Hardy County
- Harrison County
- Jackson County
- Jefferson County
- Kanawha County
- Lewis County
- Lincoln County
- Logan County
- Marion County
- Marshall County
- Mason County
- McDowell County
- Mercer County
- Mineral County
- Mingo County
- Monongalia County
- Monroe County
- Morgan County
- Nicholas County
- Ohio County
- Pendleton County
- Pleasants County
- Pocahontas County
- Preston County
- Putnam County
- Raleigh County
- Randolph County
- Ritchie County
- Roane County
- Summers County
- Taylor County
- Tucker County
- Tyler County
- Upshur County
- Wayne County
- Webster County
- Wetzel County
- Wirt County
- Wood County
- Wyoming County
What the two policies cover
The owner's policy protects your equity against title defects that predate your purchase: undisclosed liens, forged deeds, missing heirs, recording errors. The lender's policy protects only the mortgage lender for the loan amount and is required by nearly every lender. Premiums are one-time and paid at closing. Because underwriters file competing rates, getting two quotes at your purchase price is worth a few hundred dollars.
Frequently asked questions
How much is title insurance in West Virginia?
On a $253,300 home, the West Virginia median, an owner's title policy costs about $911 under the filed rate schedule, and the lender's policy issued with it costs $100, so both policies together are about $1,011. The premium rises with the purchase price; the table on this page shows it from $150,000 to $1,000,000.
Who pays for title insurance in West Virginia?
Who pays for the owner's policy in West Virginia is negotiable in the purchase contract. Several closing-cost guides say the buyer customarily pays both the owner's and lender's premiums, while at least one says the seller often pays the owner's policy. The purchase contract controls; no state law assigns it. Source
Is title insurance a one-time cost?
Yes. Both the owner's policy and the lender's policy are paid once at closing and cover the property for as long as you (or your lender) hold an interest in it. There are no annual premiums.
Can I shop for title insurance in West Virginia?
Yes. West Virginia underwriters file their own rate manuals, so premiums differ by company; ask two or three title companies for a quote at your price and compare their settlement fees as well.
Sources
- Stewart Title Guaranty Company, Schedule of Charges for the State of West Virginia, effective 08/25/2023
- Who pays for the owner's policy in West Virginia
Rates as filed or promulgated, checked September 22, 2026. Premiums are computed from the schedule above and rounded to the dollar; endorsements, settlement fees and search fees are separate. All sources.
See all West Virginia buyer closing costs →
Premiums are computed from the rate schedule cited above and rounded to the dollar; your title company's quote may add endorsements, search and settlement fees. This is general information, not financial advice.
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