As in most U.S. states, making a right turn on a red light is allowed in West Virginia. Once you’ve made a full stop at the red light, you can execute a right turn on red as long as doing so doesn’t impede the right of way of any other cars or pedestrians, and there is no sign posted prohibiting the action.

Rights on red are allowed in most states, but there are usually at least some restrictions and rules. Failure to follow these rules can lead to some pretty steep fines and penalties, so it’s important to know what you need to do to perform a right on red correctly.

That’s where the

car insurance

comparison app

Jerry

comes in. We've done the research for you to find out when rights on red are allowed, how to perform them properly, and what happens if you don’t follow the rules for right on red in the Mountain State. (Plus, stay till the end to see how you can save on your

West Virginia car insurance costs

Make safe driving pay

Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.

Start earning now

Can you turn right on red in West Virginia?

For the most part, yes. Unless there is a posted sign prohibiting it, right turns on red lights are allowed in West Virginia.

The

West Virginia Code

states that drivers can perform a right turn on red after coming to a complete stop if:

It is not prohibited by a posted sign

It does not impede pedestrians’ or other vehicles’ right of way

The driver’s view is unobstructed

West Virginia treats flashing red lights in the same manner as stop signs. When approaching an intersection with a flashing red light, you should treat it as you would any other intersection with basic stop signs instead of traffic lights.

What about left turns on red?

Unlike many other states, West Virginia does allow left turns on a red light onto a one-way street. As with all other red light actions, be sure to come to a complete stop first and ensure that making your left turn onto the one-way street doesn’t impede any pedestrians’ or other vehicles’ right of way.

Key Takeaway You can make a right turn on red as long as it is not prohibited by a posted sign in West Virginia, and you can legally turn left on red onto a one-way street.

Penalties for an illegal right turn on red in West Virginia

Though turning right on red is legal in West Virginia, doing so without coming to a full stop first or in an intersection where such turns aren’t allowed is considered a misdemeanor, and it will cost you.

Convictions for red-light and stop-sign violations add three demerit points to your West Virginia driving record and carry the following maximum fines:

$100 for a first conviction in a one-year period

$200 for a second conviction within a one-year period

$500 for a third conviction within a one-year period

If you’re looking for ways to

increase your car insurance premiums

—which we obviously don't recommend—getting points on your license is one of the quickest. Plus, you can have your license suspended if you accumulate too many points too quickly, so, do yourself a favor and follow these simple traffic rules.

MORE:

Does running a red light increase your car insurance rates?

"I’m earning

awesome rewards

every week, just for driving safe!”

How to find affordable car insurance in West Virginia

Driving safely and keeping a clean driving record are great ways to keep your insurance costs down, but

Jerry

can help you find the best coverage and rates even if you have a ticket or two on your record.

Jerry is the easiest and most effective way to find a car insurance policy that is customized for you.

After providing you with a comprehensive cross-analysis of the best policies across providers, our

trusted super app

can handle the phone calls, paperwork, and renewals for your top pick so that you don’t have to. They can even help cancel your old policy!

And to ensure you always have the lowest rate, Jerry will send you new quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the best price.

“I have a really bad record, so all of my previous insurance quotes were pretty high. I started using
Jerry
and the fantastic app saved me $130 a month on my insurance.” —Jett A.

RECOMMENDED

Thousands of customers saved on average $887/year on their car insurance with Jerry

This app is great, but the customer service is even better! Not to mention convenient! My husband and I got the lowest rate (much lower than the rates I was finding online through my own searches), quickly, and pretty much all through text message! Thank you so much for a hassle free experience👍

Gabriella R.

Find insurance savings

4.7/5 Rating on App Store

Are you overpaying for car insurance?

Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.

Try Jerry