The phone numbers for West Virginia state agencies below cover the offices residents call most often, from the DMV and Tax Department to unemployment, consumer protection, and the abuse hotline. If you aren’t sure which office handles your issue, the Governor’s office at 304-558-2000 can point you in the right direction, and dialing 2-1-1 will connect you to a referral specialist for help finding services.
Division of Motor Vehicles
The West Virginia DMV handles driver licensing, vehicle titles, registration renewals, and license reinstatements.
- In-state toll-free: 1-800-642-9066
- Out-of-state: 304-558-39001West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles. Contact Us
State Tax Department
The Taxpayer Services Division handles personal income tax questions, refund status, and filing issues. Charleston headquarters answers phones from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; regional offices in Beckley, Clarksburg, Martinsburg, Parkersburg, and Wheeling run 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.2West Virginia State Tax Division. Contact Us
- Taxpayer Services: 304-558-3333
- Toll-free: 800-982-8297
Questions about the Homestead Exemption often start here, but the exemption itself is applied through your county assessor’s office; the tax line can route you there.3West Virginia State Tax Division. Property Tax Exemptions
Health and Human Services
As of January 2024, the former Department of Health and Human Resources was split into three separate agencies: the Department of Health, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Health Facilities.4West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. DH, DHF, and DoHS Provide Update on Changes as Result of the DHHR Reorganization All three share a main number.5West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. Contacts
- Main line (all three departments): 304-558-0684
- Benefits questions (SNAP, Medicaid eligibility, case status): 1-877-716-1212
- Child and Adult Abuse Hotline (Centralized Intake, 24/7): 1-800-352-6513
For an immediate emergency, call 911 before the abuse hotline.
Workforce West Virginia
Use these lines to file for unemployment, check a claim, or handle employer tax accounts.6WorkForce West Virginia. Unemployment Basics7WorkForce West Virginia. Department Directory
- Claimants (file or check a claim): 1-800-252-5627
- Employer unemployment tax accounts, audits, compliance: 304-558-2676
- General employer inquiries, job fairs, layoff support: 304-558-8414
Secretary of State
Business filings, annual reports, and licensing run through the Business and Licensing Division. Annual reports for LLCs and corporations are due between January 1 and June 30 each year, and missing that window puts the entity out of good standing.8West Virginia Secretary of State. Business
- Business and Licensing: 304-558-8000
- Toll-free: 866-767-8683
Elections and voter registration questions route through the same 304-558-8000 line; there is no separate published number for the elections division.
Attorney General — Consumer Protection
Report scams, deceptive business practices, or unresolved purchase disputes through the Consumer Protection Hotline. Staff will usually ask you to also submit a written Consumer Complaint Form to start the formal process.9West Virginia Office of the Attorney General. Consumer Protection and Antitrust Division
- Consumer Protection Hotline (Mon–Fri, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.): 1-800-368-8808
- Attorney General main office: 304-558-2021
Insurance Commissioner
For denied claims, coverage disputes, or questions about required coverage, the Offices of the Insurance Commissioner has one toll-free line covering both product areas.10West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner. Consumer Services
- Toll-free: 1-888-879-9842
- Life and health direct: 304-720-8584
- Property and casualty direct: 304-720-8580
State Police and Background Checks
Use 911 for emergencies. For non-emergency inquiries and criminal records questions, the numbers below apply. Fingerprint-based background checks themselves are handled by IdentoGO, not by State Police headquarters.11West Virginia State Police. Contact12West Virginia State Police. Criminal Records
- State Police main information line: 304-746-2100
- Criminal Records section (procedural questions): 304-746-2450
- IdentoGO (fingerprint background checks): 855-766-7746
Governor’s Office and Legislature
When the right agency isn’t obvious, start with the Governor’s office; staff will route you. The legislative operator line can connect you with your senator or delegate during session, and takes messages when the legislature is not in session.13West Virginia Legislature. State Capitol Information
- Governor’s office: 304-558-2000
- Legislative toll-free line: 1-877-565-3447
The state also maintains an online agency and phone directory at wv.gov for departments not listed above.14State of West Virginia. State Agency Directory
Three-Digit Service Lines
- 2-1-1 — Referral center for food, rent, utility, and mental health assistance. Your call routes to the nearest regional center, where a specialist searches public and private programs.15Bureau for Family Assistance. West Virginia 211
- 5-1-1 — Real-time road conditions, construction alerts, and weather-related closures, 24/7. Also available at WV511.org.16511WV. 511WV – Travel Info to Go
- 9-8-8 — Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; trained counselors around the clock.