Car Insurance For High Risk Drivers

It can be difficult for people with bad driving records to get car insurance for high risk drivers. Most people are afraid that this kind of coverage is going to be too expensive. However, there are certain ways to get covered that won’t cost an arm and a leg.

Hardly anyone has a spotless driving record. It’s perfectly reasonable to seek affordable auto insurance, even with your higher risk driving record. In this guide, you can learn the different ways in which traffic tickets, car accidents, and moving violations will affect the premium you can expect to pay.

How Drivers with Tickets and Accident Points Get Insurance Coverage

If you have a wonderful, squeaky clean driving record, you have the highest possibility of getting the best rates on car insurance. However, not everybody is able to get by with such a blemish-free driving record. Also, credit scores may not be in the best state either. Those drivers who aren’t as lucky will have to deal with higher insurance rates due to their lack of a clean record.

However, that doesn’t mean that there’s no hope for cheaper premiums. Some insurance companies are very understanding of people’s situations. There are specialists who can create more affordable payment plans for drivers with risky records.

If your premium has recently gone up because you were in an accident or received a ticket, now is as good a time as ever to start looking for a better insurance policy, with lower rates. You can find bad record car insurance with the click of a button at sites like goodtogoinsurance online and over the phone.

How Much Infractions Can Add to the Cost of Auto Insurance

There are so many things that can increase what you pay for car insurance. Some infractions can cost you only $100 or $150 more per year. Other, more serious violations, like a DUI, can skyrocket the cost of coverage. Here are some average annual premiums for higher risk motorists.

The average yearly cost of auto insurance in the USA averages about $1,320 per year. The average cost for 1 at fault accident moves that average to just above $1,900. That’s about $50 more per month you can expect to pay for getting into a wreck you caused. A reckless driving conviction can push yearly premiums to over $2,100.

The biggest “do not dos” behind the wheel are racing and driving while intoxicated.
Racing is deemed by insurers to be almost equal, in terms of risk, to DUI offenses. Yearly premiums for racing average over $2,350. Premiums for those convicted of just 1 DUI average about $2,375 per year.

As you can see, these 2 risk factors can push the annual cost of automobile insurance up $1,000 or more.  If you want to keep your auto insurance costs down, avoid racing and never drive drunk.

How to Tell if You are a High Risk Driver

What exactly is a “high risk driver”? This is someone who has one or more of the following on their driving record:

• Tickets and Violations: If you have received a ticket for speeding or reckless driving, this can impact your record and increase your premiums quite a bit. Ticket amounts can vary depending on how big your offense was, but it can increase your premium by $300 or more per year. For driving recklessly, your premium can go up almost $1000. Racing is an even larger offense that can really hit your wallet hard.
• DUI: A DUI is much more difficult to pass by than a speeding ticket. A DUI conviction will immediately raise your premiums by about 80%. In some states like Hawaii and North Carolina, it can go up 200% or 350%.
• Insurance Gaps: If you have any gaps of coverage, the insurance company may assume that you have had your insurance revoked. Or, they may think that you’ve just been uninsured for a long period of time. No matter what your reasoning is for a gap in insurance, it can make your premiums go up.
• Claims: If you have a substantial amount of claims on record, and if you have filed multiple times with insurance companies, your premiums will certainly increase. Since the company had to pay out on a claim, they are going to charge you extra for it, to recoup some of this expense.
• Your Profile: Just based on who you are, your coverage amount may differ in price. For example, adults (especially those over 40 and under 70) are seen as less risky as teens and therefore their premiums will be less. People who live in the city are at a higher risk of getting into an accident than those who live in rural areas. In many cases, women are seen as safer motorists than men and get cheaper rates.
• Credit Score: Your credit history can determine a lot about your driving record and can help or hurt your premiums cost. A lot of insurers will look at your credit history to establish whether or not you have good spending habits and if you pose a lower or higher overall risk.

The Basics of SR-22 Insurance

What is SR-22 insurance? This is a helpful type of insurance that is designed specifically for people who have traffic offense points on their record. Also known as “responsibility filing”, SR22 insurance is required in some areas such as the state of Illinois for people who qualify for 3 years.
You might need SR-22 insurance if you:

• Have a DUI or DWI
• Have been charged with driving recklessly
• Are driving uninsured
• Were in an accident and could not show proof of insurance
• Had your driver’s license revoked

 

You may receive a court order for your SR-22 qualifications. You can also apply through the state. Some carriers cover SR-22. This includes Good to Go Insurance, which can file your documents electronically and make SR-22 available to non-owners.

Finding an Affordable SR-22 Insurance Provider

Before purchasing the first SR-22 insurance you see, there are a few things you should know so that you can look out for your best interests. Not all SR-22 carriers work the same way as regular insurance companies. You need to be able to know the difference when looking for a plan that works best for you.

Here are some of the factors to take into consideration:

• Your rates may be higher than what they would be with regular insurance because you are in need of a SR-22.
• You want to make sure the insurance carrier of your choice is absolutely familiar with the SR-22 process. This is so you know that the provider understands what you need to go through in order to qualify for this type of coverage. It will also give you better peace of mind when going through the process with them.

Avoid Being a High-Risk Motorist

There are several good habits you can practice so that you can proudly call yourself a good motorist and avoid the potential for high-risk charges. While some of the following pieces of advice may seem like obvious information, it never hurts to take a second look. Let’s review some of the things you can do to best avoid getting marks on your record:

• File claims smartly. This means understanding if it makes financial sense to file a claim. If you get into an accident and you will have to get estimates for repairs, you may want to consider just shelling out the money for the repairs yourself. This will help you avoid risking increased premiums. Sometimes it’s cheaper to just pay a one-time fee for your car to be repaired, rather than having your premiums go up to $600 or more each year.
• Drive safely. Of course, you should always drive safe. Being a good driver and obeying the rules of the road can truly help you avoid some bad mistakes and increases in premiums. If you are under the influence, call a friend or a ride-sharing service like Lyft or Uber. Don’t ever risk getting a DUI, it’s just not worth it.

How to Find Cheap High-Risk Car Insurance

There are a few ways you can start searching for cheap auto insurance for high-risk drivers. The best way to find an affordable company is to look for a non-standard insurance provider, rather than an assigned risk pool program. The difference is that a non-standard company will involve your state government. They specialize in helping high risk drivers get the most affordable insurance possible.

Try Out a Safe Driver Course

If you fear that you are at risk of becoming an unsafe driver, you can enroll in a defensive driving course. These courses are designed to rid you of your bad driving habits and prevent most accidents. This can also be a smart way to lower your premiums on your car insurance and get a notch taken off of your record.

Drive a Smaller Car

Did you know that cheap, small, used cars will get you cheaper insurance premiums than a new luxury sedan? If your car is less expensive, it will require less money to insure. It’s just simple math. If you are a higher risk driver, get a used 4 cylinder car and watch your rates go down.

Get Rid of Violations Over Time

You can wait several years for your violations to fall off your record and they eventually will. This strategy should be done last, after you have vigorously tried to get your driving record cleaned up.

In most states in the U.S., you will have a violation charge on your record cleared after three years. If you keep your insurance going strong with your standard (or non-standard) company for 3 years, you can apply for new coverage and get a better deal.

Shop Around and Find the Best High-Risk Car Insurance Plans

You may need to do a little bit of work to compare different insurance providers, but the results will definitely be worth it. There are many types of insurance carriers that offer cheap high risk car insurance online.

Be sure you take the time and review at least 10 quotes. The cheapest rates can usually be found online, using comparison sites with direct rates like good2go insurance. Apply now and get your vehicle covered for less, even if your driving record is not perfect.