Car Insurance For High-Risk Drivers

Motorists with multiple infractions on their driving record, including reckless driving and DUIs, are considered high-risk. Car insurance for high-risk drivers can be challenging to get. This is because many insurers see these types of customers as too risky and a profit drain. Risky drivers get into more accidents and file expensive claims, causing carriers to lose money in the process.  

The insurers that do cover higher-risk drivers often charge premiums 100% higher or more than what safe drivers get charged. Motorists who have a DUI on their record are often unable to find coverage, and many end up driving illegally without any auto insurance.

This situation can lead to expensive fines if caught and even worse and financial ruin if they cause a severe accident.  

Companies that Offer Car Insurance for High-Risk Drivers

If you are a high-risk motorist and have been turned down for coverage repeatedly, don’t give up. There are several companies out there that cover these types of drivers. These include: 

• USAA Insurance 
• State Farm
• Allstate
• Good to Go Insurance
• The General 

USAA has the cheapest high-risk auto insurance of the major carriers. However, you have to meet certain requirements to be eligible. The main requirement is to be a military member or a close relative of someone who serves, such as a wife or child. 

USAA high-risk car insurance is 30% cheaper than Allstate and comes with exceptional customer service. To compare car insurance for high-risk drivers, enter your zip code and fill out an online application. You will be matched with up to ten providers’ lowest rates. 

Most people are afraid that this kind of coverage is going to be too expensive. However, there are some ways to get covered that won’t cost an arm and a leg.

Hardly anyone has a spotless driving record. If your record is not perfect at all, it’s perfectly reasonable to seek affordable car insurance for high-risk drivers, even with you are a higher-risk driver. 

Many factors go into classifying someone as low risk or high risk. This includes traffic tickets, at-fault car accidents, and moving violations. Each of these will affect the premium you can expect to pay. 

How Drivers with Tickets and Accident Points Get Insurance Coverage

If you have an excellent, squeaky clean driving record, you have the highest possibility of getting the best rates on car insurance. However, not everybody can get by with such a blemish-free driving record. Also, a person’s credit scores may not be the best, which can affect rates too. 

Those drivers who have points on their record 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. Insurance specialists 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 severe 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 price for one 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 (DWI or DUI). Insurers deem racing to be almost equal, in terms of risk, to DUI offenses. Yearly premiums for a racing violation average over $2,350. Premiums for those convicted of just one DUI average about $2,375 per year.

As you can see, these two risk factors can push the annual cost of automobile insurance way above $2,000 per year. This is a rate that many people just can’t afford. If you want to keep your auto insurance costs down, avoid racing, and never drive drunk.

How to Know if You are a High-Risk Driver

What exactly is a “high-risk driver”? Someone who has one or more of the following items on their driving record is considered a high-risk driver:

• 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 to almost $1000. Racing is an even larger offense that can 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 even 350%.
• Insurance Gaps: If you have any coverage gaps, the insurance company may assume that you have had your insurance revoked. Or, they may think that you’ve just been uninsured for an extended period. No matter what your reasoning is for an insurance gap, 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 undoubtedly increase. Since the company had to pay out on a claim, they will 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 than teens, and therefore their premiums will be less. Additionally, 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 help or hurt your premiums’ cost. Many insurers will look at your credit history to establish whether you have adequate spending habits and pose a lower or higher overall risk. Some states, such as California, have passed laws prohibiting insurers from using a person’s credit rating as a factor in determining a driver’s rates. 

The Basics of SR-22 Insurance

What is SR-22 insurance? This type of insurance is designed specifically for people who have serious violations and points on their record. SR22 insurance is also known as “responsibility filing.” It is required in some areas, such as the state of Illinois, for people who qualify for three 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
• Did not pay child support

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, 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 when searching for SR-22 Insurance:

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

Avoid Being a High-Risk Motorist

You should practice safe driving habits 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 avoid best getting marks on your record:

• File claims smartly. You need to determine 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 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 safely. Being a good driver and obeying the road rules can genuinely help you avoid some bad mistakes and increase 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, and it’s just not worth it.

How to Find Cheap Car Insurance for High-Risk Drivers

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.

Take a Certified 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 your record. Make sure the course is certified. When you finish the course, send a copy of the certificate to your insurer, and you will be eligible for discounts of up to 10%. 

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 vehicle 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 four-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. You should do this strategy 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 three 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. Many types of insurance carriers offer cheap high-risk car insurance online.

Be sure you take the time and review at least ten quotes. You can usually find the cheapest rates online, using comparison sites with direct rates like Goodtogo insurance. 

Apply now and get your vehicle covered for less, even if your driving record is not perfect. Get cheaper high-risk auto insurance and save more on the coverage you need.