Auto insurance companies measure risk in a lot of ways, then charge you accordingly.
Accidents and tickets and DUIs make you risky. But so do bad credit or a lapse in your insurance coverage.
Your risk determines which companies are willing to insure you. No two have the same guidelines or will charge you the same price, though. Compare auto insurance quotes so you know you're getting the best rate.
Here's what to expect as you shop for coverage, how you can save money on the policy you buy today, and how to save even more in the future.
- Who is a high-risk driver?
- High-risk auto insurance companies
- Can I still save money on car insurance?
- 6 things to expect from a high-risk policy
- How do I get back to a standard policy?
Are you a high-risk driver?
Generally, those deemed high risk by insurance companies fall into one of these categories:
Inexperienced drivers: You’ve been driving less than eight to 10 years. Most insurance companies levy an inexperience surcharge that’s greatest for those who are newly licensed and gradually shrinks with each passing year.
Young drivers: Car insurance for teens is the highest among drivers because they have by far the most accidents. Only part of it is their inexperience. Every insurance company “buckets” age groups differently, but if you’re under age 25 you can expect to be dumped into the most expensive one.
Drivers with black marks on their record: A single ticket or minor fender bender might not make you high-risk, but multiple tickets or a serious infraction – reckless driving or a DUI – certainly will. So will multiple at-fault claims. An SR-22 requirement doesn't make you high risk, but the infraction that caused it does - so you'll need SR-22 insurance.
Drivers not currently insured: If you have a license but no insurance, insurance companies assume you’ve been driving uninsured and are therefore riskier.
Drivers with bad credit: Drivers with poor credit-based insurance scores tend to file more frequent claims.
High-risk auto insurance companies
If you are a high-risk driver, that means you will be unable to purchase the same policies at the same rates as drivers who fall into the standard and preferred categories. Those drivers, who have no or few violations, minimal claims, good credit and a continuous insurance history, get better rates because they pose less risk. Preferred drivers, who are older, married and own homes, pay the least and get the most discounts.
As a high-risk driver, you may be able to buy a standard policy at a higher rate from a traditional insurance company, or you may buy what's known as a nonstandard policy, where there are restrictions on, say, who can drive the car or how much coverage you can buy.
The nonstandard market represents about one-fifth of all private auto insurance sold and draws both small, niche companies, and the big boys, like Progressive and Nationwide, which have divisions selling nonstandard policies.
"Drivers typically pay more for nonstandard policies," says Insurance.com Managing Editor Michelle Megna. "But that's because their driving record or insurance history has flaws. Nonstandard policies are a way to customize coverage to make it more affordable."
Here is a list of some insurance companies that sell high-risk auto insurance policies:
- The General, a subsidiary of American Family Insurance
- Titan Insurance, a subsidiary of Nationwide Insurance
- Dairyland Insurance, a subsidiary of Sentry Insurance
- Geico Casualty, the high-risk branch Geico
- Infinity Insurance
- Safe Auto Insurance
- Gainsco Insurance
- Victoria Insurance
- Bristol West Insurance
- Affirmative Insurance
- Alliance United Insurance
- United Automobile Insurance
- Access Auto Insurance
How much does high-risk auto insurance cost?
The bad news: You'll pay more for coverage as a high-risk driver. For instance, an Insurance.com rate analysis found that, on average, drivers will pay 76 percent more after a drunken driving conviction, 66 percent more if they have poor credit, 36% more for two speeding tickets and 29 percent more after an accident that injures another motorist.
The good news: You'll probably save more money by comparing car insurance rates than a standard or preferred driver would, because you're starting from a much higher rate to begin with.
For example, here's what rates from five major insurers look like for a 40-year-old driver buying full coverage on a 2014 Honda Accord in Bowling Green, Kentucky, after a DUI conviction:
- Company 1: $1,801
- Company 2: $3,323
- Company 3: $2,747
- Company 4: $1,867
- Company 5: $1,805
We have solutions for your DUI insurance needs because every company calculates rates differently and we can show you side-by-side quotes so you get an affordable solution. The differences are usually hundreds -- and sometimes thousands -- of dollars.
6 things to expect from a nonstandard policy
If you're going with the nonstandard route in order to pay lower rates, whether good driver or bad, here are some things to keep in mind.
You may have limits on who can drive your car. With a standard policy, you should list anyone on your policy who lives in your house or drives your vehicle regularly. If you have out-of-town visitors staying with you for a week or two, they are allowed to drive your car without having to be added to your policy.
In comparison, some companies that sell nonstandard auto insurance will let you cover only specific drivers who are named in the policy. If someone who isn't listed, like your mother-in-law, gets in the driver's seat and gets in a wreck, your insurance company may not honor your claim.
In addition, the insurance company could ask you to exclude certain household members, often those under age 25.
Your coverage may be reduced in some circumstances. You may face what are known as step-down provisions that reduce the amount of liability coverage if someone who isn't named on your policy is at the wheel. That means if your cousin comes for a visit and borrows your car, the liability coverage will be lower than if you were driving. In many cases, a state's minimum requirements fall short of what you would need to pay for injuries or property damage to someone else's vehicle.
Your driving record may be checked more often. Insurers may not check a low-risk driver's motor vehicle record (MVR) every renewal period. It may go even a year or two between checks, experts say, allowing some infractions to escape notice until then. The worse your record, the more likely that your MVR will be pulled every renewal period and your rates adjusted.
You may see a smaller check after an accident. If you purchase comprehensive and collision coverage with a nonstandard policy, you also could see a difference at the auto repair shop if you're involved in an accident.
A standard policy will generally cover the full cost of repairs, unless your auto insurer decides your car is a total loss. If your car is totaled, you'll receive the depreciated value of the car, which is its market value just before the wreck.
Unlike a standard policy, your nonstandard policy may depreciate your repairs. So rather than covering the full cost of repairing the damage if you're in a fender-bender, the policy would pay only a portion of the cost, which is determined by the depreciation of the vehicle.
You may not be insured for punitive damages. A nonstandard policy also may not cover you if you're in a wreck and you're sued for punitive damages and lose.
You may miss the little extras. Even if you're a safe driver, you can forget being offered benefits such as having a vanishing deductible or accident forgiveness if you opt for a nonstandard policy.
How do I get back to a standard policy?
Time and a clean record will improve your chances of getting standard coverage at much more attractive rates.
Your driving record: Most insurance companies usually look back three years – sometimes as long as five -- for infractions. The newer the infraction, the more heavily it's weighed. You may be able to erase points with a defensive driving class, too.
Previously uninsured: A single term of coverage will erase your previously uninsured status. Consider shopping for car insurance again as your renewal date nears.
No credit or bad credit: You can ask for an insurer to recalculate your rates at the next renewal if you think your credit has improved. Or consider comparing quotes again, with your newly improved credit bolstering your chances of saving money. Insurance with bad credit can be expensive, but some carriers will treat you more favorably than others.
