Cheapest car insurance in Alabama for a bad driving record

Travelers, Nationwide, State Farm provides affordable car insurance for high-risk drivers with bad driving record in Alabama.

Traffic infractions, accidents and DUIs wind up on your driving record, meaning you’ll pay higher car insurance rates in addition to any fines assessed. While most violations only affect your insurance rates for a few years, a DUI may affect rates for a decade and never be removed from your record.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for high-risk driver
Travelers$1,428$2,115
Nationwide$1,345$2,319
State Farm$1,790$2,747
Allstate$2,178$2,780
GEICO$1,625$3,086
Progressive$2,402$3,248
Auto-Owners$2,134$3,880
Farmers$2,542$4,712
USAA$1,458$2,182

How much is high-risk car insurance in Alabama?

A problematic driving record or poor credit score may mean higher insurance rates, but affordable options exist. In Alabama, high-risk car insurance costs $3,045 per year. However, you can get rates as low as $2,115 annually from Travelers.

Although you may be labeled high-risk for many reasons, some factors raise rates more than others. For example, multiple speeding tickets may significantly raise car insurance rates, but so can a single ticket for excessive speed in a school zone.

Read on as we explain high-risk car insurance factors and rates below.

Select your state and risk factor below to see the insurance company and its
average annual full coverage rates.

Average annual car insurance rate for At-fault bodily injury accident in Alabama, AL is $2,884
Show Graph View
CompanyAnnual premium for clean recordAnnual premium after violation
Travelers$1,428$2,078
State Farm$1,790$2,151
USAA$1,458$2,210
Nationwide$1,345$2,235
Auto-Owners$2,134$2,696
GEICO$1,625$2,845
Allstate$2,178$3,379
Progressive$2,402$3,944
Farmers$2,542$4,269
Average annual rate

PEOPLE ASK:

Who is considered high-risk for insurance in Alabama?

Each insurance company has its own rules for deciding who is a high-risk driver. But usually, things like a DUI, several tickets or accidents, or serious violations like reckless driving will put you in the high-risk category.

Cheapest car insurance in Alabama with a DUI

Although many insurance companies provide coverage after a DUI, State Farm offers the most affordable rate at $1,934 a year.

Driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious traffic violation that damages your driving record. It can raise auto insurance premiums for nearly 10 years, on top of fines and other penalties. Multiple DUIs drive rates even higher, but consistent safe driving over time can gradually lead to lower premiums.

The table below compares average car insurance premiums in Alabama for drivers with a clean record versus those with a DUI.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for a DUI
State Farm$1,790$1,934
Travelers$1,428$2,166
Nationwide$1,345$2,825
Progressive$2,402$2,880
Allstate$2,178$2,899
GEICO$1,625$3,498
Auto-Owners$2,134$3,981
Farmers$2,542$5,293
USAA$1,458$3,093

Cheapest car insurance in Alabama with multiple tickets

For drivers with multiple tickets, State Farm offers the lowest premiums, averaging $1,934 per year or $161 per month.

A single ticket can raise your car insurance premiums, but multiple tickets will push them even higher. Repeatedly violating speed limits and other traffic laws signals risky behavior, increasing the likelihood that insurers will have to pay claims.

This table shows drivers in Alabama how much having multiple tickets can raise their insurance premiums.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium with a speeding ticket
State Farm$1,790$1,934
Travelers$1,428$2,002
Nationwide$1,345$2,074
Allstate$2,178$2,414
Auto-Owners$2,134$2,726
GEICO$1,625$3,005
Progressive$2,402$3,065
Farmers$2,542$4,030
USAA$1,458$1,685

Cheapest car insurance in Alabama with a reckless driving conviction

State Farm offers the most affordable rates for drivers with reckless driving convictions, averaging $1,934 per year.

Engaging in driving behaviors that put others at risk can lead to a reckless driving charge. A conviction for reckless driving results in higher car insurance rates.

The table below compares car insurance premiums for drivers with a clean record and those with a reckless driving conviction.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for reckless driving
State Farm$1,790$1,934
Travelers$1,428$2,166
Nationwide$1,345$2,825
Allstate$2,178$2,899
Progressive$2,402$3,406
GEICO$1,625$3,498
Auto-Owners$2,134$3,981
Farmers$2,542$5,548
USAA$1,458$2,224

Cheapest car insurance in Alabama with bad credit

The cheapest Alabama insurer for bad credit is Nationwide, with rates averaging $2,039 annually or $170 monthly. Fortunately, drivers with bad credit can still find affordable auto insurance.

Although unrelated to your performance behind the wheel, your credit score also impacts car insurance rates and can put you in the high-risk category. To an insurance company, high-risk means more likely to file a claimAn insurance claim is a request you make to your insurance company for coverage after your car is damaged or you have an accident. You can file a claim online, by phone, or in writing., and statistically, drivers with a low credit score fit that description.

Check out the table below to see how your credit score affects Alabama car insurance.

CompanyAnnual premium for good creditAnnual premium for bad credit
Nationwide$1,345$2,039
Travelers$1,428$2,355
GEICO$1,625$2,505
Allstate$2,178$3,639
Progressive$2,402$4,003
Farmers$2,542$5,341
Auto-Owners$2,134$5,991
State Farm$1,790$6,811
USAA$1,458$2,721

Cheapest car insurance after an accident in Alabama

Travelers has the lowest rates after an accident at $2,026 a year. State Farm also has affordable rates at $2,151 a year.

Drivers with accidents on their record typically pay higher insurance rates than those with a clean record. While car insurance rates may increase after one accident, multiple accidents can increase rates even more.

This table shows rates for drivers with a clean record, one at-fault accident and multiple accidents.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for one at-fault accidentAnnual premium for multiple accident
Travelers$1,428$2,026$2,575
State Farm$1,790$2,151$2,151
Nationwide$1,345$2,235$2,979
Auto-Owners$2,134$2,696$3,183
GEICO$1,625$2,845$4,528
Allstate$2,178$3,379$4,416
Progressive$2,402$3,944$5,493
Farmers$2,542$4,269$5,783
USAA$1,458$2,210$4,143

Cheapest car insurance in Alabama by city

Decatur has the cheapest car insurance rates in Alabama at $2,809 per year. But the most expensive city is Birmingham with rates of $3,364 per year.

Your location in Alabama also matters. For example, if you live in an area with heavy traffic or a high vehicle theft rate, rates will reflect the increased chance of claims.

CityAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for high-risk driver
Decatur$1,700$2,809
Florence$1,699$2,820
Groveoak$1,752$2,872
Anniston$1,797$2,968
Alpine$1,818$2,985
Cropwell$1,801$2,986
La Fayette$1,828$3,008
Montgomery$1,926$3,111
Mobile$2,009$3,276
Bessemer$1,996$3,285
Birmingham$2,040$3,364

How to reduce car insurance rates in Alabama for a bad driving record

Finding affordable car insurance in Alabama is possible, even with a bad driving record. Ways to lower car insurance rates include:

Where you live in Alabama also affects car insurance rates. For example, if you live in a high-traffic or high-theft area, rates will increase because your vehicle is more likely to be damaged or stolen.

  • Carefully consider filing claims. Paying for minor damage out of pocket may be cheaper than filing an insurance claim and increasing rates for years.
  • Avoid costly infractions. Drive carefully to avoid adding traffic infractions to your record. Tickets only affect insurance rates for a few years, which will decrease if more tickets aren't added.
  • Improve your credit score. Raising your credit score lowers car insurance rates. Make on-time payments and consider credit usage to improve your rating.
  • Take a defensive driving course. Many insurance companies offer a discount for doing so, and some states remove driver's license points for successfully completing the class.
  • Shop around for coverage. Every car insurance company weighs factors differently and offers different rates. Compare quotes to find the cheapest rates.

PEOPLE ASK:

How long are you considered a high-risk driver in Alabama?

Three years is common, but how long you are considered a high-risk driver in California depends on the insurance company's guidelines. The state determines how long a violation stays on your record, but the insurance company determines how long you're charged for that violation.

Alabama car insurance laws for high-risk drivers

If you're a high-risk driver in Alabama, you might need to file an SR-22. This is a form that your car insurance company sends in to show you have the required minimum insurance coverage. The court will let you know how long you need to keep the SR-22.

An SR-22 isn't a type of insurance; it's just a form. You don't need special coverage, but your rates might be higher because you're considered high-risk. Also, not all insurance companies offer coverage for high-risk drivers or handle SR-22 filings.

Methodology

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170+

insurance companies analyzed

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34,000+

ZIP codes examined

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$53M

insurance quotes analyzed

National and state average rates are based on three coverage levels: state minimum, 50/100/50 liability-only, and full coverage with 100/300/100 liability and $500 deductibles.

All base rate averages are based on our full coverage data set. This data set is based on:

  • A 40-year-old driver
  • A clean record
  • Good credit
  • State minimum insurance, which includes liability coverage and may also include personal injury protection, medical payments and uninsured motorist coverage

Best company rankings use the rate data outline above, as well as:

  • Customer complaints ratios from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaints database, where a score of 1.00 is considered the baseline and anything below is a low complaint volume while anything above is considered a high volume.
  • Overall customer satisfaction ratings from J.D. Power's U.S. Auto Insurance Study, where companies are scored out of 1,000.
  • AM Best financial ratings were used to indicate financial stability, where the best possible score is A++.
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