Cheapest car insurance in Arkansas for a bad driving record

If you have a poor driving record in Arkansas, Travelers, Nationwide, GEICO are the cheapest options. Travelers has the lowest annual rate at $2,254 per year.

Having accidents, DUIs or traffic tickets on your driving record, will make you pay more for insurance. Most tickets will affect your rates for three to five years. A DUI can affect your rates for up to 10 years and can stay on your record for life.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for high-risk driver
Travelers$1,442$2,254
Nationwide$1,503$2,720
GEICO$1,794$3,006
Progressive$2,431$3,313
State Farm$2,060$3,511
Allstate$2,729$3,547
Farmers$2,248$4,465
USAA$1,090$1,660

How much is high-risk car insurance in Arkansas?

A problematic driving record or poor credit score may mean higher insurance rates, but affordable options exist. In Arkansas, high-risk car insurance costs $3,287 per year. However, you can get rates as low as $2,254 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 Arkansas, AR is $3,055
Show Graph View
CompanyAnnual premium for clean recordAnnual premium after violation
USAA$1,090$1,599
Travelers$1,442$2,107
State Farm$2,060$2,361
Nationwide$1,503$2,584
GEICO$1,794$3,059
Farmers$2,248$3,695
Progressive$2,431$3,762
Allstate$2,729$3,984
Average annual rate

PEOPLE ASK:

Who is considered high-risk for insurance in Arkansas?

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 Arkansas with a DUI

While many insurers offer coverage after a DUI, State Farm provides the average cheapest coverage for $2,194 annually.

A DUI is one of the most serious traffic violations to have on your record. Not only do you have to pay fines, but you'll also see vastly higher car insurance rates for up to 10 years. Multiple DUIs will cause your premiums to skyrocket.

The table below compares average car insurance rates with a clean driving record and rates after a DUI in Arkansas.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for a DUI
State Farm$2,060$2,194
Travelers$1,442$2,195
Progressive$2,431$2,685
GEICO$1,794$3,264
Nationwide$1,503$3,333
Allstate$2,729$3,588
Farmers$2,248$5,062
USAA$1,090$2,113

Cheapest car insurance in Arkansas with multiple tickets

For drivers with multiple tickets, State Farm offers the lowest premiums, averaging $2,194 per year or $183 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 Arkansas how much having multiple tickets can raise their insurance premiums.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium with a speeding ticket
State Farm$2,060$2,194
Travelers$1,442$2,225
Nationwide$1,503$2,433
GEICO$1,794$2,912
Allstate$2,729$3,150
Progressive$2,431$3,154
Farmers$2,248$3,941
USAA$1,090$1,298

Cheapest car insurance in Arkansas with a reckless driving conviction

State Farm offers the most affordable rates for drivers with reckless driving convictions, averaging $2,194 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$2,060$2,194
Travelers$1,442$2,195
GEICO$1,794$3,264
Nationwide$1,503$3,333
Progressive$2,431$3,535
Allstate$2,729$3,588
Farmers$2,248$5,102
USAA$1,090$1,891

Cheapest car insurance in Arkansas with bad credit

The cheapest Arkansas insurer for bad credit is Nationwide, with rates averaging $2,351 annually or $196 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 Arkansas car insurance.

CompanyAnnual premium for good creditAnnual premium for bad credit
Nationwide$1,503$2,351
Travelers$1,442$2,462
GEICO$1,794$2,770
Progressive$2,431$4,190
Allstate$2,729$4,654
Farmers$2,248$4,804
State Farm$2,060$10,102
USAA$1,090$2,058

Cheapest car insurance after an accident in Arkansas

Travelers has the lowest average rates after an accident at $2,058 a year. State Farm also offers affordable rates, averaging $2,361 per 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$1,442$2,058$2,613
State Farm$2,060$2,361$2,361
Nationwide$1,503$2,584$3,528
GEICO$1,794$3,059$4,624
Farmers$2,248$3,568$4,941
Progressive$2,431$3,762$5,157
Allstate$2,729$3,984$5,231
USAA$1,090$1,599$2,713

Cheapest car insurance in Arkansas by city

Elkins has the cheapest car insurance rates in Arkansas at $3,023 per year. But the most expensive city is El Dorado with rates of $3,499 per year.

Your location in Arkansas 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
Elkins$1,797$3,023
Fayetteville$1,875$3,168
Jacksonville$1,890$3,190
Sherwood$1,911$3,218
Newport$1,927$3,229
Hot Springs$1,949$3,265
West Memphis$1,963$3,314
Hope$2,061$3,440
Little Rock$2,064$3,481
El Dorado$2,107$3,499

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

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

  • 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 Arkansas?

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.

Arkansas car insurance laws for high-risk drivers

If you're considered a high-risk driver in Arkansas, you may be required to file an SR-22. This form is filled out by your car insurance company, stating that you have at least the minimum required coverage. The court will let you know how long you must file an SR-22.

Although an SR-22 is typically called insurance, it is only the form. You don't need special insurance coverage, but rates are much higher for high-risk drivers and not all carriers insure such drivers.

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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