Cheapest car insurance in Delaware for a bad driving record

Drivers with a poor record in Delaware will find the lowest rates from Nationwide, Travelers and Progressive. Among these, Nationwide provides the lowest annual premiumThe payment required for an insurance policy to remain in force. Auto insurance premiums are quoted for either 6-month or annual policy periods. at $2,414 annually.

If you have accidents, DUIs or traffic tickets on your driving record, youâ??ll likely pay higher insurance rates. Most traffic violations can impact your rates for three to five years, while a DUI can raise your rates for up to 10 years and may remain on your record for life.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for high-risk driver
Nationwide$1,498$2,414
Travelers$1,595$2,525
Progressive$1,999$2,856
State Farm$2,153$2,901
GEICO$1,695$3,225
American Family$2,709$4,244
Allstate$3,631$4,604
Sentry Insurance$4,066$6,074
USAA$1,463$2,249

How much is high-risk car insurance in Delaware?

In Delaware, the average cost of high-risk car insurance is $3,220 per year. However, you may secure coverage from Nationwide for as low as $2,414 annually. Even with a problematic driving record or poor credit score, affordable policies are available.

Several factors can classify you as a high-risk driver, but some raise your premiums more than others. For example, receiving multiple speeding tickets or getting one for speeding in a school zone will boost your rates more than a single basic speeding ticket.

Keep reading as we break down the factors that make you a high-risk driver and what you can expect to pay for car insurance.

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 Delaware, DE is $3,162
Show Graph View
CompanyAnnual premium for clean recordAnnual premium after violation
Travelers$1,595$1,657
Nationwide$1,498$2,263
State Farm$2,153$2,548
Progressive$1,999$2,921
American Family$2,709$3,630
GEICO$1,695$3,857
Allstate$3,631$6,040
Sentry Insurance$4,066$6,847
Average annual rate

PEOPLE ASK:

Who is considered high-risk for insurance in Delaware?

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 Delaware with a DUI

While many insurers offer coverage after a DUI, State Farm provides the average cheapest coverage for $2,351 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 Delaware.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for a DUI
State Farm$2,153$2,351
Travelers$1,595$2,680
Progressive$1,999$2,700
Nationwide$1,498$2,915
GEICO$1,695$3,936
Allstate$3,631$4,845
Sentry Insurance$4,066$5,318
American Family$2,709$7,222
USAA$1,463$2,665

Cheapest car insurance in Delaware with multiple tickets

Nationwide is the cheapest car insurance company for drivers with multiple traffic tickets, with an average rate of $2,211 a year or $184 a month.

While one traffic ticket can affect car insurance rates, multiple tickets can significantly increase those rates. Failure to obey speed limits and traffic laws leads insurers to believe they will eventually have to pay claims due to risky driving.

This table shows Delaware drivers how much multiple tickets increase premiums.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium with a speeding ticket
Nationwide$1,498$2,211
Travelers$1,595$2,339
State Farm$2,153$2,351
Progressive$1,999$2,649
GEICO$1,695$2,805
American Family$2,709$2,952
Allstate$3,631$4,043
Sentry Insurance$4,066$6,335
USAA$1,463$1,888

Cheapest car insurance in Delaware with a reckless driving conviction

State Farm offers the cheapest rates for drivers with reckless driving convictions at $2,351 per year.

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.

You can be charged with reckless driving for many reasons, such as excessive speed, multiple accidents in a short time or street racing. Regardless of the cause, a reckless driving conviction raises car insurance rates.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for reckless driving
State Farm$2,153$2,351
Travelers$1,595$2,680
Nationwide$1,498$2,915
Progressive$1,999$3,136
American Family$2,709$4,330
GEICO$1,695$4,449
Allstate$3,631$4,845
Sentry Insurance$4,066$6,847
USAA$1,463$2,385

Cheapest car insurance in Delaware with bad credit

In Delaware, Nationwide provides the lowest premiums for drivers with poor credit, averaging $2,025 per year or $169 per month. Even with a low credit score, you can still find affordable auto insurance.

While your credit score doesn't reflect your driving ability, it can impact your car insurance rates and place you in a higher-risk category. Insurers view lower credit scores as an indicator of increased risk based on statistics showing that these drivers are more likely to file claims.

Check the table below to see how credit scores impact car insurance costs in Delaware.

CompanyAnnual premium for good creditAnnual premium for bad credit
Nationwide$1,498$2,025
GEICO$1,695$2,557
Travelers$1,595$2,775
Progressive$1,999$3,353
American Family$2,709$5,059
Sentry Insurance$4,066$5,278
State Farm$2,153$5,657
Allstate$3,631$5,803
USAA$1,463$2,778

Cheapest car insurance after an accident in Delaware

Travelers has the lowest average rates after an accident at $1,657 a year. Nationwide also offers affordable rates, averaging $2,263 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$1,595$1,657$2,203
Nationwide$1,498$2,263$3,084
State Farm$2,153$2,548$2,548
Progressive$1,999$2,921$5,061
American Family$2,709$3,630$6,872
GEICO$1,695$3,857$6,581
Allstate$3,631$6,040$8,414
Sentry Insurance$4,066$6,847$8,308

Cheapest car insurance in Delaware by city

Middletown has the cheapest car insurance rates in Delaware, averaging $3,019 a year. However, the most expensive city is Delaware City, with average insurance rates of $3,697 annually.

Where you live in Delaware 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.

CityAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for high-risk driver
Middletown$1,947$3,019
Georgetown$2,004$3,123
Milford$2,017$3,147
Frederica$2,041$3,182
Fenwick Island$2,062$3,224
Dover$2,070$3,227
Newark$2,178$3,402
Bear$2,241$3,506
Delaware City$2,361$3,697

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

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

Where you live in Delaware 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 Delaware?

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.

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:

  • Bodily injury liability of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per incident
  • Property damage liability of $100,000 per incident
  • Comprehensive and collision deductibles of $500
  • 40-year-old driver
  • Honda Accord LX
  • Good credit
  • A clean driving record
  • 12-mile commute, 10,000 annual mileage

Our data is then adjusted to reflect the rate increase from this base rate for the following infractions and issue:

  • DUI
  • Reckless driving
  • Multiple speeding tickets
  • Bad credit
  • One at-fault accident over $2,000
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