Cheapest car insurance for high-risk drivers in Pennsylvania

Cheapest car insurance in Pennsylvania for a bad driving record

Travelers, Erie Insurance, Nationwide provides affordable car insurance for high-risk drivers with bad driving record in Pennsylvania.

Traffic infractions, accidents and DUIs wind up on your driving record, meaning youll 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.

Company	Average annual premium for clean record	Annual premium for high-risk driver
Travelers	$952	$1,462
Erie Insurance	$1,550	$2,315
Nationwide	$1,196	$2,357
Progressive	$2,193	$3,188
GEICO	$2,308	$3,711
State Farm	$2,473	$3,948
Allstate	$2,503	$4,177
USAA	$1,806	$2,152

Read our methodology

How much is high-risk car insurance in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, the average cost of high-risk car insurance is $3,036 per year. However, you may secure coverage from Travelers for as low as $1,462 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.

Average annual car insurance rate for At-fault bodily injury accident in Pennsylvania, PA is $3,205

Show Graph View

Company	Annual premium for clean record	Annual premium after violation
Travelers	$952	$1,250
Nationwide	$1,196	$1,961
Erie Insurance	$1,550	$2,115
USAA	$1,806	$2,662
State Farm	$2,473	$2,865
Progressive	$2,193	$3,379
Allstate	$2,503	$3,513
GEICO	$2,308	$3,708

Read our methodology

Average annual rate

PEOPLE ASK:

Who is considered high-risk for insurance in Pennsylvania?

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 Pennsylvania with a DUI

Although many insurance companies provide coverage after a DUI, Travelers offers the most affordable rate at $1,347 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 Pennsylvania for drivers with a clean record versus those with a DUI.

Company	Average annual premium for clean record	Annual premium for a DUI
Travelers	$952	$1,347
Erie Insurance	$1,550	$2,498
Progressive	$2,193	$2,645
State Farm	$2,473	$2,646
Nationwide	$1,196	$3,010
GEICO	$2,308	$3,852
USAA	$1,806	$2,425

Read our methodology

Cheapest car insurance in Pennsylvania with multiple tickets

Travelers is the cheapest car insurance company for drivers with multiple traffic tickets, with an average rate of $1,160 a year or $97 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 Pennsylvania drivers how much multiple tickets increase premiums.

Company	Average annual premium for clean record	Annual premium with a speeding ticket
Travelers	$952	$1,160
Erie Insurance	$1,550	$1,733
Nationwide	$1,196	$2,160
State Farm	$2,473	$2,646
GEICO	$2,308	$3,541
USAA	$1,806	$2,022

Read our methodology

Cheapest car insurance in Pennsylvania with a reckless driving conviction

Travelers offers the cheapest rates for drivers with reckless driving convictions at $1,347 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.

Company	Average annual premium for clean record	Annual premium for reckless driving
Travelers	$952	$1,347
Erie Insurance	$1,550	$2,498
State Farm	$2,473	$2,646
Nationwide	$1,196	$3,010
Progressive	$2,193	$3,132
GEICO	$2,308	$3,596
USAA	$1,806	$2,271

Read our methodology

Cheapest car insurance in Pennsylvania with bad credit

In Pennsylvania, Nationwide provides the lowest premiums for drivers with poor credit, averaging $1,642 per year or $137 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 Pennsylvania.

Company	Annual premium for good credit	Annual premium for bad credit
Nationwide	$1,196	$1,642
Travelers	$952	$2,600
Erie Insurance	$1,550	$3,694
Progressive	$2,193	$3,788
Allstate	$2,503	$4,177
GEICO	$2,308	$4,194
State Farm	$2,473	$10,456

Read our methodology

Cheapest car insurance after an accident in Pennsylvania

Travelers offers the lowest rates after an accident, averaging $1,241 per year. Nationwide is another budget-friendly option, with rates around $1,961 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.

Company	Average annual premium for clean record	Annual premium for one at-fault accident	Annual premium for multiple accident
Travelers	$952	$1,241	$1,524
Nationwide	$1,196	$1,961	$2,735
Erie Insurance	$1,550	$1,988	$2,115
State Farm	$2,473	$2,792	$2,865
Progressive	$2,193	$3,379	$3,970
Allstate	$2,503	$3,513	$4,813
GEICO	$2,308	$3,708	$5,441
USAA	$1,806	$2,662	$3,910

Read our methodology

Cheapest car insurance in Pennsylvania by city

York has the cheapest car insurance rates in Pennsylvania, averaging $2,687 a year. However, the most expensive city is Philadelphia, with average insurance rates of $4,521 annually.

Where you live in Pennsylvania 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.

City	Average annual premium for clean record	Annual premium for high-risk driver
York	$1,647	$2,687
Farrell	$1,752	$2,816
Nanticoke	$1,745	$2,821
Lancaster	$1,763	$2,875
West Mifflin	$1,795	$2,904
Easton	$1,820	$2,955
Derry	$1,856	$2,975
Pittsburgh	$1,933	$3,129
Brookhaven	$2,238	$3,662
Philadelphia	$2,782	$4,521

Read our methodology

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

Finding affordable car insurance in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?

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

170+

insurance companies analyzed

34,000+

ZIP codes examined

$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++.