Cheapest car insurance in Texas for a bad driving record

Drivers with a poor record in Texas will find the lowest rates from Nationwide, GEICO and Auto Club Enterprises (AAA). 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 $2,124 annually.

If you have accidents, DUIs or traffic tickets on your driving record, you’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$1,502$2,124
GEICO$1,644$2,975
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)$1,983$3,074
Progressive$3,032$4,260
Allstate$2,941$4,613
State Farm$1,956$5,699
Farmers$4,127$6,461
USAA$1,812$2,496

How much is high-risk car insurance in Texas?

A problematic driving record or poor credit score may mean higher insurance rates, but affordable options exist. In Texas, high-risk car insurance costs $3,233 per year. However, you can get rates as low as $2,124 annually from Nationwide.

Many things can make you a high-risk driver, but some affect your rates more than others. For example, having multiple speeding tickets or a ticket for speeding in a school zone will increase your rates more than a single basic speeding ticket.

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 Texas, TX is $3,457
Show Graph View
CompanyAnnual premium for clean recordAnnual premium after violation
State Farm$1,956$2,270
GEICO$1,644$2,565
Nationwide$1,502$2,575
USAA$1,812$2,889
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)$1,983$3,238
Allstate$2,941$4,638
Progressive$3,032$4,742
Farmers$4,127$7,983
Average annual rate

PEOPLE ASK:

Who is considered high-risk for insurance in Texas?

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 Texas with a DUI

While many insurers offer coverage after a DUI, GEICO provides the average cheapest coverage for $2,854 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 Texas.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for a DUI
GEICO$1,644$2,854
State Farm$1,956$3,054
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)$1,983$3,274
Nationwide$1,502$3,331
Progressive$3,032$3,565
Allstate$2,941$4,611
Farmers$4,127$6,828
USAA$1,812$2,738

Cheapest car insurance in Texas with multiple tickets

The cheapest insurer for drivers with multiple tickets is Nationwide, with rates averaging $1,832 annually or $153 monthly.

One ticket will affect car insurance rates, but multiple tickets will increase rates by a lot more. Repeated failure to obey speed limits and traffic laws means insurers are more likely to pay claims because of your risky driving.

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

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium with a speeding ticket
Nationwide$1,502$1,832
GEICO$1,644$2,559
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)$1,983$2,938
Progressive$3,032$4,103
Farmers$4,127$5,854
USAA$1,812$2,052

Cheapest car insurance in Texas with a reckless driving conviction

Nationwide offers the most affordable rates for drivers with reckless driving convictions, averaging $1,832 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
Nationwide$1,502$1,832
GEICO$1,644$2,854
State Farm$1,956$3,054
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)$1,983$3,274
Progressive$3,032$4,451
Allstate$2,941$4,611
Farmers$4,127$6,549
USAA$1,812$2,738

Cheapest car insurance in Texas with bad credit

In Texas, Nationwide provides the lowest premiums for drivers with poor credit, averaging $2,089 per year or $174 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 Texas.

CompanyAnnual premium for good creditAnnual premium for bad credit
Nationwide$1,502$2,089
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)$1,983$3,081
GEICO$1,644$4,469
Allstate$2,941$4,615
Progressive$3,032$5,239
Farmers$4,127$7,202
State Farm$1,956$10,987
USAA$1,812$3,342

Cheapest car insurance after an accident in Texas

State Farm has the lowest rates after an accident at $2,270 a year. GEICO also has affordable rates at $2,565 a year.

Drivers with accidents on their record usually pay higher insurance premiums than drivers with a clean record. A single accident can raise your rates, and multiple accidents can push them even higher.

This table shows car insurance rates for drivers with a clean record, a single at fault accident, and multiple accidents.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for one at-fault accidentAnnual premium for multiple accident
State Farm$1,956$2,270$2,661
GEICO$1,644$2,565$3,574
Nationwide$1,502$2,575$3,527
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)$1,983$3,238$4,413
Allstate$2,941$4,638$5,943
Progressive$3,032$4,742$6,257
Farmers$4,127$8,129$12,850
USAA$1,812$2,889$5,001

Cheapest car insurance in Texas by city

In Texas, the lowest car insurance rates are found in Bowie, averaging $2,889 annually. On the other hand, Houston has the highest rates at $3,667 a year.

Where you live in Texas matters, too. If you're in an area with heavy traffic or a high rate of vehicle theft, your premiums will rise to reflect the increased likelihood of claims.

CityAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for high-risk driver
Bowie$1,831$2,889
Frisco$1,909$3,034
Crystal City$1,950$3,037
Bishop$1,925$3,051
Austin$1,930$3,058
Zavalla$1,949$3,088
Higgins$2,004$3,117
Plano$1,994$3,169
Fort Worth$2,030$3,212
Cypress$2,062$3,262
Kermit$2,093$3,265
Irving$2,153$3,401
Beaumont$2,149$3,425
San Antonio$2,181$3,466
Dallas$2,278$3,601
Houston$2,317$3,667

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

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

Where you live in Texas 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 Texas?

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.

Texas car insurance laws for high-risk drivers

If you're a high-risk driver in Texas, 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:

  • 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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