Car Insurance Companies That Insure High-Risk Drivers (How to Save)

While everyone wants a perfect driving record, it’s all too easy to make mistakes. From accidents to DUIs, there are many reasons that an insurance company might be wary of a driver.

However, high-risk drivers need insurance, too. After all, you still need to get to work, pick up your kids, go to school, and get to everywhere else you need to be. You can’t legally drive without insurance, but finding an affordable rate can seem impossible.

If your driving record isn’t spotless and you’re wondering, “Where are high-risk insurance companies near me?” the good news is that you don’t have to shop local. Most big insurance companies offer coverage for high-risk drivers.

If you want to see rates from car insurance companies that insure high-risk drivers, your best option is to shop around. If you’re ready to see what quotes might look like for you, enter your ZIP code into our free tool today.

Car Insurance Companies That Insure High-Risk Drivers

If you’re wondering, “What is high-risk insurance called?” the industry name for it is “nonstandard insurance.” However, you can call it high-risk insurance, and any agent will understand what you’re looking for.

Every insurance company will assess how risky you are to insure. Many factors go into this consideration, including your age, address, gender, and driving record.

Companies do this to protect themselves (high-risk drivers are more likely to file a claim) and their other customers (the more money a company spends, the higher everyone’s rates are).

The unfortunate truth of being labeled “high-risk” is that your rates go up. If you’re applying for a new policy, your rates will start much higher than drivers with a clean record. If you become a high-risk driver while you have a policy, your rates will increase substantially.

You can even lose your insurance after an accident or driving incident, including things you’re not at fault for.

Not all hope is lost, however. Most companies will take your business, even if you’re a high-risk driver. In fact, you’d have a more challenging time finding car insurance companies that don’t insure high-risk drivers.

The following companies have a reputation for working with high-risk drivers.

The General Insurance

The General offers insurance to anyone, no matter their record. With coverage in 46 states, you’ll probably be able to find insurance where you live.

Customers enjoy The General’s discounts and the easy claims process. However, The General offers lower liability coverage than other car insurance companies.

State Farm

State Farm is one of the best choices for people that have a DUI on their record. DUIs claims the lives of about 28 Americans every day, so most companies double car insurance rates after a DUI. State Farm is more forgiving, though. State Farms offers the lowest rates for drivers with a DUI.

Customers love State Farm because of the discounts they offer and the option to bundle other types of insurance. However, State Farm does require you to talk to an agent to buy their policies – their online options leave much to be desired.

Geico

When you are involved in a car accident, your rates usually increase.

Even if it’s your first accident or you weren’t at fault, your prices can still go up. Geico high-risk insurance is beneficial for people that have traffic violations because they don’t treat you as high-risk after certain traffic incidents.

Another factor that insurance companies consider high-risk, people with low credit will find the lowest rates with Geico.

Geico ranks highly in customer satisfaction, the ease of use with their mobile apps, and a long list of discounts.

What is considered a high-risk driver?

When you apply for car insurance, you might be surprised to see rates much higher than you expected. Understanding why you’ve been marked as a high-risk driver can be confusing, but there are some common things companies look for.

• A history of accidents you are at fault for
• Numerous accidents that you are not at fault for
• Speeding tickets or other traffic violations in the past three years
• Young or new drivers
• Elderly drivers
• A DUI on your record (the length of time a DUI stays on your record depends on the state you live in)
• Low credit scores
• Drivers with a lapse in coverage

An insurance company could view any of these factors as reason enough to mark you as a high-risk driver. If you find yourself in this unfortunate category, not all hope is lost. There are steps you can take to lower your risk.

How can you save money on high-risk car insurance?

While there are some things that you have to wait out (traffic violations stay on your record for a set period, no matter what you do), there are several things you can do to make yourself more appealing to insurance companies.

• Only file claims when you need to. If the cost to repair your vehicle is less than your monthly rate would go up, it might be worthwhile to pay for it yourself.
• Improve your credit score. Start by paying down some of your debt and paying your bills on time.
• Shop around for quotes. High-risk insurance companies have different criteria, so you should look at as many quotes as possible to find the cheapest rates.
• Take a defensive driving class. This class shows your insurance company that you’re committed to being a better driver. As a bonus, many insurance companies offer a defensive driving class discount.

Unfortunately, it takes time to find affordable car insurance companies that insure high-risk drivers. The best car insurance for a bad driving record is likely different than insurance for someone with poor credit.

Find Car Insurance for High-Risk Drivers

Finding affordable car insurance for high-risk drivers might seem impossible when you first start looking. However, there are so many companies willing to work with you that you’ll probably be able to find the car insurance that fits your budget.

If you’re ready to see quotes from car insurance companies that insure high-risk drivers, shopping around can save you money. Enter your ZIP code into our free tool when you’re ready to see what quotes might look like for you.