Have multiple driving violations or at-fault accidents on your driving record 
Have a DWI or DUI conviction
Have an SR-22 certificate on file with the DMV
Have very little or no driving experience
Had a major car insurance lapse
Have a very low credit score
Own a rare or luxury vehicle

High-risk drivers should compare quotes from major insurers and non-standard providers

Progressive
has the lowest average rate increase after a DUI (37%), but the highest increase after a speeding ticket (42.5%). 
GEICO
has some of the cheapest average rates overall, but policyholders with DUIs see an average rate increase of 120%. 
Allstate
has the smallest average rate increase after a speeding ticket (15%), but high rates for drivers with poor credit. 
Nationwide
has the smallest average increase for families adding a teen driver to their policy, but high rates after a speeding ticket or DUI. 
USAA
offers high-risk auto insurance to military members and their families, but average rates will be higher. 

Non-standard insurance companies for high-risk drivers

When can insurance companies deny coverage?

In general, insurance companies have the legal right to deny or cancel coverage based on the following factors: 

Repeated or serious traffic violations
Lapse in insurance coverage or no previous coverage
High-performance or collector vehicle
High rate of crime or accidents in the garaging location
Applicant under age 25
Suspended driver’s license or unlicensed driver
Low credit score
No permanent address
Verified health condition posing driving risks

Federal laws prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage based on an applicant’s age, gender, sexual orientation, race, national origin, religion, or marital status—and in some states, like California and Michigan, insurance companies can’t use your credit score to deny coverage. 

If you feel that you’ve been unfairly denied coverage, file a complaint with

your state’s department of insurance

. 

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Special programs, incentives, and discounts for high-risk drivers

If you’ve been denied coverage: Look into state-sponsored assigned-risk coverage

State-sponsored assigned risk auto insurance plans

If you lack experience on the road: Enroll in a driver education program

If you’re ready to prove you’re a good driver: Sign up for usage-based insurance

Speeding
Hard braking
Harsh acceleration
Phone use
Late-night driving

If you’ve been denied for bad credit: Pay off small bills and update your credit report

Pay off small bills: Make sure to pay off your debts on time, starting with the smallest and working your way up. 
Focus on repaying existing loans: If you already have a car loan, student loan, or other major debts, focus on paying them off. 
Get rent and utilities added to your credit report: In many cases, bills that you pay regularly might not show up on your credit report—and adding them could help to improve your score. 

Never try to conceal high-risk factors from your insurer

Your policy could be canceled: If your insurer finds out you’ve concealed information or bent the truth, they can cancel your auto insurance policy outright. 
Your premiums could go up: Even if your policy isn’t canceled, you can expect higher premiums on renewal when your insurer discovers the error. 
Your claims could be denied: If you’ve entered false information in the past, you might not be able to get coverage if you submit a claim with conflicting information. 
You could face criminal charges: Lying to your insurance company constitutes fraud if you did so knowingly and with the intent to keep your rates low. 

High-risk car insurance isn’t forever

If you have violations: Most minor violations, like speeding tickets, stay on your record for three to five years, after which the surcharge will be removed and your auto insurance costs will decrease. A serious charge like driving under the influence or reckless driving may remain on your record for 10 years or more. 
If you’re a new driver: Drivers with at least three years of driving experience pay about 15% less than brand-new drivers. 
If you’re a teen driver: You should see your rates go down by 5 to 10% each year, and by the time you turn 25, your age should have a minimal impact on your premiums. 
If you had a car insurance lapse: Maintaining continuous car insurance coverage for just one year can help your rates recover from a lapse. 
If you have poor credit: It can take time to build good credit. The time you spend in the high-risk category for auto insurance depends on how long it takes your credit score to rise. 
If you own a hard-to-insure vehicle: You’ll likely be dealing with high rates and limited coverage options as long as you own the vehicle—that’s why comparing rates from the best car insurance companies is so important! 

What to do if you feel you’re overpaying for insurance

Appeal your rates: Car insurance isn’t negotiable; once you have a quote from an insurance company, all you can do is accept or reject it. 
Hide information from your insurance company: Concealing or altering information in your insurance paperwork constitutes
fraud
and carries a much higher risk than your driver profile. 

Compare quotes: Don’t just assume that because your profile carries risk, all insurers will quote you an unmanageable price. Use the Jerry app to look at several insurers and find the lowest rates.
Raise your deductible: Raising the deductibles on a full coverage car insurance policy is a convenient way to shave a little off your premium without sacrificing coverage. Just be sure you can afford your deductible!
Switch insurance companies: If your current insurer raised your rate after an accident or violation—or if you expect them to at your next policy renewal—switching to a different provider could help you lower your insurance costs again.
Explore discounts: Too young for affordable insurance? Look into good student discounts and driver education discounts. Poor driving record? Ask your insurer about defensive driving courses and discounts for vehicle safety features.
Bundle your policies: Homeowners qualify for some of the biggest car insurance discounts if they purchase auto insurance from the same company as their
homeowner’s policy
.
Enroll in telematics: Take advantage of the latest tech to let your insurance company track your driving in exchange for safe driver discounts.
Exclude a driver: If only one driver in your household is high risk, you may be able to list them as an excluded driver on your policy to minimize the impact of their profile on your rates. 

FAQs