Standard and non-standard policies both provide car insurance coverage, but non-standard policies are more expensive, since they’re aimed at high-risk drivers.

Written by Sarah Gray

Edited by Amy Bobinger

Updated on Apr 18, 2024

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Standard vs non-standard auto insurance policies
Best car insurance companies for non-standard auto insurance
How to save money on high risk car insurance
FAQ
Methodology
Meet our experts

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While standard and non-standard policies both provide

car insurance

coverage, non-standard policies are aimed at drivers deemed high-risk due to a poor driving record, a history of accidents, or other factors. Unlike standard policies, nonstandard policies may have limited add-ons—and higher costs.

Standard vs non-standard auto insurance policies

On the surface, standard and non-standard auto insurance policies are the same—both types of coverage provide drivers with the coverage options they need to establish proof of financial responsibility in accordance with their state’s car insurance laws.

The biggest differences between standard and non-standard policies are cost and availability:

Non-standard policies typically have higher insurance premiums than standard coverage.

Not all providers offer non-standard coverage.

Who needs non-standard coverage?

The

Insurance Information Institute (III)

describes the non-standard market as “a niche market for drivers who have a worse than average driving record or drive specialized vehicles.”1 In short, non-standard policies offer auto insurance coverage for drivers who don’t qualify for coverage in the standard, private market.

The following drivers would typically benefit from non-standard or

high-risk coverage

New drivers or young drivers

Drivers with a history of

at-fault car accidents

Drivers with high-risk violations on record

Drivers with

SR-22

filing requirements

Drivers who’ve experienced a

lapse in car insurance coverage

Drivers with a poor credit history

Drivers of specialized vehicles, such as

high-powered sports cars

, custom-built cars, or rebuilt vehicles.

Standard vs. non-standard insurance costs

On average, standard insurance costs about $928 per year for

state-minimum coverage

and $1,985 annually for

full coverage

. While the overall average cost for non-standard coverage is higher than standard policies, the actual cost depends on the reason you need nonstandard coverage.

Higher-risk driving behavior (like reckless driving or

DUI convictions

) will trigger higher premiums, but lack of experience tends to lead to the highest average rates.

Here’s an overview of how your driver profile affects the difference in monthly cost between standard and non-standard policies.

State	Standard average	Speeding violation (21+)	DUI/DWI	Inexperienced driver
Alabama	$130	$168	$150	$325
Alaska	$131	$235	$251	$225
Arizona	$140	$201	$209	$481
Arkansas	$132	$197	$209	$450
California	$158	$179	$213	$395
Colorado	$149	$204	$211	$417
Connecticut	$170	$248	$257	$643
Delaware	$160	$197	$256	$443
Florida	$233	$267	$296	$566
Georgia	$184	$306	$268	$575
Hawaii	$114	$158	$194	$363
Idaho	$110	$140	$187	$362
Illinois	$123	$154	$170	$308
Indiana	$108	$140	$217	$237
Iowa	$106	$163	$167	$242
Kansas	$119	$158	$160	$250
Kentucky	$165	$210	$281	$547
Louisiana	$205	$299	$344	$460
Maine	$124	$212	$211	$251
Maryland	$182	$242	$256	$620
Massachusetts	$113	$171	$218	$270
Michigan	$182	$226	$237	$652
Minnesota	$129	$150	$158	$398
Mississippi	$124	$189	$176	$310
Missouri	$138	$158	$170	$362
Montana	$108	$278	$492	$238
Nebraska	$115	$169	$156	$263
Nevada	$166	$240	$289	$645
New Hampshire	$151	$172	$257	$275
New Jersey	$178	$214	$320	$506
New Mexico	$151	$195	$259	$302
New York	$268	$340	$379	$719
North Carolina	$175	$202	$298	$227
North Dakota	$126	$150	$214	$269
Ohio	$151	$242	$327	$241
Oklahoma	$126	$197	$180	$339
Oregon	$136	$188	$232	$306
Pennsylvania	$129	$283	$296	$309
Rhode Island	$169	$276	$285	$684
South Carolina	$185	$273	$225	$483
South Dakota	$151	$217	$261	$225
Tennessee	$128	$202	$229	$276
Texas	$156	$179	$226	$468
Utah	$139	$193	$183	$404
Vermont	$83	$192	$280	$277
Virginia	$133	$218	$233	$377
Washington	$131	$183	$208	$377
West Virginia	$122	$280	$378	$247
Wisconsin	$107	$203	$327	$311
Wyoming	$98	$141	$179	$283

Find out how much you could save on a non-standard policy with Jerry.

Compare rates now!

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Best car insurance companies for non-standard auto insurance

The best providers for non-standard insurance tend to be those that specialize in the product. Jerry’s insurance experts did the research, and this is what they have to share about non-standard auto insurance companies.

Though you can purchase non-standard insurance from big car insurance companies like

State Farm

Progressive

, and

GEICO

, you may find better deals with providers whose main focus is insuring high-risk drivers. Since they’re more experienced dealing with high-risk drivers, they can often offer great deals despite your record.

Here’s an overview of monthly auto insurance rates non-standard drivers can expect from several top non-standard providers.

Insurance company	Speeding violation (21+)	DUI/DWI	Inexperienced driver
Allstate	$174	$223	$287
Bristol West	$281	$213	$562
Dairyland	$163	$193	$465
Founders	$201	$145	$265
Gainsco	$198	$176	$380
GEICO	$225	$303	$301
Infinity Auto	$232	$270	$518
Kemper Auto	$209	$231	$346
National General	$179	$205	$322
Nationwide	$234	$302	$287
Progressive	$197	$277	$291
Safe Auto	$250	$222	$349
Safeco	$227	$160	$286
The General	$247	$184	$519
Travelers	$221	$146	$245

Learn more:

Why is my car insurance so high?

How to save money on high risk car insurance

With proactive steps like researching costs, taking advantage of discounts, improving driving habits, and exploring policy adjustments, you can help mitigate the financial strain of non-standard car insurance.

Here are some things you can do right now to decrease your insurance costs:

Shop around: You can’t change your driving history right now, so the first thing you should do is pull insurance quotes for nonstandard insurance from multiple providers.

Jerry

can help you compare quotes from dozens of providers offering nonstandard insurance policies to find your best rate.

Check into discounts: Nonstandard drivers may still be able to qualify for

car insurance discounts

. Going paperless, paying upfront, and

bundling

with a homeowner policy can help you save a good chunk of change.

Adjust coverage: Consider dropping unnecessary coverage. You’re legally required to carry

liability coverage

, but you have some wiggle room with other optional coverages.

Adjust your deductibles: Lower deductibles mean higher rates, so increasing your deductible could save you money. Just be sure to

select a deductible

you can comfortably afford to pay.

Here are some things you can do going forward to decrease your car insurance rates over time:

Improve your credit score: Working to get good credit by paying your bills on time and reducing your debt could help you qualify for lower rates in most states.

Get a clean driving record: Avoid accidents, speeding tickets, insurance claims, and traffic violations to keep rates from increasing. Ask your insurance agent about an insurer-approved defensive driving course, too.

Keep shopping around: Every six months when your policy is up for renewal, check to see if you’re eligible to switch to a standard, low-risk policy (and cheap car insurance rates). You should also inquire about lower premiums anytime your life changes, like if you get married, have a child, or buy a house.

By practicing these tips now and in the future, you can ensure your premiums remain low —regardless of the type of coverage you need.

Find out how much you could save on a non-standard policy with Jerry.

Compare quotes now!

4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars

4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers

FAQ

Does Progressive offer non-standard auto insurance?

Progressive

offers a selection of non-standard coverage options for high-risk drivers. Progressive can also file

SR-22

forms for drivers who need this document in order to legally drive.

Is it better to have a standard or non-standard car insurance policy?

In almost all cases, it’s better to have standard car insurance since these policies are usually less costly and offer more coverage. Non-standard car insurance policies benefit drivers who no longer qualify for standard auto insurance due to certain risk factors.

What is a non-standard carrier?

A non-standard carrier is an insurance provider that offers coverage to motorists deemed high risk. Non-standard carriers like

The General

and

Bristol West

offer coverage to motorists who may have been denied a policy elsewhere due to their age, vehicle type, or driving history.

Who do auto insurance companies see as the highest risk?

Drivers with serious traffic violations, like

DUIs

or reckless driving charges, are the most significant group of high-risk drivers. Teen drivers also pose a higher risk than most drivers due to limited experience on the road.

Methodology

To determine average insurance rates, Jerry's experts analyze thousands of policies purchased by our customers. Our data are based on real policy premiums for all customers in a given category.

Where real customer data are unavailable, Jerry’s editorial team researches average rates using expert sources from Forbes, NerdWallet, ValuePenguin, WalletHub, The Zebra, and CarInsurance.com. Our data shows the average of the data shared by those sources.

Meet our experts

Sarah Gray

Licensed Insurance Agent — Expert Insurance Writer and Editor

Sarah Gray is an insurance writer with nearly a decade of experience in publishing and writing. Sarah specializes in writing articles that educate car owners and buyers on the full scope of car ownership—from shopping for and buying a new car to scrapping one that’s breathed its last and everything in between. Sarah has authored over 1,500 articles for Jerry on topics ranging from first-time buyer programs to how to get a salvage title for a totaled car.

Prior to joining Jerry, Sarah was a full-time professor of English literature and composition with multiple academic writing publications.

Amy Bobinger

Licensed Insurance Agent — Expert Insurance Editor

Expert insurance writer and editor Amy Bobinger specializes in car repair, car maintenance, and car insurance. Amy is passionate about creating content that helps consumers navigate challenges related to car ownership and achieve financial success in areas relating to cars.

Amy has over 10 years of writing and editing experience. After several years as a freelance writer, Amy spent four years as an editing fellow at WikiHow, where she co-authored over 600 articles on topics including car maintenance and home ownership. Since joining Jerry’s editorial team in 2022, Amy has edited over 2,500 articles on car insurance, state driving laws, and car repair and maintenance.

SOURCES

https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-auto-insurance