Non-standard car insurance is a term for policies issued to drivers with significant risk factors, such as major violations, at-fault accidents, or insurance lapses.

While these policies have the same coverage as standard

car insurance

, they typically cost more. But you can save money by shopping with companies that specialize in non-standard coverage.

Jerry

offers affordable quote comparison from standard and non-standard insurers, and we’ve crunched the numbers to find the best and most affordable companies for high-risk drivers.

The best non-standard auto insurance companies

If you have a history of traffic violations, an at-fault accident on your record, or a recent insurance lapse—or other risk factors like a lack of driving experience or a high-value car—you can buy non-standard car insurance from two types of companies:

Non-standard auto insurance companies, which specialize in writing policies for high-risk drivers

Major auto insurance providers, which offer policies to both standard and high-risk drivers.

Our research shows that non-standard auto insurance companies typically offer a better deal for drivers with violations. The 13 non-standard companies whose rates we analyzed charged roughly 11% less for drivers with violations like DUIs or speeding tickets compared to major carriers.

The cheapest non-standard auto insurance companies

Among companies that specialize in non-standard auto insurance, Anchor General has the lowest average rates and highest customer satisfaction ratings.

Insurance company	Jerry user rating	Average annual premium	Average monthly premium
Anchor General	4.7 stars	$1,696	$141
Trexis	4.7 stars	$2,022	$169
Assurance America	4.6 stars	$2,582	$215
Gainsco	4.5 stars	$2,404	$200
State Auto	4.4 stars	$2,285	$190
Bristol West	4.4 stars	$2,742	$229
National General	4.3 stars	$2,185	$182
Dairyland	4.3 stars	$2,196	$183
Infinity	4.3 stars	$2,556	$213
Kemper	4.2 stars	$2,074	$173
The General	4.1 stars	$2,422	$202
Direct Auto	4.0 stars	$2,117	$176
Safe Auto	4.0 stars	$2,541	$212

How'd we get these scores?
Jerry's experts conducted one of the largest car insurance surveys in the United States. We surveyed 15,000 policyholders, in all 50 states, over the span of 18 months. These policyholders hold insurance policies with 87 different insurance companies. We surveyed policyholders to gauge their satisfaction with their insurance carriers in: policy cost, customer service, buying and renewal experience, as well as claim experience. These scores were all reported by real customers of the insurance companies.

Learn more:

Affordable high-risk auto insurance for drivers with violations

The cheapest major car insurance companies for high-risk drivers

Among standard insurance companies offering non-standard policies, Safeco has the lowest rates and comes in just behind Travelers for the highest overall customer rating.

Insurance company	Jerry user rating	Average annual premium	Average monthly premium
Safeco	4.4 stars	$2,303	$192
Allstate	4.1 stars	$2,410	$201
Travelers	4.5 stars	$2,518	$210
Progressive	4.2 stars	$2,553	$213
Mercury	4.3 stars	$2,688	$224
AAA	4.2 stars	$2,771	$231
Nationwide	4.3 stars	$2,787	$232

Nonstandard car insurance coverage after an at-fault accident

If you’re seeking affordable coverage after an at-fault car accident, you’re better off going with a major provider rather than a non-standard company. Our research showed that standard providers charged an average of $1,648 per year for full coverage after an at-fault accident, while nonstandard companies charged $2,542, on average.

Of major providers, GEICO charges the lowest rates for both full and minimum coverage after an at-fault accident. The cheapest nonstandard insurance company after an at-fault accident is Trexis.

Insurance company	Full coverage (annual)	Full coverage (monthly)	Minimum coverage (annual)	Minimum coverage (monthly)
GEICO	$1,413	$118	$580	$48
Travelers	$1,473	$123	$812	$68
Safeco	$1,592	$133	$720	$60
Progressive	$1,629	$136	$720	$60
Mercury	$1,673	$139	$817	$68
Nationwide	$1,718	$143	$805	$67
Trexis *	$1,861	$155	$560	$47
State Auto *	$1,883	$157	$724	$60
National General *	$1,994	$166	$834	$70
Kemper *	$2,096	$175	$797	$66
Allstate	$2,162	$180	$978	$82
Gainsco*	$2,205	$184	$945	$79
AAA	$2,272	$189	$1,294	$108
Safe Auto *	$2,344	$195	$1,146	$96
Direct Auto *	$2,583	$215	$1,004	$84
Assurance America *	$2,689	$224	$1,359	$113
Dairyland *	$2,869	$239	$969	$81
Anchor General *	$2,905	$242	$1,049	$87
Bristol West *	$3,087	$257	$1,299	$108
Infinity *	$3,146	$262	$1,191	$99
The General *	$3,378	$282	$1,414	$118

* Specializes in non-standard auto insurance

Nonstandard car insurance after an insurance lapse

Standard car insurance companies also offer more affordable rates to drivers with insurance lapses. On average, drivers with a lapse in their insurance coverage pay $1,721 per year for full coverage from a major company and $2,561 per year for coverage from non-standard insurers.

Overall, the cheapest insurance company for full coverage after a lapse is Nationwide. Among nonstandard carriers, the cheapest full coverage option is from State Auto.

If you’re looking for state minimum coverage, Nationwide and Trexis have the cheapest offerings after an insurance lapse.

Insurance company	Full coverage (annual)	Full coverage (monthly)	Minimum coverage (annual)	Minimum coverage (monthly)
Nationwide	$1,630	$136	$748	$62
Travelers	$1,688	$141	$823	$69
Safeco	$1,737	$145	$803	$67
State Auto *	$1,830	$153	$625	$52
Trexis *	$1,878	$157	$614	$51
Progressive	$1,904	$159	$783	$65
Mercury	$1,953	$163	$880	$73
Kemper *	$1,982	$165	$897	$75
National General *	$1,993	$166	$863	$72
Safe Auto *	$2,041	$170	$1,042	$87
Allstate	$2,282	$190	$905	$75
Direct Auto *	$2,293	$191	$1,032	$86
Gainsco*	$2,293	$191	$936	$78
AAA	$2,498	$208	$1,467	$122
Dairyland *	$2,772	$231	$934	$78
Anchor General *	$2,834	$236	$916	$76
The General *	$3,078	$257	$1,294	$108
Assurance America *	$3,159	$263	$1,589	$132
Infinity *	$3,433	$286	$1,307	$109
Bristol West *	$3,700	$308	$1,482	$124

* Specializes in non-standard auto insurance

What is non-standard auto insurance?

Non-standard auto insurance is a type of car insurance policy offered to a driver with a higher risk profile than the average driver. These policies have the same type of coverage as standard policies, but they come with higher premiums.

Insurance companies actually sort drivers into three categories: preferred, standard, and non-standard:

Preferred: Drivers with high credit scores, clean driving record, no accidents or coverage lapses, and conservative vehicles with high safety ratings

Standard: Drivers with good credit, no major violations or at-fault accidents, and reasonable vehicles

Non-standard: Drivers with one or more serious risk factors, such as a history of accidents, a poor driving record, poor credit, or a luxury or salvage vehicle

Depending on your level of risk, you’ll pay more or less for auto insurance. Preferred customers enjoy the lowest insurance premiums of any group thanks to their low level of risk, while non-standard customers pay the highest auto insurance rates.

The definition of a “non-standard” driver isn’t set in stone—and different auto insurance companies will evaluate every driver’s level of risk a little differently. Just owning a luxury vehicle or getting a speeding ticket or two doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a “non-standard” customer.

But if you’ve ever been denied insurance coverage or given a

nonrenewal

by your current provider, you likely fit into the non-standard category.

Who needs a non-standard auto insurance policy?

If any of the following things are true and you’ve recently been denied coverage, you might need to purchase auto insurance from a non-standard provider:

You’re

under 25 years old

You have bad credit and live in a state that allows

insurance companies to use credit

to set rates (i.e. not California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon, Utah, or Washington)

You got your driver’s license in another country and have no driving record in the United States

You had a previous

lapse in auto insurance coverage

You have one or more

DUI/DWIs

or other serious violations (e.g. reckless driving) on your record

You have a history of at-fault accidents

You need to file

an SR-22 certificate

with your state’s DMV

You need insurance for a luxury vehicle, a race car, or a vehicle with a

salvage title

Young drivers are one of the most high-risk categories, due to their lack of driving experience and high statistical rate of accidents and violations. If you’re under 25 and can’t find cheap car insurance with other insurers, comparing non-standard auto insurance quotes could help you save money.

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What is the difference between a standard and non-standard insurance company?

Non-standard car insurance companies work the same way as any other insurance provider—but with a few major differences.

The main difference is that these companies are willing to write policies for motorists that other auto insurance providers would pass over. But if you’re looking at quotes from a non-standard insurance agency, you should also be aware that:

Your auto insurance costs are likely to be higher with a non-standard company as a reflection of the higher risk associated with non-standard drivers

You may not have access to all the same coverage options and might not be able to raise your coverage limits

The benefit of buying coverage from a non-standard insurance company is that you’ll be working with insurance agents who understand your position and won’t reject you out of hand just because you don’t fit the profile of an ideal customer. Whether it’s your driving history, your

credit history

, or simply your age keeping you from accessing a standard auto insurance policy, a non-standard insurance provider can help you lower costs.

Learn more:

5 bad decisions that will impact your car insurance rates

How much does non-standard auto insurance cost?

On average, a non-standard auto insurance policy costs around $2,393 per year—over 20% more than a standard auto insurance policy.

The exact cost of non-standard car insurance depends on a number of factors, including where you live and why you need non-standard insurance.

Learn more:

The average cost of car insurance in 2024

How to find non-standard coverage for high-risk drivers

The best way to find affordable non-standard car insurance is to compare

car insurance quotes

from at least a few providers. While you might feel like you need to take any rate you’re offered, you can actually lower your insurance costs by getting free quotes from three to five companies before signing up for a policy.

Every insurance company, including non-standard companies, uses a slightly different set of calculations to set your rate. Depending on the reason you’re shopping for non-standard policies—your age, your driving record, or your vehicle—you might find very different rates from different companies.

For high-risk drivers, it’s also worth comparing providers’ customer service and coverage options. If you have an SR-22, for instance, you’ll need to find a company willing to file your SR-22 with the state DMV and help you maintain the required

liability coverage

for the duration of the SR-22 period. Finding a responsive company with supportive agents could make a huge difference, especially if you’re trying to get your

suspended license reinstated

If you don’t own a vehicle, look for a company that offers

non-owner car insurance

Learn more:

Is the Jerry app legit?

What if I can’t find a policy anywhere?

Real talk: if your credit score or driving record are especially bad (think multiple DUIs) you might not be able to get a policy anywhere—even from one of the non-standard auto insurance companies listed above.

If you’ve been denied coverage three or more times, you may be eligible for what’s known as assigned risk coverage. Forty-two states offer assigned-risk auto insurance plans to extremely high-risk drivers who otherwise couldn’t find coverage on the market.

If you enter the assigned risk pool, you’ll need to pay incredibly steep premiums, but you’ll be able to maintain your coverage and stay in compliance with the law. After about three years of having continuous assigned risk coverage, you should be able to find coverage with a standard carrier.

Learn more:

About the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan (CAARP)

FAQ

What is non-standard auto insurance?

Non-standard coverage is a type of car insurance reserved for drivers with high risk profiles. You’ll often pay more for non-standard insurance, and you may not have access to the same kinds of coverage as a standard policy or be able to raise your coverage limits.

Is Progressive standard or non-standard?

Progressive

offers both standard and non-standard policies based on the kind of coverage you’re looking for. If you’ve been denied insurance from another provider, Progressive could be an option.

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

Progressive

and

GEICO

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

According to market research company IBISWorld, the current market share value of auto insurance in the US is $353.3 billion. It’s estimated that the market share of non-standard coverage is roughly 20-40% of that.

Meet our experts

R.E. Fulton

Licensed Insurance Agent —Senior Content Writer

R.E. Fulton is an expert insurance writer specializing in car ownership topics from car shopping and loan advice to insurance and repair guides. R.E.’s mission is to create unique and accessible content that helps readers to become more successful and independent car owners. R.E. has written and edited over 900 high-performing articles for Jerry, with an average of 1 million+ views.

As a senior writer on Jerry’s editorial team, R.E. draws on over 10 years of experience as a professional writer and digital publishing specialist. Prior to joining Jerry’s editorial team in 2021, R.E. worked as a writing coach at Columbia University, the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), and the University of Rochester. They serve as a managing editor for peer-reviewed history publication Nursing Clio, where their work has appeared regularly since 2015.

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.