High-Risk Car Insurance: What It Is, Who Needs It & Best Companies
You might need high-risk car insurance if you have a bad driving record, such as having multiple tickets, accidents or a DUI, or if you have poor credit.
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High-risk car insurance works like any other car insurance policy, but it usually costs more. You may be able to save by shopping around and using discounts. The best way to save long term is to drive safely, avoid tickets and accidents in the future and improve your credit.
On this page
What is high-risk car insurance?
High-risk car insurance is coverage for drivers who are more likely to file claims.
Basically, if an insurance company thinks you'll file more claims than an average driver, you'll probably be labeled "high-risk." The insurance company charges you more to balance out the risk that you'll cost them money if you file claims.
Who is a high-risk driver?
Insurance companies might label you a high-risk driver if you:
- Have multiple tickets
- Have caused multiple accidents or a major accident
- Have a DUI, DWI or OWI conviction
- Let your insurance expire
- Have poor credit
- Are a teen or otherwise newly licensed
Best car insurance companies for high-risk drivers
ValuePenguin's insurance experts review companies by looking at costs, coverage, discounts, customer service and unique features. Our team includes licensed insurance agents with real-world experience in the insurance industry.
Read the full breakdown of how ValuePenguin gets rates and scores companies.
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Best high-risk car insurance if you have tickets: Auto-Owners
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ValuePenguin rating4/5ValuePenguin ratings are given after a review of each company's cost, coverage, discounts, service and unique features. Read our methodology.
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Cost$182/mo w/a speeding ticketAverage monthly full coverage rate for a driver with one speeding ticket. Read our methodology.
Best high-risk car insurance if you have caused accidents: State Farm
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ValuePenguin rating4.5/5ValuePenguin ratings are given after a review of each company's cost, coverage, discounts, service and unique features. Read our methodology.
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Cost$218/mo w/an accidentAverage monthly full coverage rate for a driver with one at-fault accident. Read our methodology.
Best high-risk car insurance if you have a DUI: Progressive
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ValuePenguin rating3.5/5ValuePenguin ratings are given after a review of each company's cost, coverage, discounts, service and unique features. Read our methodology.
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Cost$268/mo w/one DUIAverage monthly full coverage rate for a driver with one DUI. Read our methodology.
Best high-risk car insurance if you have poor credit: American Family
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ValuePenguin rating3.5/5ValuePenguin ratings are given after a review of each company's cost, coverage, discounts, service and unique features. Read our methodology.
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Cost$263/mo w/poor creditAverage monthly full coverage rate for a driver with poor credit. Read our methodology.
How much does high-risk auto insurance cost?
High-risk car insurance can cost between $258 and $412 per month, on average, for full coverage.
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- High-risk drivers can pay 24% to 98% more than drivers with clean records and good credit.
- The worse your driving record, the more you'll usually pay for insurance.
- You'll pay the highest rates if you have a poor credit score.
Average cost for high-risk car insurance by incident type
Incident | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Speeding ticket | $258 |
| At-fault accident | $310 |
| DUI | $391 |
| Poor credit | $412 |
Average monthly rates are for full coverage.
How to save on high-risk car insurance
The best way to save on insurance as a high-risk driver is to clean up your driving record.
This means driving safely so you can lower your risk for tickets and accidents. After three to five years of safe driving, your rates should go down.
There are some things you can do in the short term, though, to help you save on your car insurance right now.
- Shop around: Get quotes from several insurance companies. You can often find a cheaper rate by shopping around.
- Take a driver safety course: Some companies offer discounts for safe driving classes. Before you sign up though, talk to your insurance company. You usually have to take a class from the company's approved list.
- Take advantage of discounts: You may be able to save by bundling your car and home insurance, paying in full or insuring more than one car.
- Increase your deductible: This can lower your monthly bill, but you’ll have to pay more if you're in an accident.
- Consider your coverage: You might be able to lower your coverage or drop optional coverage to save money. But before you change your coverage, talk to a licensed agent. You don't want your coverage to be so low that you risk having to pay for an accident yourself.
Telematics for high-risk drivers
Sometimes, you can sign up for a program that tracks your driving habits using a smartphone app or a device that you plug into your car. If you drive safely, you can save money on your monthly rate. This is called telematics or usage-based insurance.
But if you already have a bad driving record, telematics may not be for you. Some companies will raise your rates if the data they get back shows that you're a risky driver. You might want to wait to sign up for a telematics program until you prove to yourself that your driving habits are becoming safer. That way, it's more likely that you'll get a discount.
What happens if you can't find car insurance as a high-risk driver
If you have a hard time finding insurance because of your driving record, shop with nonstandard companies.
These companies specifically tailor their policies for high-risk drivers, which means it's more likely that you'll be able to buy a policy.
Nonstandard insurance companies are usually more expensive, offer fewer converge options and have worse customer service than standard companies. But if you have a particularly bad driving record, they may be your only option.
State-run assigned risk car insurance plans
If no insurance company will sell you a policy, you might need to get coverage through a state-run plan, called "assigned risk insurance." Every state has an assigned risk plan, so you can get one no matter where you live.
These plans are a last resort for drivers who can't get insurance through regular insurance companies. Assigned risk plans are usually expensive and the coverage may not be very good, but it's still better than nothing if it's your only option.
Assigned risk plans by state
Frequently asked questions
What is considered high-risk for car insurance?
If you have multiple tickets or accidents on your record, or if you caused a very bad accident, you'll usually need high-risk car insurance. Letting your car insurance expire or having a DUI or another major violation, such as reckless driving, also means you'll need high-risk car insurance. Additionally, if you have a poor credit score, you're often considered a high-risk driver.
How long do you stay on high-risk insurance?
You usually need high-risk car insurance for three to five years, until your driving record has improved and stayed consistent. If you get more tickets, cause accidents or are convicted of a DUI while you have a high-risk policy, the clock likely resets and you have to keep the policy for another three to five years.
What is the best auto insurance for high-risk drivers?
Auto-Owners is a good option if you have tickets, and State Farm is the best company if you have an accident on your record. Progressive is good if you have a DUI, and American Family is good if you have poor credit. It's always a good idea to shop around and compare quotes from high-risk car insurance companies.
Do high-risk drivers need SR-22 insurance?
High-risk drivers sometimes need SR-22 insurance. An SR-22 is a form that your insurance company files with your state to prove you have at least minimum car insurance coverage. If you have multiple accidents, a DUI or other major violations on your record, you may need to get an SR-22.
Methodology
To find the best car insurance companies for high-risk drivers, ValuePenguin got quotes for a 30-year-old man with a 2018 Honda Civic EX and good credit. The driver has either one speeding ticket, one at-fault accident or one DUI conviction. However, the rates for a driver with bad credit include a clean driving record and a poor credit score.
All quotes are for full coverage at the following limits:
- Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $50,000 per accident
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
- Comprehensive and collision coverage: $500 deductible
Rate info is from Quadrant Information Services, which in turn sources data from public insurer filings. Your rates may not be the same. Costs on this page are for comparison purposes only.
ValuePenguin's insurance experts score companies using average rates, coverage, discounts, service and unique features. Customer satisfaction data is from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and from J.D. Power surveys.
About the Author
Senior Writer
Licensed Insurance Agent
Cate Deventer is a Senior Writer who specializes in health insurance, Medicare, auto and home insurance. She's been a licensed insurance agent since 2011.
She started her insurance career working as a customer service agent for State Farm. She later moved to an independent agency, where she worked with several insurance companies and hundreds of clients. She quoted policies, filed claims and answered insurance questions. In 2021, she pivoted her career and began writing about insurance for Bankrate. She moved to ValuePenguin in 2023 and began writing about health insurance and Medicare.
Cate has a passion for helping readers choose insurance to fit their needs. She enjoys knowing that her research and knowledge help people choose insurance products that make a positive difference in their lives.
How insurance helped Cate
Cate used her health insurance knowledge to navigate a surgery in 2023. Understanding how her policy worked let her focus on recovery instead of worrying about bills.
Expertise
- Health insurance
- Medicare & Medicaid
- Auto insurance
- Home insurance
- Life insurance
Credentials
- Licensed Life, Accident & Health Insurance Agent
- Licensed Property & Casualty Insurance Agent
Referenced by
- CBS
- NBC
- Wall Street Journal
Education
- BA, Theatre, Purdue University
- BA, English, Indiana University
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.
