Best Cheap Car Insurance With a Bad Driving Record
State Farm and Progressive are the cheapest major car insurance companies for people with a bad driving record.
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Cheap car insurance for bad drivers
Bad drivers pay more for car insurance. But you can save by choosing a company with cheap rates for bad drivers, like State Farm or Progressive. You may find even cheaper rates from midsize companies like Erie, Auto-Owners and NJM.
You can also get insurance from a company that specializes in high-risk drivers, such as The General. However, these companies tend to be more expensive.
To help you find the best auto insurance for a bad driving record, ValuePenguin collected rates from ZIP codes across the U.S. Our experts also considered how much insurance companies raise rates after a ticket, accident or DUI.
Cheapest car insurance companies for bad drivers
State Farm is the cheapest major car insurance company for drivers with an accident or speeding ticket on their record.
After an accident, full coverage insurance from State Farm costs an average of $154 per month. That's 41% less than the national average. State Farm costs around $146 per month for full coverage after one speeding ticket, which is 32% cheaper than average.
Progressive is the cheapest company for most people after a DUI. At $221 per month, full coverage from Progressive costs 32% less than average after a DUI.
You may be able to get even cheaper rates from Erie, NJM or USAA. However, both Erie and NJM only sell insurance in a handful of states. And USAA is only available for military members, veterans and their families.
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Car insurance rates vary widely after a ticket or accident. For example, the most expensive company after an accident, Farmers, costs $461 per month more than the cheapest company, MMG.
The best way for high-risk drivers to find the lowest car insurance rates is to compare quotes from multiple companies.
Monthly full coverage rates for bad drivers
How does a bad driving record affect car insurance?
Typically, the more severe the driving incident, the more your car insurance rates go up.
Minor issues usually cause a small rate increase. The average cost of full coverage car insurance increases by 13% after a speeding ticket or texting while driving.
However, car insurance rates can go up by more than 40% after a serious driving issue such as a DUI or reckless driving. That's an average increase of $77 per month for a full coverage policy.
Insurance companies believe that people with a bad driving record are more likely to cause an accident in the future. So they raise your rates to help pay for potential claims.
Incidents that happened more than three years ago usually won't affect your rates.
A bad driving history won't impact your auto insurance rates forever. Insurance companies typically only consider accidents and traffic tickets from the past three years. However, DUIs could affect your car insurance rates for up to five years because they're a more serious violation.
How to get auto insurance for bad drivers
Start by comparing rates from several companies.
If you have a bad driving record, you may have to spend more time shopping around to find affordable car insurance. Some insurance companies give bad drivers very high rates, so compare online quotes from multiple companies to find the best deal for you.
If you need an SR-22, you might need to use a specialized company.
If your bad driving record means you need a form to show the state you have car insurance, called an SR-22 or sometimes an FR-44, you may not be able to get insurance from some major companies.
Instead, you may have to consider nonstandard auto insurance companies that specialize in bad driver car insurance. Two good nonstandard car insurance companies are The General and SafeAuto.
Look for car insurance discounts.
Try to find as many discounts as possible to make insurance more affordable. Many companies offer discounts that are easy to get. You can usually save by buying a policy online, setting up automatic payments, bundling multiple insurance policies or paying in full.
You can also take a defensive driving course to save around 10% to 15%.
Consider getting insurance based on your actual driving habits.
If your poor driving record is because of bad luck or you're committed to driving safer, you could lower your rates by as much as 30% or 40% by letting your insurance track your driving habits. This is called a usage-based discount program.
Using a phone app or a device that plugs into your car, insurance companies will use your actual driving habits when setting rates, rather than relying only on your driving record. The details of these programs vary, but most companies are looking for issues such as speeding and hard braking.
The best usage-based car insurance programs, like State Farm Drive Safe & Save, won't raise your rates for bad driving habits.
Shop around at each policy renewal.
Be sure to shop around for insurance regularly to make sure you are getting the most affordable rates. The impact of a bad driving record on your car insurance rates changes over time, so the cheapest company for you may also change over time.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an auto insurance company that doesn't check your driving record?
No, nearly every insurance company considers your driving record when setting insurance rates. However, some companies are more forgiving than others when it comes to driving history, like State Farm and Erie.
What is the cheapest insurance for drivers with accidents on their records?
State Farm is the cheapest insurance company after an at-fault accident. At $154 per month, its full coverage rates are 41% cheaper than average.
What is the best insurance for a bad driving record?
State Farm is the best national insurance company for drivers with an accident or speeding ticket, while Progressive has the best rates after a DUI. However, midsize companies like Erie, NJM, Auto-Owners and Farm Bureau tend to have more affordable rates after a ticket or accident.
How does a bad driving record affect my insurance rates?
A bad driving record will cause your insurance rates to go up. That's because companies believe you're more likely to cause an accident in the future. Rates typically increase by 13% for minor issues such as speeding or texting while driving. However, the worse your driving record is, the more that insurance companies will raise your rates.
Methodology
To find the best cheap car insurance for bad drivers, ValuePenguin gathered thousands of quotes from ZIP codes across the country. Quotes are for a 30-year-old man with good credit who owns a 2015 Honda Civic EX.
All rates are for a full coverage policy, which includes comprehensive and collision coverage, along with the following limits:
- Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist liability: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
- Comprehensive and collision: $500 deductible
Rates were provided by Quadrant Information Services and sourced from public insurance company filings. Your rates will differ, as these are for comparison purposes only.
To determine the impact of different driving incidents, ValuePenguin collected full coverage car insurance rates from six major insurance companies across all residential ZIP codes in Texas.
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.