Best Cheap Car Insurance With a Bad Driving Record (2026)
American Family, State Farm and Progressive are the cheapest major car insurance companies for people with a bad driving record.
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Cheapest major car insurance companies for bad drivers
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.
See the full methodology.
Best cheap insurance for bad drivers
The cheapest company for bad drivers depends on whether you have a ticket or an accident on your record.
For example, American Family typically has the cheapest auto insurance after a speeding ticket, compared to other national companies, while Progressive has the best rates after a DUI.
If you have multiple tickets or accidents, you may need to choose a company that specializes in insurance for bad drivers, such as The General. However, these companies tend to be more expensive.
Speeding ticket
Accident
DUI
American Family charges around $189 per month for a full coverage policy after one speeding ticket. That's $69 per month cheaper than the national average after a ticket.
You may be able to get even cheaper rates from USAA, Erie or Auto-Owners. However, both Erie and Auto-Owners only sell insurance in some states. And USAA is only available for military members, veterans and their families.
Speeding ticket
American Family charges around $189 per month for a full coverage policy after one speeding ticket. That's $69 per month cheaper than the national average after a ticket.
You may be able to get even cheaper rates from USAA, Erie or Auto-Owners. However, both Erie and Auto-Owners only sell insurance in some states. And USAA is only available for military members, veterans and their families.
Accident
State Farm is the cheapest major car insurance company for drivers with an accident on their record, at $218 per month for full coverage. That's $92 per month less than the national average after an accident.
NJM
and
USAA
both have cheaper rates after an accident than State Farm, if you can get a policy. Erie is also an excellent choice, if you live in one of the
states where it sells insurance.
DUI
Progressive is the cheapest company for most people after a DUI. At $268 per month, full coverage from Progressive costs $123 per month less than average after a DUI.
NJM and Erie offer even cheaper rates, but they're only available in a handful of states. If you have military connections, you should also compare DUI insurance quotes from USAA.
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Monthly full coverage rates for bad drivers
Car insurance rates vary widely after a ticket or an accident. For example, the most expensive company after an accident, Allstate, costs $285 per month more than the cheapest company, NJM.
The best way for drivers with a bad record to find affordable car insurance rates is to compare quotes from multiple companies.
How does a bad driving record affect car insurance?
Typically, the more serious the ticket or accident, 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 23% after a ticket for texting while driving.
However, car insurance rates go up by more than 60% after a serious ticket, such as a DUI or racing. That's an average increase of more than $100 per month.
Full coverage rates by driving incident
Violation | Monthly cost |
% increase
|
|---|---|---|
| None | $181 | - |
| Texting while driving | $222 | 23% |
| Failure to stop at a stop sign | $224 | 24% |
| Speeding | $225 | 24% |
| Failure to stop for a school bus | $228 | 26% |
Rates are for a 30-year-old man who lives in Pennsylvania and has a good credit score.
Insurance companies believe 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.
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 with a bad driving record
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 to file an SR-22 certificate, 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 FR-44, you may not be able to get insurance from some major companies.
Instead, you may have to consider what are called 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 the most money by bundling your car and home or renters insurance policies. Many companies also offer discounts for buying a policy online, setting up automatic payments or paying in full.
Earn a discount for good driving habits, like driving under the speed limit.
If your poor driving record is because of bad luck or you're committed to driving more safely, you could lower your rates by as much as 30% or 40% by letting your insurance track your driving habits. This is called a telematics or usage-based discount program.
Using a phone app or a device that plugs into your car, insurance companies 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're 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, it's unlikely you'll find a reputable insurance company that doesn't consider your driving record when setting insurance rates. However, some companies are more forgiving than others when it comes to driving history, like State Farm, NJM and Erie.
What is the cheapest car insurance after an accident?
State Farm is the cheapest major insurance company after an at-fault accident. At $218 per month, its full coverage rates are 30% cheaper than average. You can also typically find cheaper rates at midsize companies like NJM or Erie.
What is the best car insurance for a bad driving record?
The best company depends on your ticket or accident. American Family is the best national company after a speeding ticket, while State Farm is the best choice after an accident. However, midsize companies like Erie, NJM and Auto-Owners tend to have more affordable rates after a ticket or an accident.
How does a bad driving record affect my insurance rates?
A bad driving record almost always causes 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 20% to 60%, depending on the type of ticket or severity of your accident. 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 2018 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: $50,000 per accident
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist liability: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
- Comprehensive and collision: $500 deductible
To determine the impact of different driving incidents, ValuePenguin collected full coverage car insurance rates from eight major insurance companies across all residential ZIP codes in Pennsylvania.
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.
Senior Writer
Lindsay Bishop is a Senior Writer at ValuePenguin, where she educates readers about home, auto, renters, flood and motorcycle insurance.
Lindsay began her career in the insurance and financial industry in 2010. She was a licensed auto, home, life and health insurance agent and held Series 6 and 63 financial licenses.
After a hiatus from the financial sector, Lindsay returned to the industry as a content writer for ValuePenguin in 2021. She enjoys having the opportunity to help readers make smart decisions about their insurance so they can be prepared for anything life throws their way.
When Lindsay isn't writing about insurance, you can find her spending time with family, enjoying the outdoors on Sunday long runs or riding her Peloton.
How insurance helped Lindsay
As a homeowner for 15 years located in South Carolina, Lindsay has plenty of experience navigating the coastal insurance market and managing the claims process. That includes successfully negotiating a full roof replacement claim.
Expertise
- Home insurance
- Car insurance
- Flood insurance
- Renters insurance
- Motorcycle insurance
Referenced by
- CNBC
- Yahoo Finance
- Miami Herald
Education
- BS/BA Economics, University of Nevada Las Vegas
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.
