Best cheap high-risk car insurance

Car insurance for high-risk drivers is more expensive than it is for someone with a clean record. A high-risk driver is anyone with a red flag on their record, like a recent at-fault accident or a ticket for speeding or another violation. Being a new teenage driver or having poor credit can also put you in the high-risk category for car insurance.

There’s no specific product called high-risk car insurance, it’s just regular car insurance for drivers who are considered riskier to insure than the average car-owner.

Rates are higher for high-risk drivers, but it’s still possible to find affordable car insurance by comparing quotes and shopping around. We found that State Farm has cheap car insurance for lots of different types of high-risk drivers.

Cheapest car insurance for high-risk drivers

State Farm has the cheapest car insurance for many different types of high-risk drivers. With a monthly rate of $125, State Farm is $1,011 cheaper than average per year for drivers with a violation.

We found that, of nationally-available companies, State Farm is the cheapest car insurance company for drivers who have been in an at-fault accident. It’s also the most affordable auto insurance for high-risk drivers with a DUI, speeding ticket, or a citation for driving with a suspended license.

On average, high-risk car insurance costs $209 per month. We found 12 companies where you can get high-risk car insurance quotes that are cheaper than $209 per month.

Company	Average monthly cost	Average annual cost
State Farm	$125	$1,495
USAA	$133	$1,594
NJM	$135	$1,621
MAPFRE	$139	$1,665
Erie	$139	$1,666
Auto-Owners	$151	$1,813
Travelers	$163	$1,954
GEICO	$166	$1,992
Farm Bureau	$169	$2,029
COUNTRY	$174	$2,091
American Family	$177	$2,129
Nationwide	$199	$2,382

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Cost of full-coverage car insurance for high-risk drivers from all companies that offer cheaper-than-average rates.

Are there high-risk insurance companies?

There are a few companies that specialize in offering car insurance to high-risk drivers with multiple violations on their records, or drivers who are required to have an SR-22 or FR-44.

These high-risk car insurance companies can be expensive, but depending on your record they might be the only place where you can get insurance. Some popular high-risk auto insurance companies include:

• Bristol West

• Dairyland

• Direct Auto

• Freeway Insurance

• The General

• State Auto

• National General

• UAIC

As a last resort, some states have assigned-risk insurance pools that provide car insurance to drivers who can’t get coverage anywhere else. Participating companies have to offer coverage to anyone who applies.

→ Read more your options if you can’t afford car insurance

What makes someone a high-risk driver?

A “high-risk driver” is just someone who insurance companies think is more likely to make a claim. Being considered more of a risk to insure means it’s harder to find affordable insurance.

High-risk drivers are often people with a history of dangerous driving behavior including at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, DUI citations, or other moving violations.

But you can be a good driver and still be considered high-risk by car insurance companies. You may also be a high-risk driver if you:

• Haven’t been licensed for very long

• Don’t have a credit history or have poor credit

• Did not have insurance coverage for a period of time

• Were caught driving uninsured or with a suspended license

→ Read more about what can affect your car insurance rates

Best car insurance for high-risk drivers: State Farm

Best high-risk car insurance

• Our rating: 3.8/5 ★

• Cost for high-risk drivers: $125/month

• Number of complaints: Low

• Claims satisfaction: High

Read our full review

State Farm is the best auto insurance company for high-risk drivers. Along with other more minor violations, State Farm offers the cheapest car insurance to high-risk drivers who have:

• Been in an accident

• Gotten a speeding ticket

• Received a DUI or DWI citation

• Driven with a suspended license

Aside from low rates for high-risk drivers, State Farm has great customer service (and receives fewer complaints than average for the industry). [1] State Farm also earns high marks from its customers for resolving claims smoothly. [2]

But the best insurance for high-risk drivers will depend on each person's record (along with the normal factors that affect your car insurance rates, like where you live and what kind of car you drive). Since rates will vary by company, it's especially important for high-risk drivers to find their top insurance choice.

Cheapest high-risk car insurance after an accident

While NJM is the cheapest car insurance for high-risk drivers who have been in one at-fault accident, it’s only available in a handful of states. State Farm, which also has cheap coverage after an accident, is available in almost every state, making it a good option for most drivers.

Company	Average monthly cost	Average annual cost
NJM	$111	$1,337
State Farm	$116	$1,398
MAPFRE	$122	$1,469
USAA	$129	$1,549
Erie	$138	$1,651
Auto-Owners	$145	$1,738
Travelers	$159	$1,907
Farm Bureau	$163	$1,961
COUNTRY	$170	$2,043
GEICO	$173	$2,071

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Cheap high-risk car insurance after a DUI

State Farm has the best rates after a DUI. Car insurance is much more expensive following a DUI — even higher than after an at-fault accident — but State Farm costs $1,532 less per year than average for drivers with a DUI.

Company	Average monthly cost	Average annual cost
State Farm	$132	$1,588
NJM	$135	$1,620
MAPFRE	$171	$2,047
Erie	$173	$2,082
USAA	$176	$2,110
Travelers	$177	$2,122
American Family	$179	$2,149
Progressive	$193	$2,318
COUNTRY	$196	$2,355
Auto-Owners	$198	$2,375

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Cheap high-risk car insurance after a speeding ticket

We found that State Farm has the cheapest car insurance for high-risk drivers with a speeding ticket on their records. Rates at State Farm after one speeding ticket are $950 less per year than average — a difference of 42%.

Company	Average monthly cost	Average annual cost
State Farm	$110	$1,321
USAA	$112	$1,338
Erie	$118	$1,412
MAPFRE	$122	$1,469
NJM	$135	$1,620
Auto-Owners	$148	$1,775
Farm Bureau	$151	$1,813
Nationwide	$164	$1,969
American Family	$167	$2,005
Travelers	$170	$2,040

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Cheap high-risk car insurance for drivers with bad credit

Although MAPFRE is the cheapest car insurance company for drivers with bad credit, it’s only available in a few states. GEICO, the second-cheapest company for drivers with bad credit— is available everywhere.

Company	Average monthly cost	Average annual cost
MAPFRE	$125	$1,504
GEICO	$157	$1,885
USAA	$170	$2,042
NJM	$176	$2,117
Nationwide	$181	$2,166
COUNTRY	$188	$2,251
Travelers	$210	$2,523
Kemper	$222	$2,663
Farm Bureau	$231	$2,771
Erie	$241	$2,887

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Cheap high-risk car insurance after driving with a suspended license

State Farm has the cheapest high-risk car insurance for drivers who’ve been pulled over with a suspended license. This is one of the costliest roadway violations, but rates at State Farm are $1,596 lower per year than the industry average.

Company	Average monthly cost	Average annual cost
State Farm	$124	$1,485
NJM	$142	$1,706
Erie	$163	$1,954
MAPFRE	$164	$1,967
USAA	$164	$1,972
Travelers	$179	$2,144
Auto-Owners	$183	$2,196
GEICO	$185	$2,224
COUNTRY	$196	$2,355
Farm Bureau	$198	$2,371

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Cheap high-risk car insurance after other violations

We found the monthly cost of car insurance after a few other common violations to see which company is the best for high-risk drivers. 

State Farm is still one of the cheapest high-risk insurance companies, but drivers with other moving violations can also get low rates from USAA and Auto-Owners.

Violation	Company	Monthly rates
Clean record	State Farm	$98
Not at-fault accident	USAA	$93
Driving without lights	USAA	$105
Driving with expired registration	Auto-Owners	$107
Failure to stop at a red light	State Farm	$108
Following too closely	Auto-Owners	$108
Passing a school bus	State Farm	$111
Driving with an open container	State Farm	$115
Reckless driving	State Farm	$124
Hit and run	State Farm	$127

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What is the cost of high-risk auto insurance?

Auto insurance for high-risk drivers is $209 per month, or $2,506 each year. That’s an average of $854 more per year than average rates with a clean record. But costs will depend on the company and the specific violation.

As you can see, some moving violations cause car insurance rates to rise much more than others. Here’s how much different moving violations will increase your car insurance rates:

Violation	Average monthly cost	Average annual cost
Clean record	$138	$1,652
Not at-fault accident	$147	$1,768
Driving without lights	$172	$2,064
Driving with expired registration	$172	$2,068
Failure to stop at a red light	$176	$2,110
Following too closely	$177	$2,122
Passing a school bus	$184	$2,211
Speeding ticket	$189	$2,271
Driving with an open container	$204	$2,450
At-fault accident	$212	$2,541
Reckless driving	$250	$2,996
Driving with a suspended license	$257	$3,081
DUI	$260	$3,120
Poor credit	$260	$3,121
Hit and run	$267	$3,207

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How to get more affordable car insurance for high-risk drivers

Having an accident or ticket on your record makes auto insurance more expensive, but it’s not impossible to find affordable rates, even if you’re considered a high-risk driver. 

Be sure to shop around for car insurance quotes, compare companies, and switch to a cheaper policy to get the best rates. You should also:

• Know when to switch providers: If you’re involved in an accident, you shouldn’t switch companies right away out of fear of a rate increase. Your rates won’t go up until the end of your policy’s term. By staying with your existing policy, you avoid a rate increase in the near term.

• Consider raising your deductible: A higher car insurance deductible — the amount you pay out of pocket on a claim when your car is damaged — makes your insurance cheaper. But with a higher deductible, you’ll pay more in the event you actually have to make a claim.

• Sign up for safe-driving courses: Many insurance companies offer cheaper car insurance to drivers who take an approved defensive or safe driving course. Look into these classes to help balance out the effects of any past driving violations.

• Bundle your car insurance: If you get your car insurance from the same company as your home, renters, or motorcycle insurance, most companies will give you a large discount for bundling.

Over time, accidents and traffic violations will eventually fall off your record. As long as you avoid any more accidents and tickets, insurance companies won’t consider you a high-risk driver forever. 

Auto insurance companies typically consider the last three to five years of your driving history when setting your rates, so even if a violation stays on your motor vehicle record (MVR) for longer, it will stop affecting your car insurance rates.

Methodology

Policygenius found the cost of car insurance for high-risk drivers using rates provided by Quadrant Information Services. These rates were from every ZIP code in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and were for a 30-year-old driver of a 2017 Toyota Camry. The rates we used in this study had the following limits:

• Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per incident

• Property damage liability: $50,000 per person

• Uninsured/underinsured motorist: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per incident

• Comprehensive: $500 deductible

• Collision: $500 deductible

To find the cost of high-risk car insurance, we found the average cost of car insurance for a driver with poor credit or one driving violation on their records. The driving violations we used were:

• At-fault accident

• Driving with a suspended license

• Driving with an open container

• Driving with expired registration

• Driving without lights

• DUI

• Failure to stop at a red light

• Following too closely

• Hit and run

• Not at-fault accident

• Passing a school bus

• Reckless driving

• Speeding ticket

Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.