You might need high-risk insurance if you have a red flag on your driving 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.
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.
We don't sell your information to third parties.
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 |
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
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:
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.
We don't sell your information to third parties.
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.
We don't sell your information to third parties.
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 |
Most affordable high-risk insurance after an accident by state
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 |
Most affordable high-risk insurance after a DUI by state
| Alabama | State Farm | $116 |
| Alaska | State Farm | $89 |
| Arizona | State Farm | $109 |
| Arkansas | State Farm | $88 |
| California | Wawanesa | $146 |
| Colorado | American National | $109 |
| Connecticut | State Farm | $107 |
| Delaware | State Farm | $107 |
| District of Columbia | State Farm | $134 |
| Florida | State Farm | $146 |
| Georgia | State Farm | $123 |
| Hawaii | State Farm | $89 |
| Idaho | State Farm | $52 |
| Illinois | State Farm | $87 |
| Indiana | State Farm | $84 |
| Iowa | State Farm | $64 |
| Kansas | State Farm | $99 |
| Kentucky | State Farm | $170 |
| Louisiana | State Farm | $149 |
| Maine | State Farm | $68 |
| Maryland | GEICO | $99 |
| Massachusetts | GEICO | $152 |
| Michigan | Progressive | $151 |
| Minnesota | State Farm | $88 |
| Mississippi | State Farm | $98 |
| Missouri | State Farm | $100 |
| Montana | State Farm | $92 |
| Nebraska | State Farm | $138 |
| Nevada | State Farm | $106 |
| New Hampshire | USAA | $98 |
| New Jersey | NJM | $135 |
| New Mexico | State Farm | $86 |
| New York | Progressive | $99 |
| North Carolina | National General | $236 |
| North Dakota | State Farm | $84 |
| Ohio | State Farm | $67 |
| Oklahoma | State Farm | $93 |
| Oregon | State Farm | $77 |
| Pennsylvania | State Farm | $88 |
| Rhode Island | State Farm | $80 |
| South Carolina | American National | $89 |
| South Dakota | State Farm | $100 |
| Tennessee | State Farm | $78 |
| Texas | Redpoint | $113 |
| Utah | State Farm | $112 |
| Vermont | State Farm | $58 |
| Virginia | State Farm | $77 |
| Washington | State Farm | $103 |
| West Virginia | State Farm | $92 |
| Wisconsin | State Farm | $75 |
| Wyoming | State Farm | $112 |
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 |
Most affordable high-risk insurance after a ticket by state
| Alabama | USAA | $104 |
| Alaska | State Farm | $89 |
| Arizona | State Farm | $109 |
| Arkansas | State Farm | $88 |
| California | Wawanesa | $117 |
| Colorado | American National | $87 |
| Connecticut | GEICO | $82 |
| Delaware | State Farm | $107 |
| District of Columbia | Erie | $120 |
| Florida | State Farm | $146 |
| Georgia | Auto-Owners | $112 |
| Hawaii | GEICO | $65 |
| Idaho | State Farm | $52 |
| Illinois | Pekin | $72 |
| Indiana | State Farm | $73 |
| Iowa | State Farm | $64 |
| Kansas | State Farm | $99 |
| Kentucky | Progressive | $167 |
| Louisiana | State Farm | $149 |
| Maine | USAA | $60 |
| Maryland | USAA | $84 |
| Massachusetts | USAA | $99 |
| Michigan | USAA | $147 |
| Minnesota | State Farm | $88 |
| Mississippi | State Farm | $98 |
| Missouri | USAA | $79 |
| Montana | State Farm | $92 |
| Nebraska | American Family | $112 |
| Nevada | State Farm | $106 |
| New Hampshire | State Farm | $63 |
| New Jersey | GEICO | $83 |
| New Mexico | State Farm | $86 |
| New York | Progressive | $112 |
| North Carolina | Utica National | $85 |
| North Dakota | USAA | $84 |
| Ohio | State Farm | $67 |
| Oklahoma | State Farm | $93 |
| Oregon | State Farm | $77 |
| Pennsylvania | State Farm | $88 |
| Rhode Island | State Farm | $80 |
| South Carolina | American National | $79 |
| South Dakota | State Farm | $100 |
| Tennessee | State Farm | $78 |
| Texas | State Farm | $91 |
| Utah | USAA | $111 |
| Vermont | State Farm | $58 |
| Virginia | State Farm | $77 |
| Washington | PEMCO | $88 |
| West Virginia | USAA | $88 |
| Wisconsin | USAA | $70 |
| Wyoming | USAA | $96 |
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 |
Most affordable high-risk insurance for bad credit by state
| Alabama | Safeway | $136 |
| Alaska | USAA | $142 |
| Arizona | GEICO | $130 |
| Arkansas | USAA | $150 |
| Colorado | GEICO | $136 |
| Connecticut | GEICO | $105 |
| Delaware | GEICO | $182 |
| District of Columbia | GEICO | $191 |
| Florida | GEICO | $267 |
| Georgia | GEICO | $159 |
| Idaho | GEICO | $82 |
| Illinois | Pekin | $109 |
| Indiana | GEICO | $106 |
| Iowa | West Bend Insurance | $128 |
| Kansas | GEICO | $123 |
| Kentucky | GEICO | $173 |
| Louisiana | USAA | $207 |
| Maine | USAA | $87 |
| Maryland | GEICO | $105 |
| Minnesota | West Bend Insurance | $137 |
| Mississippi | National General | $146 |
| Missouri | State Farm | $115 |
| Montana | GEICO | $146 |
| Nebraska | Nationwide | $131 |
| Nevada | GEICO | $129 |
| New Hampshire | USAA | $105 |
| New Jersey | Selective | $169 |
| New Mexico | GEICO | $123 |
| New York | GEICO | $136 |
| North Carolina | National General | $83 |
| North Dakota | USAA | $118 |
| Ohio | GEICO | $96 |
| Oklahoma | USAA | $146 |
| Oregon | GEICO | $137 |
| Pennsylvania | Nationwide | $124 |
| Rhode Island | State Farm | $165 |
| South Carolina | USAA | $139 |
| South Dakota | Kemper | $114 |
| Tennessee | USAA | $129 |
| Texas | Redpoint | $113 |
| Utah | Nationwide | $143 |
| Vermont | GEICO | $91 |
| Virginia | Nationwide | $126 |
| West Virginia | USAA | $136 |
| Wisconsin | GEICO | $97 |
| Wyoming | American National | $94 |
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 |
Most affordable high-risk insurance after driving with a suspended license
| Alabama | State Farm | $116 |
| Alaska | State Farm | $89 |
| Arizona | State Farm | $109 |
| Arkansas | State Farm | $88 |
| California | Wawanesa | $117 |
| Colorado | State Farm | $115 |
| Connecticut | GEICO | $67 |
| Delaware | State Farm | $107 |
| District of Columbia | State Farm | $134 |
| Florida | State Farm | $146 |
| Georgia | State Farm | $123 |
| Hawaii | State Farm | $89 |
| Idaho | State Farm | $52 |
| Illinois | State Farm | $87 |
| Indiana | State Farm | $84 |
| Iowa | State Farm | $64 |
| Kansas | State Farm | $99 |
| Kentucky | GEICO | $104 |
| Louisiana | State Farm | $149 |
| Maine | GEICO | $64 |
| Maryland | GEICO | $90 |
| Massachusetts | GEICO | $152 |
| Michigan | Farm Bureau | $166 |
| Minnesota | State Farm | $88 |
| Mississippi | State Farm | $98 |
| Missouri | State Farm | $100 |
| Montana | State Farm | $92 |
| Nebraska | GEICO | $106 |
| Nevada | State Farm | $106 |
| New Hampshire | State Farm | $91 |
| New Jersey | GEICO | $83 |
| New Mexico | State Farm | $86 |
| New York | Kemper | $117 |
| North Carolina | Farm Bureau | $200 |
| North Dakota | State Farm | $84 |
| Ohio | State Farm | $67 |
| Oklahoma | State Farm | $93 |
| Oregon | State Farm | $77 |
| Pennsylvania | State Farm | $88 |
| Rhode Island | State Farm | $80 |
| South Carolina | American National | $95 |
| South Dakota | State Farm | $100 |
| Tennessee | State Farm | $78 |
| Texas | Farm Bureau | $94 |
| Utah | State Farm | $112 |
| Vermont | State Farm | $58 |
| Virginia | State Farm | $77 |
| Washington | State Farm | $103 |
| West Virginia | State Farm | $92 |
| Wisconsin | State Farm | $75 |
| Wyoming | State Farm | $112 |
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 |
We don't sell your information to third parties.
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 $868 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 | $1,638 |
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 |
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.
We don't sell your information to third parties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any companies that don't check your driving record?
No, every insurance company checks your driving record when applying for coverage. But some companies are more likely to offer cheap coverage to high-risk drivers. This is because companies all weigh your driving history differently.
What makes car insurance high-risk?
You need to have high-risk car insurance if your rates are higher than average because your insurance company believes you’re more likely to make a claim. The car insurance policy itself isn’t really “high-risk,” but the driver is.
Will big insurance companies insure a high-risk driver?
Yes, large insurance companies, including State Farm, GEICO, and others, often insure high-risk drivers. You might have to speak directly with an agent or broker to get a quote, though. If you have multiple violations on your record, you may have to turn to smaller companies that specialize in insurance for high-risk drivers.
How long do you stay on high-risk auto insurance?
You’ll have to stay on high-risk auto insurance and pay more for coverage until companies don’t think you’re more likely to make a claim. This could mean that you’ll have to wait a few years after an accident or a ticket, or that you’ll have to improve your credit score before you’re no longer high-risk.
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.
