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Emily Guy Birken is a former educator, lifelong money nerd, and a Plutus Award-winning freelance writer who specializes in the scientific research behind irrational money behaviors. Her work has appeared on The Huffington Post, Business Insider, Kiplinger’s, MSN Money, and The Washington Post, and she’s been writing for Compare.com since 2023. Her background in education allows her to help people relate to and understand complex financial topics.
She’s the author of several books, including The 5 Years Before You Retire, End Financial Stress Now, and the brand-new book, Stacked: Your Super Serious Guide to Modern Money Management, written with Joe Saul-Sehy.
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Matthew Gross is an editor at Compare.com. With a background in editing and SEO, he’s passionate about creating content that helps readers get the information they need to make more informed decisions. Prior to Compare.com, Matthew brought his user-centered approach to his work with global brands like Apple and Adobe.
Matthew graduated from Illinois State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Journalism.
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Insurance companies consider drivers with at-fault accidents, DUIs, or speeding tickets on their driving records to be high-risk. High-risk drivers typically pay more for insurance than drivers with a clean driving record, but the price increase depends on the infraction and severity.
Even though car insurance companies charge high-risk drivers higher average rates, you can still find cheap car insurance. We’ll explain what you need to know to get coverage and lower your premium as a high-risk driver.
Insurers consider you high risk if you have DUIs, at-fault accidents, and speeding tickets on your driving record.
Drivers with a DUI on their record typically pay the most for auto insurance compared to other driving infractions.
Safe driving habits, taking a defensive driving course, and improving your credit can all help you reduce your risk level.
Insurers consider high-risk drivers as more likely to cause an accident or file an insurance claim. But insurance companies can use other factors to determine if you’re a high-risk driver, including your credit history and age.
On average, drivers with DUIs, at-fault accidents, or speeding tickets pay 38% more for insurance than drivers with clean records, according to Compare.com data.
The table below lists the cheapest car insurance companies for high-risk drivers, according to our data. But remember that rates vary depending on the infraction.
Company  | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| COUNTRY Financial | $96 |
| Auto-Owners | $333 |
| USAA | $335 |
| NJM | $446 |
| Mile Auto | $495 |
| Allstate | $517 |
| State Farm | $517 |
| American Family | $575 |
| Root | $585 |
| Dairyland | $611 |
| CSAA | $631 |
| Nationwide | $738 |
| Travelers | $823 |
| The General | $841 |
| Commonwealth Casualty | $845 |
| Bristol West | $850 |
| Erie | $858 |
| Progressive | $869 |
| Farmers | $871 |
| National General | $884 |
| Elephant | $903 |
| Direct Auto | $940 |
| 21st Century | $996 |
| GAINSCO | $1,081 |
| Shelter | $1,089 |
| Safeco | $1,138 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $1,180 |
| Mercury | $1,242 |
| Foremost | $1,304 |
| State Auto | $1,365 |
| Infinity | $1,425 |
| Clearcover | $1,604 |
| Liberty Mutual | $1,613 |
| Amica | $1,686 |
| Chubb | $1,705 |
| The Hartford | $1,994 |
Driving under the influence (DUI) is a severe offense that insurers take very seriously. On average, drivers with a DUI pay 59% more for auto insurance than drivers with clean records, according to our data. The national average premium rate for drivers with a DUI is $242 per month.
Although you’ll pay higher rates with a DUI than a driver with a clean record, you can still find affordable car insurance. The table below lists the insurance companies offering the cheapest average premiums to drivers with DUIs, according to Compare.com data.
Getting a speeding ticket can also increase your insurance premium. Drivers with speeding tickets pay 27% more for car insurance than drivers with clean records, according to our data. The national average rate for a driver with a recent speeding ticket is $205 per month.
But you can still find affordable car insurance if you have a speeding violation on your record. The companies in the table below offer lower rates for drivers with recent speeding tickets, according to Compare.com data.
Causing an accident can lead to higher insurance premiums because it indicates risky driving behavior to insurers.
Drivers with at-fault accidents pay 31% more for insurance than drivers with clean records, according to our data. The national average insurance rate for drivers with at-fault accidents is $212 per month.
You’ll pay higher rates if you have an at-fault accident on your driving record, but comparing quotes from several companies can help you find cheaper car insurance. The table below highlights insurers with the cheapest rates for drivers with an accident on their record, according to Compare.com data.
In many states, drivers with serious traffic violations must file an SR-22 form proving they meet the minimum insurance requirements. Drivers usually need to file an SR-22 after driving uninsured, driving without a license, repeat traffic violations, or a DUI.
Our research shows that drivers with an SR-22 requirement pay 88% more for car insurance than drivers with clean records. But the companies in the table below offer rates below the average for drivers with an SR-22, according to Compare.com data.
Most states allow insurers to consider your credit history when setting your rates.[1] But California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Michigan prohibit or restrict the use of credit history.[2]
Drivers with poor credit pay 40% more for car insurance than drivers with excellent credit, according to Compare.com’s data. The national average cost of auto insurance for drivers with poor credit is $180 per month, according to our data.
The car insurance companies in the list below offer the cheapest rates for drivers with poor credit, according to Compare.com data.
Young drivers are less experienced behind the wheel, which explains why they’re more than twice as likely to be in a fatal crash.[3]
Teens drivers have the highest rates of any age demographic, paying 78% more for car insurance than older drivers, according to our data. The national average rate for teens is $287 per month.
While teen drivers may pay higher rates, many insurers offer discounts to help them save money on premiums. The table below lists the insurers with the cheapest rates for teen drivers, according to Compare.com data.
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High-risk drivers pay more for car insurance because insurers consider them more likely to file claims than drivers with clean records. The top factors insurers look at when determining your risk level include your driving history, age, and even your credit history. But insurance rates for high-risk drivers can vary a great deal depending on the infraction and type of high-risk driver.
For example, a driver with an at-fault accident on their record pays an average of $150 per month for liability-only coverage and $272 for full coverage. But a driver with a speeding ticket pays an average monthly premium of $145 for liability coverage and $264 for full coverage.
Even though high-risk drivers pay more for car insurance than lower-risk drivers, you can still find many ways to save money on your premiums.
Compare rates for high-risk drivers from top insurance companies.
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If you’re a high-risk driver and need to lower the cost of insurance, consider these strategies:
Be a savvy shopper. All drivers, including high-risk drivers, can reduce their insurance costs by comparing quotes, taking advantage of discounts, and bundling policies.
Commit to safe driving. Safe driving is the best long-term solution for high-risk drivers. Over time, improving your driving record can lower your insurance costs.
Enroll in a defensive driving course. Completing a state-approved defensive driving course can help reduce your auto insurance costs and may remove points from your license, depending on your traffic violation.
Improve your credit. Because drivers with poor credit pay more for insurance, improving your credit can help you lower your costs.
If you’re trying to find cheap car insurance as a high-risk driver, the answers to the following common questions can help.
Insurers consider drivers with traffic infractions, such as speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, and DUIs, as high-risk. Companies also consider drivers with poor credit and teen drivers as high-risk.
Insurance companies typically consider the past three to five years of your driving history to determine your risk level.[4] More serious infractions — like DUIs — can stay on your record for a long as 10 years depending on where you live.
GEICO, State Farm, and Progressive offer some of the lowest rates to high-risk drivers. Keep in mind that one company won’t be the best for every high-risk driver. Comparing quotes from multiple insurance companies will help you find the right insurer for your needs.
Insurance companies charge high-risk drivers more for auto insurance because they’re more likely to get into an accident and file claims than drivers with clean driving records.
Data scientists at Compare.com analyzed more than 50 million real-time auto insurance quotes from more than 75 partner insurers in order to compile the rates and statistics seen in this article. Compare.com’s auto insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers’ vehicles, driving records, insurance histories, and demographic information.
All the rates listed in this article have been collected from a combination of real Compare.com quotes and external insurance rate data gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. Compare.com uses these observations to provide readers with insights into how auto insurance companies determine their premiums.
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Compare.com's #1 goal is to save you money. We publish resources that are based on hard-hitting data and years of industry experience to help you make more informed decisions with your wallet.
Learn more about us, our team, and what makes us tick.
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Emily Guy Birken is a former educator, lifelong money nerd, and a Plutus Award-winning freelance writer who specializes in the scientific research behind irrational money behaviors. Her work has appeared on The Huffington Post, Business Insider, Kiplinger’s, MSN Money, and The Washington Post, and she’s been writing for Compare.com since 2023. Her background in education allows her to help people relate to and understand complex financial topics.
She’s the author of several books, including The 5 Years Before You Retire, End Financial Stress Now, and the brand-new book, Stacked: Your Super Serious Guide to Modern Money Management, written with Joe Saul-Sehy.
Matthew Gross is an editor at Compare.com. With a background in editing and SEO, he’s passionate about creating content that helps readers get the information they need to make more informed decisions. Prior to Compare.com, Matthew brought his user-centered approach to his work with global brands like Apple and Adobe.
Matthew graduated from Illinois State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Journalism.
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