Most auto insurance providers charge drivers with a poor driving record higher policy rates. However, drivers who take the time to research their auto coverage options can still enjoy the freedom of the open road while paying a reasonable insurance rate. Read on to see why auto insurance providers raise rates for some individuals, discover cheap car insurance options for those with bad driving records, and learn how to lower your coverage costs even if you have auto-related incidents in your past.
Does Having a Bad Driving Record Affect Your Insurance?
Many factors can affect the cost of your auto insurance, including having a bad driving record. You can read this article to learn more about how various factors affect coverage rates and tips for taking them into account.
Depending on factors like how recently your traffic violation or accident occurred and its severity, some auto insurance providers may classify drivers with poor records as high-risk drivers. Insurance providers typically charge drivers in their high-risk category more expensive policy rates because they predict that these drivers will cost them more in insurance payouts.
Cheap Car Insurance for Bad Driving Records
If you have a poor driving record, you’ll likely pay more for your auto insurance. However, that doesn’t mean that you need to break your bank in order to continue affording a car insurance policy. It is possible to find cheap car insurance for those with a bad driving record. It’s also important to remember that many other factors can affect your personal auto insurance rates, including your age and location.
Below is a guide to finding car insurance priced at reasonable rates based on the type of auto-related incident you have on your record:
Cheap Car Insurance For Drivers with a Speeding Ticket
On average, getting a speeding ticket can increase your monthly insurance payments by approximately 22% compared to drivers with a clean driving record, which can equal an annual increase of around $347. Many auto insurance providers see speeding tickets as indicators that a driver might be involved in a more serious accident or violation in the future.
If you have a speeding ticket and you’re looking for your cheapest auto insurance option, consider getting a quote from State Farm. On average, policyholders with State Farm who have a speeding ticket pay $1,528 each year. If you’re a military member or a family member, research insurance quotes from USAA, as their average cost to drivers with a speeding ticket is $1,354 annually. Finally, with an average annual cost of $2,186, Geico may also be a good option for drivers with this traffic violation on their records.
Cheap Car Insurance For an At-Fault Accident
An at-fault auto accident can raise the cost of car insurance by an average of $658 each year, which can lead to an average annual price of about $3,526. This is because an at-fault accident typically involves large payouts from insurance companies, especially if the accident involves physical harm to a pedestrian or another driver.
State Farm may offer the cheapest auto insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident, as their average annual rate for drivers in this category is $1,620. Other insurance providers you may want to request quotes from if you have an at-fault accident on your driving record include:
- USAA: $1534
- American Family: $1768
- Progressive: $2,428
Cheap Car Insurance For a DUI
Having a DUI is often one of the more expensive traffic violations when it comes to the cost of your auto insurance policy. On average, drivers with a DUI can expect to pay $953 more per year for their car coverage. Auto insurance providers often dramatically increase the cost of their policies for drivers with a DUI because this violation can often result in the greatest payouts related to property damage, bodily harm, or even death.
With an average cost of $1,646, American Family typically offers the cheapest policy rates for drivers with a DUI. If you have a DUI on your driving record, you might also want to research the following auto insurance providers that provide cheap average policy costs to their clients:
- State Farm: $1,880
- Progressive: $2,038
Cheap Car Insurance For Reckless Driving
Many states define a reckless driving charge as an incident involving driving dangerously and without care, which could have caused bodily harm or property damage to others. The average cost of an insurance policy for somebody with reckless driving on their record is $2,848 per year.
At an average price of $1,812, State Farm may have the cheapest auto policy rates for someone with a reckless driving charge. Other insurance providers that potentially offer lower rates to drivers with this violation on their record include:
- USAA: $1,682
- Travelers: $1,910
- Geico: $2,265
How To Lower Your Auto Insurance Cost With a Bad Driving Record
Since an array of factors can affect the price of your auto policy, there are ways to potentially reduce your car insurance costs even if you have a bad driving record. Here are some strategies that may help you lower your policy rate despite having a history of auto-related accidents or traffic violations:
- Purchase a safe car: If you’re looking for a new car, look for vehicles that have good safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). You might also search for cars with advanced safety features, such as parking sensors or collision mitigation systems.
- Maintain good credit: Although having a good credit score can’t affect your driving ability or record, it might reduce your auto insurance rates.
- Take a defensive driving course: Some insurance providers give discounted rates to drivers who complete defensive driving courses.
- Get a discount for multiple vehicles: If you combine your auto policy with one or more family members’ policies, some insurance providers will lower your individual rates.
- Follow traffic laws: The best way to reduce your auto insurance costs is to strive to maintain a clean driving record in the future. This can demonstrate to insurance providers that you’re no longer as much of a financial risk and potentially result in reduced coverage prices.
Having a poor driving record can raise your insurance rates, but that doesn’t mean you need to give up your vehicle or driving altogether. There are cheap car insurance options out there for those with good and bad driving records alike. Plus, over time, if you avoid future auto-related incidents or violations, you can lower your insurance rates once more.
At FIXD, our mission is to make car ownership as simple, easy, and affordable as possible. Our research team utilizes the latest automotive data and insights to create tools and resources that help drivers get peace of mind and save money over the life of their car.
