The Best High-Risk Auto Insurance in 2024

High-risk drivers pay higher car insurance rates than low-risk drivers, which is why it’s critical to find an affordable provider. State Farm offers consistent low rates, including for high-risk drivers, without compromising on quality.

Good Rates After At-Fault Accidents

After an at-fault accident, the cost of auto insurance typically rises by about 50 percent. A second accident will more than double your rates, with an average increase of 125 percent.

On average, State Farm’s rates go up by about 22 to 28 percent after your first accident. Expect your rates to increase slightly more if the accident caused bodily injury.

And even if you have an accident on your record, you can take advantage of several State Farm discounts:

• Drive Safe & Save: Often, an accident can lead us to drive more carefully in the future. You’ll save up to 30 percent when you demonstrate good habits by tracking your driving on State Farm’s mobile app.
• Vehicle safety: Passive restraints, anti-theft technology, and other safety features earn you a discount. If your car doesn’t have these features, consider installing them or trading in for a safer vehicle.
• Multi-vehicle: If you insure two or more vehicles in your household on the same policy, you can save up to 20 percent.

Save by Bundling

Bundling discounts are a great way to lower your costs if you have a high-risk designation, as they are not contingent on your driving history. State Farm offers other types of insurance policies, and you’ll save when you combine all your insurance needs in one place. Here are some examples:

• Home and condo: State Farm claims that customers can save over $1,100 by insuring homes or condos along with vehicles.
• Renters: State Farm offers low-cost renters insurance and says customers may save over $700 when they combine renters and auto insurance policies.
• Life: Customers can save up to 17 percent by adding a life insurance policy to their auto insurance policy.

GEICO is known for cheap car insurance, and high-risk drivers are no exception. It has the lowest rates for high-risk drivers, on average.

Low Rates for Several High-Risk Categories

GEICO’s rates are competitive for drivers in several different high-risk categories, particularly drivers with bad credit, drivers with speeding tickets, and young drivers:

Multitude of Discounts

GEICO’s large number of discounts are one way it keeps premiums affordable. Even if you have a violation in your driving history, you can take advantage of the following discounts:

Progressive has the lowest rates for drivers with a DUI of the companies in our analysis. It also offers some coverage options you don’t find everywhere, like gap insurance.

Low Rates for Drivers With a DUI

A DUI will classify you as a high-risk driver. Your rates will increase and standard insurers may turn you down or drop your policy. Progressive is unique in that it’s a major provider that not only sells insurance to drivers with a DUI, but also offers competitive rates.

On average, your auto insurance rates will increase by 70 to 75 percent after a DUI, but Progressive’s go up by only about 30 percent.

Non-Owners Option

After a DUI or another serious moving violation, you may need to file an SR-22 (or an FR-44 in Florida or Virginia), even if you don’t own a car. An SR-22 certifies that you hold your state’s minimum coverage.

Non-owner insurance is for people who don’t own cars but still need auto insurance. The high-risk and non-owner categories often overlap for a number of reasons. Here are some examples:

• People who received a DUI or moving violation, or caused an accident in a borrowed car
• Drivers who sold their car after an incident and need an SR-22
• New drivers who got their license to drive a rental car or Zipcar, or to establish in-state residency

High-risk drivers can purchase non-owner insurance from Progressive, and the company will handle filing SR-22s if you need them. The following coverages are available to non-owners:

• Bodily injury liability
• Property damage liability
• Medical payments
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist

Note that non-owners cannot purchase comprehensive or collision coverage because they do not own cars that would need repair. If they get into an accident in a borrowed vehicle, the owner’s insurance will kick in first (including comprehensive and collision coverage). If the limits of the owner’s policy are reached (or the non-owner is explicitly excluded from their policy), the non-owner policy would kick in next.

Among the companies we analyzed, Nationwide has the best rates for drivers with a low credit score. It’s also one of the few major insurers to offer pay-per-mile insurance, which can save you even more money.

Competitive Rates for Bad Credit

Statistically, people with bad credit are more likely to file claims, which is why bad credit is a high-risk designation. In some cases, an insurance provider might deny your coverage based on your credit score.

In every state except California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Michigan, insurance companies can use your credit report as a factor to determine your premium. People with a low credit score may pay 60 percent more for insurance than people with an average score (on the flip side, a high score can save you around 20 percent).

Premium increases due to bad credit vary by state, but the nationwide average is about 75 percent. In many states, having bad credit is worse than a DUI. Nationwide’s rates go up by only about 35 percent, making a great choice for people with bad credit.

Pay-Per-Mile Program

If you drive only occasionally, you can save a lot of money with a pay-per-mile insurance plan. Nationwide is one of the few major insurance providers (along with Allstate) to offer a pay-per-mile option.

Examples of low-mileage, high-risk drivers include DUI offenders who are staying off the road and new drivers who prefer public transportation when available.

With Nationwide’s plan, called Smartmiles, instead of paying a monthly premium, you’ll pay a monthly base rate and a per-mile rate. Here’s an example:

If you drive infrequently or driving less as a result of a violation, we recommend looking into a pay-per-mile plan.

USAA is available only to U.S. military members, veterans, and their spouses and children. The company offers some of the lowest auto insurance rates on the market, including for high-risk drivers.

Good Rates Across High-Risk Categories

If you are eligible for USAA, it is likely the best choice regardless of your high-risk designation:

Several Key Discounts

Many of USAA’s discounts are still available even if you have at-fault accidents or violations on your record:

• SafePilot, which saves you up to 30 percent if you allow USAA to track your driving and you display safe habits after your accident or violation
• Good student, for full-time students under age 25 with a 3.0 GPA or higher
• Defensive driver, for taking an approved course (assuming it was not court-ordered)
• Park on a military base, which can save you up to 15 percent on comprehensive coverage
• Bundling, if you purchase another USAA policy, such as property insurance
• Vehicle features, if your car has certain safety features or an anti-theft device
• Storage, which saves you up to 60 percent if you’re deployed or storing your vehicle for another reason
• Automatic payment, which can save you 3 percent
• Multi-vehicle, for insuring two or more vehicles on the same policy