State Farm, USAA, Nationwide, Geico, Progressive and Travelers are the best high-risk auto insurance companies for drivers with violations such as tickets.
Discover if you are overpaying for car insurance below.
Partner content: This content was created by a business partner of Dow Jones, independent of the MarketWatch newsroom. Links in this article may result in us earning a commission. Learn More
State Farm, USAA, Nationwide, Geico, Progressive and Travelers are the best high-risk auto insurance companies for drivers with violations such as tickets.
Discover if you are overpaying for car insurance below.
Secure. Fast. Free.
For our review of the best high-risk auto insurance companies, we at the MarketWatch MarketWatch Guides Team took an in-depth look at a range of providers. We ranked the best car insurance companies in the industry based on coverage options and average rates for drivers who are in high-risk groups due to their age or infractions.
Generally, drivers in this category pay more for coverage. Below, we’ll explain what makes these six auto insurers affordable options for high-risk drivers.
Key Takeaways:
Here’s how we rated the best insurers for high-risk drivers:
Auto Insurance Provider | Designation | Our Rating |
---|---|---|
Travelers | Most Coverage Options | 9.5 |
State Farm | Best Customer Experience | 9.4 |
USAA | Best for Military Members | 9.2 |
Nationwide | Low Rates for Speeding Tickets | 9.1 |
Geico | Low Rates for Teen Drivers | 9.1 |
Progressive | Low Rates for DUIs | 9.0 |
Drivers in the high-risk category may be there for a single reason or a combination of many. Potential high-risk factors include:
These risk factors are largely what the best high-risk auto insurance companies use when setting premiums since they may increase the likelihood a driver will file a claim. People with very few of these factors are considered low-risk drivers by insurers since they have a smaller probability of filing a claim. As a result, they tend to pay lower premiums.
People with more than one of these factors may be considered high-risk drivers. These motorists will almost certainly face higher premiums and may have trouble finding coverage at all.
*Note: Unless otherwise stated, the average rates quoted in this article are for full–coverage car insurance. Cost data for high-risk drivers uses the profile of a 35-year-old male driver unless otherwise noted. We compare these rates to national averages for the standard driver profile of a 35-year-old with a clean driving record and good credit unless otherwise noted.
In most cases, high-risk car insurance will cost substantially more than the average annual auto insurance premium of $1,730 for full coverage. Your risk factors can add to your premium depending on the reason and provider.
The table below shows leading providers’ average rates for high-risk drivers. These figures are based on the combined averages for several risk factors: a younger driver with a DUI, a ticket for driving 21 to 25 mph over the speed limit and three accidents.
Auto Insurance Provider | Average Annual Rates for High-Risk Drivers |
---|---|
State Farm | $2,006 |
Travelers | $2,099 |
USAA | $2,245 |
Nationwide | $2,511 |
Progressive | $2,714 |
Geico | $2,824 |
The best high-risk car insurance companies all count infractions and risk factors slightly differently. That means the provider that offers the cheapest rates for high-risk drivers in one category may not work well for drivers in other groups.
Being convicted of driving while under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI) is serious enough to earn you criminal penalties in many states. It’s also likely to significantly increase your car insurance premium. In the table below, you’ll find the lowest average rates on car insurance for drivers with a DUI.
Auto Insurance Provider | Average Annual Rate for DUI |
---|---|
State Farm | $2,194 |
Travelers | $2,218 |
Progressive | $2,548 |
USAA | $2,721 |
Nationwide | $3,288 |
Geico | $3,641 |
The best high-risk auto insurance companies assign different levels of severity to speeding tickets based on a driver’s recorded mph over the speed limit. Any speeding ticket or traffic violation will likely raise your rate, but the increase will be higher if you have a more severe infraction.
The following table shows some average rates for drivers ticketed for going 21 to 25 mph over the speed limit.
Auto Insurance Provider | Average Annual Rate for Severe Speeding Tickets |
---|---|
USAA | $1,828 |
State Farm | $1,872 |
Nationwide | $1,878 |
Travelers | $1,970 |
Geico | $2,137 |
Progressive | $2,541 |
Depending on your provider and policy, one at-fault accident may not cause your premium to increase by much. However, having multiple car accidents on your driving history will almost always cause your rate to spike. You’ll find average rates for drivers with three accidents on their driving records in the table below.
Auto Insurance Provider | Average Annual Rate for Multiple Accidents |
---|---|
State Farm | $1,953 |
Travelers | $2,110 |
USAA | $2,187 |
Nationwide | $2,368 |
Geico | $2,694 |
Progressive | $3,052 |
Younger drivers are statistically far more likely to get into collisions. As a result, teen drivers face some of the highest rates on car insurance, even if they have clean driving records. The table below shows the providers with the most affordable average rates for 16 year old drivers.
Auto Insurance Provider | Average Annual Rate for Teens |
---|---|
Nationwide | $4,835 |
Geico | $5,307 |
Travelers | $5,436 |
State Farm | $5,514 |
USAA | $6,431 |
Progressive | $10,139 |
The categories above aren’t the only ones that factor into your car insurance rate. Insurers also use the following variables to determine the rates they charge:
Those with poor driving records often pay more for car insurance, but they have access to the same coverage as other drivers. The best high-risk auto insurance companies offer a similar set of coverage options that most drivers have access to. You’ll also find coverage options that can be added to your car insurance policy depending on your provider.
Every state that requires car insurance requires liability coverage, and some states mandate additional coverage types. Standard insurance coverages include:
The best high-risk auto insurance companies also offer optional coverages. Combining state-required liability and injury protection with the following options gives you what’s known as full coverage auto insurance:
Most insurers offer other nonstandard insurance options, such as roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement and accident forgiveness. These can offer peace of mind and additional support, but they’ll also add to your total cost of coverage.
While State Farm is our top pick overall, your best high-risk car insurance company depends on your situation. In addition to varying rates, providers offer different coverage options, benefits and customer service.
Unfortunately, even the best high-risk car insurance companies will likely charge you high rates if you’re considered a high-risk driver. While there’s little you can do to change your age or driving record, there are some factors that are still within your control as you attempt to find cheap car insurance.
Even if you’re a high-risk driver, your state only requires you to carry minimum coverage. However, requirements from your lender or lessor may force you to purchase additional coverage, such as comprehensive and collision.
Removing unnecessary coverage is an easy way to trim your car insurance bill down, so consider which coverages you can skip.
Raising your auto insurance deductible is another way to reduce your rate. You will, however, have to pay more out of pocket for repairs or a total loss. Weigh that risk alongside any savings you might receive.
Source: Progressive
Many insurance companies offer a discount for completing an approved safe driving course. Completing one of these courses will reduce your rate and has the potential benefit of improving your driving skills and awareness.
Remember, insurance rates are based on risk. If an insurance company gives you a lower rate, it’s because the math suggests you’re less likely to file a claim. This shows how effective defensive driving courses are at reducing accidents and violations.
Being labeled as a higher-risk driver won’t make you ineligible for car insurance discounts. Most insurers will have at least one or two discounts you can take advantage of. These are some of the most common:
California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan have laws preventing insurers from using your credit score as a factor in setting rates. In every other state, your credit score can have a major impact.
Drivers with lower credit scores typically pay higher rates for car insurance than those with better scores. Practicing good financial habits and learning how to improve your credit score can help you get better rates, even if you have multiple infractions on your driving record.
With most car insurance policies, you’ll pay a flat rate for coverage. But the best high-risk auto insurance companies offer usage-based insurance programs that charge you based on how much you actually drive your vehicle.
If you rarely need to drive or can limit your time behind the wheel, using one of these programs could be a good way to save on high-risk auto insurance. Just keep in mind that if you use your car too often, you’ll end up paying more.
Most major providers offer a telematics insurance program that can use data from your phone’s GPS or a device that plugs into your vehicle to monitor your driving habits. If you avoid risky behaviors like accelerating too quickly, slamming on your brakes or looking at your phone while driving, you’ll be rewarded with a lower rate.
However, these programs can also cause your rates to go up. If you practice too many unsafe driving habits, your car insurance could get even more expensive. Our team has also reviewed the best telematics apps.
Getting car insurance quotes from several providers is one of the most important steps in getting cheap coverage from the best high-risk auto insurance companies. As seen from our cost data, the insurer that offers the cheapest rates depends a lot on the motorist who is shopping for insurance.
Even if you’re a high-risk driver, factors other than your driving record or age will come into play. You won’t really know how much an insurance company could charge you until you get a quote. Then, compare rates to find the most affordable car insurance.
In our research, State Farm emerged as our top pick overall for high-risk auto insurance. USAA, Nationwide, Geico, Progressive and Travelers also have a lot to offer drivers in high-risk categories.
Ultimately, the best high-risk insurance provider for you will depend on the factors mentioned earlier. That’s why it’s always wise to compare auto insurance quotes from multiple providers to find the best rates for you and your vehicle.
Below are some frequently asked questions about the best high-risk auto insurance options.
Even the best high-risk auto insurance companies see young drivers as potentially problematic, so they charge this group high premiums. According to our data, the average rate for full-coverage car insurance for teens across the U.S. is $5,298 per year or $442 per month.
Based on our research, we found that State Farm typically offers some of the best rates for high-risk drivers such as those with a DUI or speeding ticket. Other companies to look into include USAA, Progressive, Nationwide and Travelers.
The presence of more than a few risk factors is what leads to high-risk car insurance. These can include a driver’s age or infractions such as DUIs, speeding tickets and multiple accidents.
Drivers can be in the high–risk category for insurance premiums for a variety of reasons. These include:
Some high-risk vehicles can have high insurance premiums compared to other vehicles. An auto insurer may consider a high-powered sports car to carry an increased risk for over-the-limit speeds, for example, and could charge more to cover it.
Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car insurance companies. We collected data on dozens of auto insurance providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the insurers that scored the most points topping the list.
Here are the factors our ratings take into account:
Our credentials:
*Data accurate at time of publication.