Car Insurance with Bad Driving Record

People often try to paint having a good driving record or a bad one as a black and white picture. It is actually a little more complex than this. Each company that provides car insurance policies uses different formulas to determine what drivers will pay if they purchase a plan from their company. Since the weight of the variables used in each of these formulas is different from one company to the next, what a person pays will be different depending on the auto insurance provider. For some companies, specific violations are weighted higher. To find the cheapest car insurance for drivers with a bad record, you will need to do some comparison shopping. Either way, purchasing an automobile insurance plan with a bad driving record will likely put you in the higher risk category, making your rates more expensive on average than those of good drivers. Some of the companies that provide lower rates on average for drivers with a bad record on average are listed further on in the article. First, this article explores whether auto insurance is more expensive for bad drivers, how a person’s driving record affects their premiums, and how to get automobile insurance if you have a bad driving record overall.

Is Car Insurance More Expensive For Bad Drivers?

In most cases, bad drivers will have higher costs for car insurance. Depending on the violation, a person’s insurance premium can go up significantly. That said, different tickets have different effects on a person’s auto insurance plan. In many states, auto insurance companies use a point system based on tickets to determine what a person will pay for car insurance premiums. There is a difference between speeding, reckless driving, and a DUI as an example. Some tickets do not have any points attached to them, and these tickets might not raise your auto insurance rates. That said, some insurance providers offer coverage in states that allow them to see more information. Just because your ticket did not come with any points does not mean that the possibility of your insurance rates going up due to the ticket is eliminated completely. Drivers who have been in an at-fault accident can also find themselves paying higher rates for auto insurance. Use the free quote tools here to get estimates for car insurance plans from multiple companies. Comparing prices from multiple companies is the top way to save the most money on your plan while still purchasing a plan that adequately suits your needs.

How Does A Bad Driving Record Affect Car Insurance?

In addition to a person’s driving record affecting car insurance rates, there is another way that a person can be affected. In many states, if a person receives a certain number of points in a certain period of time, their driver’s license can be suspended or revoked. This can create additional inconvenience in terms of getting to work, family, friends, and hobbies. The biggest way having a bad driving record affects car insurance is the rates people pay for a plan, however. With larger violations or larger numbers of points, a person may find themselves needing to have an SR-22 certificate. Having a valid insurance policy is essential, and this certificate verifies you are carrying current and valid insurance. The premiums a person pays by having a bad driving record are higher on average than those with a good driving record.

How To Get Car Insurance With A Bad Driving Record

Getting a car insurance plan while having a bad driving record is often more expensive than the national average. Depending on the type of violation, different companies will provide cheaper insurance rates on average. For speeding tickets, the average increase in rates is just above $330. Racing and reckless driving see larger increases overall, and a DUI can raise a person’s rates by $1,000 or more. The good news is that a bad driving history will not impact your auto insurance rates forever, so long as you clean up your driving record over time. Accidents and traffic violations only stay on a person’s driving record for a limited amount of time. This means if you maintain focused on not having violations and accidents, your bad driving record can become a good driving record over time. DUI convictions can affect insurance rates for a longer period of time, depending on the state you are living in. Getting car insurance with a bad driving record starts with shopping around to find the top car insurance companies for cheap insurance for bad drivers in your area.

Cheapest Car Insurance Companies For Bad Drivers

While many people have researched the best companies to purchase car insurance from, the formulas these companies use can change from one year to the next. This is why it is essential to research car insurance rates every few years. Comparison-shopping is the top way to find the cheapest auto insurance provider for you. There are many factors and variables that go into the cost a person is quoted for their policy. This includes the area a person lives in, their gender, their marital status, their driving record, whether they have a lapse in their insurance plan or not, and the discounts a person can qualify for. That said, Progressive is often listed as one of the top car insurance companies for bad drivers. It is recommended that you get quotes from at least four companies, however, using the free quote tools on this website can help you get the best prices for car insurance available in your area. Time to get started!