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Best High-Risk Car Insurance

Compare providers to obtain the best car insurance if you're a high-risk driver

Elisabeth Christopherson is an accounting professional, fact-checker, and researcher with a background in online education. She has experience reviewing and editing accounting, business, and economic publications.

When you apply for car insurance, the insurance company completes a risk assessment to determine the likelihood that you will file claims down the line. In an insurance company's eyes, many factors play into assessing your liability quotient: your age, gender, credit score, and driving history. Drivers with accidents or traffic violations on their records are often considered "high-risk clients," meaning they are more likely to file a claim and—horrors!—cost the insurance company money.

As a result, "high risk" translates to high premiums. Most of the time, insurance companies will charge more to drivers with any violations or accidents on their record, whether they're applying for a new policy or a current policyholder. In fact, you may well have experienced a rate hike or lost coverage completely after you got a ticket or experienced an accident, even if it wasn't your fault.

Luckily, though, some car insurance companies are willing to take a risk on people after they total a car or even receive a DUI. We recently evaluated all the insurance options out there for high-risk drivers to find the best coverage options. While compiling this data, we looked for companies that offered the best rates and insurance offerings that would be most willing to look past a driver's past and give them another chance. Based on our findings, we selected the following as the best insurance options out there for high-risk drivers.

Below you'll find auto insurance offers available from our advertising partners, followed by our complete in-depth list of the best high-risk car insurance companies we've found.

Best High-Risk Car Insurance of 2024

Best for Minimum Coverage : The General

The General markets itself as a company that will provide auto insurance policies to everyone, including high-risk drivers. In fact, The General is a company that specializes in covering high-risk drivers. The company offers coverage in 46 states, so you will need to verify your state is one of them.

Coverage for even the highest-risk drivers

Several unique discounts

Easy claims process through smartphone app

Low liability coverage

With The General, you can't bundle various insurance policies and save money. However, The General does provide some other great discounts, including:

The General allows customers to handle everything from the quote process to filing claims either online, via the app, or over the phone. Their website and smartphone app also have built-in chat features that give you instant access to a live customer service representative.

Also, with the app's Easy Claims feature, you can start a claim and instantly upload photos all from your phone. This can significantly simplify and speed up the process, resulting in less wait time and tedious back and forth with a claims adjuster.

Given its focus on low-cost, minimum coverage options for high-risk drivers, The General doesn’t offer any special coverage options for customers as some other insurance companies do. However, it does offer Mexico Tourist Auto Insurance policies through partner companies.

Also, it's important to note that while The General meets the state minimum requirements for all 46 states it serves, the company does not offer high dollar amount policies.

According to The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), The General has a customer complaint ratio of 3.28—three times more than the 1.00 industry median. Essentially, this means the NAIC sees that The General receives a higher number of complaints based on its overall size.

Read the full review: The General Car Insurance.

Best for Drivers Needing an SR-22 : Dairyland

Dairyland

In many states, drivers with DUIs, major violations, or a history of uninsured driving need a specific proof of insurance document called an SR-22. However, not all insurance companies will insure high-risk drivers, and not all insurance companies even offer SR-22 documentation.

If your driving history requires that you file an SR-22 with the Department of Motor Vehicles, you can qualify for a Dairyland car insurance plan quickly through its website and get the required SR-22 documentation you need to get back on the road.

Claims service available 24/7 online or via phone

Freedom to choose your own body shop

Highly competitive rates for high-risk drivers

Late payments can lead to loss of coverage

Customer complaints with claims process

No local agents

Surprisingly, Dairyland actually offers an abundance of discounts to customers. These discounts include:

Digital Experience

Like most other insurance companies, Dairyland now offers many services through its website or smartphone app. Potential customers can obtain quotes online, and current customers can use the online portal to access account information, make payments, or pull up ID cards online. The app allows customers to access account info and pay bills straight from their phones.

Unfortunately, Dairyland requires that customers file all claims over the phone—you cannot do it through the online portal or smartphone app. Additionally, customers cannot make changes to their coverage without calling Dairyland directly.

Dairyland has very limited insurance offerings in comparison to larger, more all-around carriers like GEICO. While Dairyland does carry all the auto insurance coverage you could possibly need (and motorcycle insurance), that's about all it offers. No homeowners or life insurance.

Customer satisfaction in the states where Dairyland is available seems consistent with other non-standard insurance providers.

Most complaints about Dairyland Insurance on individual review sites either involved billing issues or slow claims processing. However, many customers said they were impressed with how easy and fast Dairyland made getting a policy.

Best Rates After a DUI : State Farm

State Farm

It's no surprise that most insurance companies dramatically raise rates after a driver receives a DUI. This is likely because National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports show that drunk driving-related accidents kill nearly 30 people daily.

Some insurance companies nearly double rates post-DUI, but State Farm is more tolerant. In fact, on average, State Farm has the lowest rates for drivers with DUIs.

Lowest rates for DUI drivers

Offers Drive Safe & Save discount plan

Provides homeowners and other policies

Pressure to work through local agent

When it comes to discounts, State Farm offers lots of options for safe drivers, safe vehicles, and customer loyalty. These discounts can net you anywhere between 10% and 30% in savings.

One of State Farm's biggest discount options is the Drive Safe & Save plan, which uses a smartphone app to track your driving habits. While you get a discount just for signing up, the longer you drive safely (avoid sudden stops, don't go above a certain speed, etc.), the more savings you rack up. The app gives you feedback on how you're doing.

Like most other insurance companies out there, you can now manage your car insurance account through the State Farm web portal or app. Through these online options, customers can access account information at any time, request roadside assistance, or even file a claim in the event of an auto accident.

Most importantly, the app now allows you to communicate with your State Farm agent anytime, anywhere.

State Farm can become one-stop shopping for all of your insurance needs. In addition to traditional car insurance, State Farm offers coverage for other vehicles, like motorcycles, off-road vehicles, and boats.

State Farm also offers a wide array of other types of insurance, including renters and homeowners policies, life insurance, supplemental medical policies, and even disability insurance options.

State Farm stands out from many other high-risk insurance carriers because of its network of local service agents who "like a good neighbor" are efficient and easy to reach. What's more, J.D. Power ranked State Farm sixth out of 24 insurance companies in its 2021 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study.

Read the full review: State Farm Car Insurance.

Best Rates After a Traffic Violation : GEICO

GEICO

Although it usually takes several driving violations or accidents to label you as "high-risk," many drivers experience rate increases after they are found at fault for just one auto accident or a couple of traffic tickets, which can make it hard for these drivers to maintain their car insurance. However, GEICO offers competitive rates even for drivers with speeding tickets or accidents on their record.

Exceptional discount offerings

Best mobile app experience

High customer service ratings

Limited network of agents

No GAP coverage

Homeowners and other policies underwritten by partner companies

One of GEICO's strengths is the wide variety of discount options it offers. In fact, it offers discounts based on your car's safety features and discounts based on your driving habits and loyalty to the company.

Additionally, GEICO partners with many corporations and associations to provide special discounts to members of those organizations.

GEICO is on the cutting edge when it comes to the digital experience it offers to customers. Once you select a GEICO insurance policy, you can manage it and make changes 24/7 through the online customer portal or smartphone app.

What's more, you can file claims or check pending claims, view and print insurance ID cards, request roadside assistance, or even view vehicle information thanks to GEICO's partnership with CARFAX.

Unlike any other insurance provider on this list, GEICO is compatible with your Amazon Echo, Google Home, and smartphone voice commands, so you can manage your policy or connect with an agent without even lifting a finger.

GEICO offers some of the most comprehensive car insurance in the nation, but it also offers a wide array of other insurance products to customers. In fact, GEICO provides policies for other vehicles like motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, RVs, and boats.

GEICO also offers homeowners and renters insurance and more. Even though some of these are offered through partners, you can still bundle these policies and receive GEICO's impressive multi-policy discount.

GEICO consistently receives outstanding ratings from both customers and industry experts. J.D. Power consistently ranks GEICO high for customer satisfaction.

Customer accolades include GEICO's low rates across the board, willingness to insure high-risk drivers, and outstanding digital experience.

Read the full review: GEICO Car Insurance.

Best Rates for Drivers With Poor Credit : Direct Auto

Direct Auto Insurance

Believe it or not, a low credit score can also impact your insurance premiums and, in some cases, your ability to obtain car insurance. However, Direct Auto promises to work alongside you by providing affordable car insurance while you work on improving your credit score.

Offers high-risk auto insurance even to drivers with bad credit

Can provide SR-22 to drivers who need it

Offers flexible payment options for drivers on a tight budget

Only available in 13 states

Direct Auto may not have the same reputation as companies like GEICO or State Farm, but that doesn't make their discount options less enticing. In fact, Direct Auto offers around a dozen discounts that drivers can qualify for and save 25% or more.

The two most notable discounts through Direct Auto are their Military Discount—which offers 25% off to all active service members—and their Multi-Car Discount of 25% for covering two or more vehicles with Direct Auto. The company also offers discounts to seniors, safe drivers, those who switch to Direct Auto from other companies, homeowners, and more.

Although Direct Auto doesn't offer a smartphone app, it does offer a fairly comprehensive website. Customers can learn more about coverage options, discounts, claims procedures, and payment options on the website. Furthermore, Direct Auto customers can log in to their accounts through the customer portal and pay their bill, print ID cards, or reference policy information.

Direct Auto mainly focuses on providing affordable car insurance for high-risk drivers. However, the company does offer motorcycle insurance, Mexico Auto Insurance, commercial auto policies, and personal car insurance. Furthermore, Direct Auto offers term life insurance and accident medical expense policies—and customers who elect to add these additional policies can save on their car insurance.

Direct Auto holds a high complaint index with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners—for the period 2019-2021, the average complaint index was 3.9, much higher than the industry average for a company of its size.

Compare Best High-Risk Car Insurance Companies

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is a High-Risk Driver?

A high-risk driver is one who, as a result of their liability assessment, is more expensive to insure in a carrier's view because they are more likely to file claims. So they are charged more for their insurance coverage than a lower-risk customer would be.

What Makes You a High-Risk Driver?

Many criteria can place you into a high-risk driver category; some of them are beyond your control, some reflect your driving history, and some don't even relate to cars at all. Those with high-risk status can include:

How Much Will High-Risk Car Insurance Cost?

While exact rates vary based on your state's insurance requirements and other factors, they can be anywhere from 10%–50% more when you're considered a high-risk driver. This can make hundreds of dollars difference in the price of your car insurance premiums.

How Does Being a High-Risk Driver Affect Your Coverage?

Typically, high-risk drivers pay more than low-risk drivers for the same amount of coverage. Additionally, some high-risk drivers won't even qualify for standard car insurance and will require insurance from a company specializing in non-standard auto insurance.

For How Long Are You Considered a High-Risk Driver?

Luckily for you, a bad driving history won't impact your insurance rates forever. In fact, most car insurance companies only look at accident and traffic violation records that span the past three years. Accidents and tickets older than this rarely factor into your insurance rates. However, DUI convictions are an exception to this rule: they typically impact your rates for up to five years.

Will All Insurance Providers Cover High-Risk Drivers?

Unfortunately, no. Some standard insurance carriers won't even offer coverage to drivers with a record or DUI conviction.

What Can You Do to De-Risk Your Driving Coverage?

While some factors like age or gender are outside your control, other factors that increase your driving risk class are completely manageable. In general, experts recommend that you take the following steps to de-risk your driving coverage:

The Bottom Line

Although high-risk drivers often struggle to find car insurance, there are companies out there who will offer you coverage at competitive rates even if your driving history isn't that great. These companies fall basically into two types: non-standard auto insurance carriers, who specialize in coverage for high-risk drivers, and more general providers who don't discriminate among drivers in extending their competitive rates and discounts.

For high-risk drivers, it's not only important to find the best rates and meet their state's required auto-insurance coverage, but it's also important to make sure they receive everything they need from an insurance company, like an SR-22 or other documentation needed to attest they are insurable.

How We Chose the Best High-Risk Car Insurance Companies

When selecting the best car insurance companies for high-risk drivers, we not only considered each company’s ratings with companies like J.D. Power, but we also looked at rate comparisons and discount offerings listed on insurance provider websites and in independent reviews.

megaflopp / Getty Images

National Association of Insurance Commissioners. “The General Refined Results.”

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “Drunk Driving.”

J.D. Power. “U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study.”

National Association of Insurance Commissioners. “National General Insurance National Complaint Index.”