The Best High-Risk Auto Insurance Companies

These companies serve drivers with poor credit, a lapse in coverage, or a DUI or accident on their record.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What is a high-risk driver?
• Where to find affordable high-risk auto insurance
• The best high-risk auto insurance companies
• How much does high-risk car insurance cost?
• Evaluating high-risk auto insurance companies
• If no car insurance company will accept you
• How to avoid high car insurance rates

HIDE 

If you’re having trouble getting car insurance because of a lapse in coverage, an at-fault car accident, bad credit or a DUI, you may need a policy from a nonstandard insurer, also known as a high-risk auto insurance company. Nonstandard companies sell car insurance to drivers who are the riskiest to cover and may not be able to find policies from standard companies.

High-risk insurance companies typically charge customers higher rates than standard insurers.

What is a high-risk driver?

Not every “high-risk driver” has a bad driving record. The high-risk category includes a large swath of drivers, many of whom can’t get coverage from major insurers.

Many companies specialize in high-risk car insurance, but there’s no single definition all carriers use. High-risk drivers may include people who:

• Have tickets, at-fault accidents or DUI convictions.

• Have allowed their coverage to lapse.

• Are newly licensed.

• Are elderly.

• Have poor credit.

• Own an exotic or high-powered vehicle.

High-risk auto insurance companies will typically cover drivers who need an SR-22 or an FR-44, which certify you have enough insurance after a violation. Insurers will file the form with your state’s department of motor vehicles if you need one.

» MORE: How much car insurance rates go up after an accident

Where to find affordable high-risk auto insurance

Although a few major insurance companies, such as Geico and Progressive, do accept some high-risk drivers, others like Safe Auto and The General specialize in them. Depending on the risk factor in question, any of these companies could offer the lowest car insurance rates.

Certain agencies and brokers like Good2Go and Freeway Insurance also provide nonstandard insurance. Brokers charge an additional fee that they’re typically required to disclose. If you use one, ask if there are any additional fees not included in your car insurance quote.

The best high-risk auto insurance companies

If you’re considered a high-risk driver, shopping around for the best rates is crucial because each insurer prices policies differently. NerdWallet has evaluated both traditional and nonstandard auto insurance companies. Here’s a list of ratings for insurers that offer policies to at least some high-risk drivers.

High-risk car insurance company	NerdWallet rating
Geico	4.5 NerdWallet rating
Progressive	5.0 NerdWallet rating
Direct Auto Insurance	3.5 NerdWallet rating
Infinity Insurance	2.5 NerdWallet rating
21st Century	3.0 NerdWallet rating
Acceptance	2.0 NerdWallet rating
Bristol West	3.0 NerdWallet rating
The General Insurance	2.5 NerdWallet rating
Kemper	3.0 NerdWallet rating
National General Insurance	3.0 NerdWallet rating
Safe Auto	2.5 NerdWallet rating
Dairyland	2.5 NerdWallet rating
Gainsco	2.0 NerdWallet rating

NerdWallet’s auto insurance ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account pricing and discounts, the ease of filing a claim, website transparency, financial strength, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and other considerations.

How much does high-risk car insurance cost?

High-risk drivers are likely to pay more than $565 per year, the average national cost for minimum coverage car insurance according to NerdWallet’s rate analysis. But auto insurance rates at every risk level vary widely depending on your age, driving history, location and other factors, like the type of coverage you buy.

For instance, “full coverage” auto insurance can cost more than double what you’d pay for minimum coverage. Full coverage refers to a combination of different car insurance coverages, including higher liability limits, collision and comprehensive insurance.

Below are the average annual rates for minimum coverage for drivers with bad credit, an at-fault accident or a DUI, as compared to drivers with good credit and a clean driving history.

If you don’t want to skimp on coverage, you can change insurance companies to find a better deal. High-risk drivers, like all drivers, can find the cheapest insurance rates by shopping around.

We can’t predict what your exact rate will be, but we can provide averages for drivers with high-risk profiles. This includes consumers with bad credit or with an at-fault wreck or DUI on their record.

The cost of car insurance with bad credit

Below are the average annual car insurance rates for drivers with poor credit.

Driver age	Full coverage	Minimum coverage
25	$3,373	$1,164
40	$2,812	$984

Full coverage rates listed include liability, comprehensive, collision and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

Insurers in most states use a credit-based insurance score, which is slightly different from your regular credit score, to help determine how likely you are to file a claim. Your regular credit score is typically a good indicator of your credit-based insurance score.

Using credit history to calculate car insurance rates is illegal in California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan, but our 2021 car insurance rate analysis found that bad credit can double your insurance costs in other states. That’s why it’s important to shop around.

Below are the average annual premiums for minimum coverage in every state for a 25-year-old driver with poor credit.

State	Annual premium (minimum coverage)
Alabama	$1,024
Alaska	$707
Arizona	$1,182
Arkansas	$1,090
California*	$757
Colorado	$1,033
Connecticut	$1,905
Delaware	$1,600
Florida	$1,982
Georgia	$1,406
Hawaii*	$326
Idaho	$612
Illinois	$1,029
Indiana	$907
Iowa	$593
Kansas	$928
Kentucky	$1,641
Louisiana	$1,813
Maine	$776
Maryland	$1,645
Massachusetts*	$479
Michigan*	$1,210
Minnesota	$1,274
Mississippi	$964
Missouri	$977
Montana	$670
Nebraska	$902
Nevada	$1,440
New Hampshire	$1,086
New Jersey	$1,559
New Mexico	$792
New York	$2,724
North Carolina	$544
North Dakota	$698
Ohio	$826
Oklahoma	$832
Oregon	$1,279
Pennsylvania	$846
Rhode Island	$1,663
South Carolina	$1,409
South Dakota	$627
Tennessee	$941
Texas	$1,121
Utah	$1,154
Vermont	$670
Virginia	$1,063
Washington	$873
Washington, D.C.	$1,335
West Virginia	$991
Wisconsin	$2,058
Wyoming	$562
*Using credit history to calculate car insurance rates is illegal in these states.

» MORE: Average car insurance costs

Car insurance costs for drivers with an at-fault accident

National average car insurance rates for drivers with an at-fault accident are as follows:

Driver age	Full coverage	Minimum coverage
25	$2,848	$1,023
40	$2,439	$884

On average, auto insurance rates go up about 50% after an at-fault accident, according to NerdWallet analysis. In addition to a base-rate increase for the wreck, you may lose any “good driver” discounts associated with your policy. Other marks on your record and the severity of the accident will determine how much your rates increase.

Below is the average annual premium for minimum coverage in every state for a 25-year-old driver with one at-fault accident.

State	Annual premium (minimum coverage)
Alabama	$881
Alaska	$707
Arizona	$1,013
Arkansas	$899
California	$1,386
Colorado	$940
Connecticut	$1,567
Delaware	$1,306
Florida	$1,078
Georgia	$1,444
Hawaii	$449
Idaho	$570
Illinois	$869
Indiana	$703
Iowa	$445
Kansas	$806
Kentucky	$1,440
Louisiana	$1,674
Maine	$677
Maryland	$1,414
Massachusetts	$818
Michigan	$1,719
Minnesota	$1,031
Mississippi	$938
Missouri	$796
Montana	$598
Nebraska	$718
Nevada	$1,445
New Hampshire	$730
New Jersey	$1,434
New Mexico	$687
New York	$1,749
North Carolina	$775
North Dakota	$602
Ohio	$649
Oklahoma	$804
Oregon	$1,169
Pennsylvania	$767
Rhode Island	$1,485
South Carolina	$1,074
South Dakota	$459
Tennessee	$777
Texas	$1,120
Utah	$1,004
Vermont	$564
Virginia	$899
Washington	$870
Washington, D.C.	$1,118
West Virginia	$866
Wisconsin	$598
Wyoming	$501

An accident generally affects car insurance rates for three to five years, so be sure to shop for auto insurance quotes on those anniversaries.

» MORE: How long auto accidents can affect your insurance rates

Car insurance costs for drivers with a DUI

Having a DUI on your record could nearly double your car insurance rates, according to NerdWallet’s analysis. Below are the average annual auto insurance rates for a driver with a DUI.

Driver age	Full coverage	Minimum coverage
25	$3,656	$1,343
40	$3,114	$1,152

» MORE: DWI vs. DUI: understanding the difference

As always, these rates fluctuate significantly depending on state and company. Below are the average annual rates for minimum coverage in every state for a 25-year-old driver with a history of DUI.

State	Annual premium (minimum coverage)
Alabama	$1,054
Alaska	$762
Arizona	$1,407
Arkansas	$1,088
California	$1,942
Colorado	$1,203
Connecticut	$2,123
Delaware	$1,786
Florida	$1,317
Georgia	$1,690
Hawaii	$1,182
Idaho	$692
Illinois	$1,084
Indiana	$911
Iowa	$554
Kansas	$1,048
Kentucky	$1,915
Louisiana	$2,546
Maine	$680
Maryland	$1,665
Massachusetts	$901
Michigan	$3,718
Minnesota	$1,429
Mississippi	$1,002
Missouri	$936
Montana	$706
Nebraska	$763
Nevada	$1,721
New Hampshire	$968
New Jersey	$1,760
New Mexico	$879
New York	$2,038
North Carolina	$935
North Dakota	$625
Ohio	$913
Oklahoma	$827
Oregon	$1,352
Pennsylvania	$987
Rhode Island	$2,103
South Carolina	$1,292
South Dakota	$575
Tennessee	$1,088
Texas	$1,363
Utah	$1,224
Vermont	$687
Virginia	$1,198
Washington	$1,130
Washington, D.C.	$1,273
West Virginia	$1,098
Wisconsin	$796
Wyoming	$659

Again, shopping around for a high-risk policy is the best way to find the cheapest policy available.

» MORE: Find the best cheap car insurance after a DUI 

Evaluating high-risk auto insurance companies

As you compare high-risk car insurance options, look for a company that is financially strong (so you can be confident it’ll be able to pay claims) and that doesn’t have too many complaints.

Here’s what you should evaluate:

Complaints: The National Association of Insurance Commissioners collects data on complaints about insurance companies and calculates a ratio for each type of insurance. The NAIC’s ratios are based on the number of complaints filed against an insurance company with state regulators, adjusted for market share. The national median is 1.00. Very high complaint ratios — higher than 1.7 — are out of the ordinary and often indicate a company has had many unsatisfied customers relative to the value of premiums it has written during the year.

Financial strength: The financial strength of a company tells you how likely it is the insurer can pay a claim. An insurer with any of the A grades is a safe bet, but not all car insurance companies have a financial strength rating. A company could be unrated by A.M. Best for a variety of reasons, including that the company hasn’t requested a rating or requests not to be rated anymore.

If no car insurance company will accept you

Even after applying to several nonstandard insurance companies, you may still be denied coverage. As a last resort, you can turn to your state’s high-risk insurance pool through the Automobile Insurance Plan Service Office.

How to avoid high car insurance rates

Some factors that insurers view as risky, such as age, are outside your control. Others, like owning a fancy car, may not be things you want to change. In general, here are some ways to get out of the high-risk insurance category (and lower your rates) as soon as possible:

• Take steps to improve your credit. Drivers with poor credit and a clean driving record can pay almost as much for car insurance as a driver with a DUI, according to NerdWallet’s 2021 rate analysis.

• Drive safely. You can even take a driver safety course and earn discounts from some companies after completion.

• Shop for better insurance rates three years and five years after a traffic violation conviction.

• Don’t let your auto insurance lapse. Drivers with a gap in coverage are labeled high-risk, even if they don’t own a car. Non-owner car insurance can help you avoid being labeled as a high-risk driver.

Ready to shop? NerdWallet’s car insurance comparison tool can help you find rates.