Car Insurance For Bad Driving Record

Finding the best cheap car insurance with a bad driving record can seem overwhelming at times. Depending on the driving record that you have, you may find that some top car insurance companies will not provide you with cheap car insurance plans. In some cases, a company may not offer you an insurance policy at all, and in other cases, they may only offer you a plan designed for high-risk drivers.

This all depends on how bad your driving record is, including what type of traffic violations are on your driving record. Some people may only be able to get car insurance plans from companies that specialize in insurance for high-risk drivers. Typically, these companies provide higher rates for people with better driving records and specifically target risk your driver’s when advertising their policies. These can include companies like The General, among others.

What Is Car Insurance For A Bad Driving Record?

Car insurance companies use statistics to determine the rates that their auto insurance policyholders pay. There are many variables used to determine these rates, including age, location, the make, year, and model of the car being driven, a person's driving record, and numerous other things. A person's driving record often has a larger impact on car insurance premiums than other variables, making comparison shopping for car insurance more important, and in many cases, more impactful.

Car insurance policies that are designed for people with bad driving records fit into the category of car insurance for bad driving records. These policies are usually provided by companies that weigh the factors of a person's driving record differently than many of the other companies.

What Makes A Bad Driver "Bad"?

There are a few different reasons why people can be considered a high-risk driver. The traffic violations that a person has can have a big impact on this. Some types of traffic violations are different than others, with more severe violations having a higher impact. When looking at a person's driving record, insurance companies that provide auto insurance will look at the accidents a person has on their record as well. Combined with the types of violations involved in the accident, having one or more car crashes on your driving record can put you into the high-risk category.

Outside of the accidents that are on your driving record, automobile insurance companies will look at the claims you have made in the past. Automobile insurance providers will not only look at their own records but also at a consolidated database that provides them with information about claims and accidents that are on record with other insurance providers.

One of the other variables that can affect whether a person is a high-risk driver is whether or not they have lapses in their insurance coverage. For people who failed to pay their bills, their auto insurance policy may be canceled, and their insurance may lapse. People who failed to pay their bills and keep regular automobile insurance are more likely to file claims statistically, for several reasons.

How Does A Bad Driving Record Affect Car Insurance?

If a person has a bad driving record, they are likely to pay higher premiums for auto insurance. While some companies charge less than others to people who have worse driving records, drivers in this category will still end up paying higher than they would if they were in the standard auto insurance category. In some cases, drivers will need to have an SR – 22 on file and with them in order to drive legally.

Multiple violations and specific categories can lead to a driver not being able to purchase an auto insurance policy from any company for a period of time. Auto insurance companies tend to look at driving records of people applying for policies for incidents that have occurred over the last 3 to 5 years. After a period of time, accidents and traffic violations will drop off of a person's driving record and no longer have an effect on their car insurance premiums. Sometimes, when car insurance companies suspect that a person may come back and file an additional claim or that a lawsuit could stem from a particular incident, they will leave information about the incident in the consolidated database for future reference.

How To Get Car Insurance With A Bad Driving Record

To find a car insurance policy as a bad driver, particularly if you are looking for cheap auto insurance plans for your particular situation, involves comparing car insurance companies to find the best rates. Getting free car insurance quotes from multiple companies is one of the best ways to save. Paying for your policy in advance can save you up to 40% or more on your policy, depending on the company. This can help people save hundreds of dollars over the course of a year on their policy.

Regardless of whether your driving record has improved over time or not, it is best to reevaluate your auto insurance needs and get auto insurance quotes from multiple companies every few years. Car insurance providers may have changed how they view variables over that period of time, leading to better rates from other companies.

Keep in mind that you may need to find a car insurance company that specializes in high-risk drivers if traditional auto insurance providers do not offer you a policy. Also, remember that some states allow auto insurance companies to check your credit when you are applying for an auto insurance policy to help determine your rates. Many states do not allow this, so check with your local DMV office for more information.

Cheap Car Insurance Companies For Bad Drivers

There are top insurance providers that are generally more likely to offer better rates than others for drivers with bad driving records. Some of these companies include Progressive, USAA, Auto-Owners insurance, and there are others as well. Because different car insurance providers use different variables to determine their rates, there may be other things in your driving record having an effect. Due to this, it is still recommended to get free auto insurance quotes from a number of different companies to find the best rates for car insurance.

Ways To Prevent A Bad Driving Record

The best way to prevent a bad driving record is to focus on driving safely continuously. If you have been involved in an accident or have had traffic violations that negatively affect the cost of your insurance premiums, take extra care to prevent further violations over the next three years. Drivers should always be focusing on safe driving habits regardless of whether they have had violations or not. Some people also choose to take defensive driver courses, which cannot only provide more education on how to drive safely but can also give extra discounts from certain car insurance providers

You Already Have A Bad Record, Now What?

Just keep focusing on driving safely, comparison-shopping for the best auto insurance rates, and looking for ways to save on car insurance plans is essential. Using the tools on this site, you can get free quotes for auto insurance and find the top rates for car insurance plans.