15 years writing about personal finance
Created content for Credit Karma, KeyBank, and Thrivent
Sarah is a freelance writer who covers personal finance and economics. She enjoys delving into the details of insurance, credit, loans, and the labor market.
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10+ years in insurance and personal finance content
30+ years in media, PR, and content creation
Evelyn leads Insurify’s content team. She’s passionate about creating empowering content to help people transform their financial lives and make sound insurance-buying decisions.
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At Insurify, our goal is to help customers compare insurance products and find the best policy for them. We strive to provide open, honest, and unbiased information about the insurance products and services we review. Our hard-working team of data analysts, insurance experts, insurance agents, editors and writers, has put in thousands of hours of research to create the content found on our site.
We do receive compensation when a sale or referral occurs from many of the insurance providers and marketing partners on our site. That may impact which products we display and where they appear on our site. But it does not influence our meticulously researched editorial content, what we write about, or any reviews or recommendations we may make. We do not guarantee favorable reviews or any coverage at all in exchange for compensation.
Table of contents
Speeding tickets, accidents, DUIs, and other moving violations can make it difficult to find affordable car insurance. For example, a speeding ticket pushes the monthly average cost of minimum-coverage car insurance from $105 to $144, according to Insurify data.
The more serious the violation, the more expensive your high-risk auto insurance will become. Some situations, like a DUI, can make it difficult to find coverage at all.
But some car insurance companies cater to people with incidents on their driving records. Comparing rates from multiple companies can help you find the coverage you need at the lowest price available to you.
On average, full-coverage insurance costs $195 per month for a driver with a clean record, $314 for someone with a DUI, and $275 for a driver with an at-fault accident.
If you have a bad record, comparing car insurance quotes from different insurance companies will help you find the best rates.
Taking a defensive driving course or looking for vehicle-based or policy discounts might decrease your insurance rates.
Best for drivers with one at-fault accident: GEICO
User Reviews | 4.0 |
---|---|
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 9 /10 |
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $148/mo |
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $178/mo |
Customers appreciate the reliability and customer service but find the rates to be high and increase frequently, even without claims or accidents. The app has improved, but some find the claims process lacking.
Customers appreciate the reliability and customer service but find the rates to be high and increase frequently, even without claims or accidents. The app has improved, but some find the claims process lacking.
Karen
May 25, 2025
Geico is number 1 in my book
Destiny
May 24, 2025
Great Insurance
Carla
May 19, 2025
Perfect record, but keeps costing more.
If you’ve been a GEICO customer for five years and accident-free during that time, you may be able to buy or earn accident forgiveness, depending on the state where you live.[1] The catch is you’ll have to add accident forgiveness before something happens — you can’t add it after an accident.
Even with a bad driving record, you may qualify for certain GEICO discounts by taking a defensive driving course, using seat belts, and having a car with built-in safety features. You might also qualify for a membership or employee discount if you belong to one of more than 500 organizations that GEICO partners with.
Good rates for good drivers, seniors, and young drivers
Accident forgiveness available
A+ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best
High rates for drivers with certain violations, like DUIs
No rideshare or new car replacement coverage available
Lower customer satisfaction scores from J.D. Power
Best for drivers with DUI or DWI: State Farm
User Reviews | 4.1 |
---|---|
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 9.3 /10 |
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $55/mo |
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $117/mo |
Customers appreciate the insurer’s excellent customer service and personal attention but dislike the high prices and frequent rate increases. They also express frustration with the claims process.
Customers appreciate the insurer’s excellent customer service and personal attention but dislike the high prices and frequent rate increases. They also express frustration with the claims process.
Florinda
May 26, 2025
Too much
Karon
May 25, 2025
Lousy customer service
Peggy
May 25, 2025
Mediocre
State Farm offers some of the lowest rates for drivers with a DUI or DWI on their record. If you’ve been convicted of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or driving while intoxicated, maintaining a clean record going forward should be your top priority for decreasing future premiums. State Farm can help you practice good driving habits and earn a potential discount with its Drive Safe & Save app. The app monitors your driving and alerts you to dangerous behaviors, including turning corners too fast and hard braking.
A DUI can also lead to driver’s license suspension, and your state may require you to file an SR-22 document — as proof of financial responsibility — to get it reinstated. Your State Farm insurance agent should be able to help you with this process.
High rates of customer satisfaction
Rideshare insurance available
Savings for bundling auto with home, renters, condo, or life insurance
No gap insurance offering
May not be the cheapest choice for drivers with violations
Accident forgiveness limited to longtime customers with clean driving records
Best for drivers with speeding tickets: Travelers
User Reviews | 4.7 |
---|---|
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 9 /10 |
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $91/mo |
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $189/mo |
Customers appreciate the insurer’s communicative customer service and efficient claims process. But they’re dissatisfied with the consistent and sometimes significant price increases, even for those with clean driving records.
Customers appreciate the insurer’s communicative customer service and efficient claims process. But they’re dissatisfied with the consistent and sometimes significant price increases, even for those with clean driving records.
Janessa
May 24, 2025
Not Impressed
John
May 12, 2025
Just the same
Shannon
May 10, 2025
I'm tired of being taken advantage of
If you’ve received a speeding ticket, Travelers is one of your best options for affordable auto coverage. You might benefit from purchasing a Responsible Driver Plan from Travelers. These plans provide qualifying drivers with optional insurance coverage features, like accident and minor violation forgiveness. But it’s not clear from the Travelers website what you need to do to qualify for this coverage, so you should talk to an agent to see if you might qualify.
You can also receive discounts for signing up for the company’s telematics program (IntelliDrive), receiving a quote before your current auto policy ends, paying your premium up front, and making consistent, on-time payments.
Accident forgiveness available
Offers discount for hybrid and electric cars
A++ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best
Rideshare coverage not available in all states
High number of negative customer reviews with the Better Business Bureau
Higher-than-average number of complaints with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners
Best for teen drivers with an incident: Auto-Owners
User Reviews | 3.9 |
---|---|
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 8.5 /10 |
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $32/mo |
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $68/mo |
Customers appreciate the friendly service and quick claims process but dislike the constant rate increases and perceived inflexibility in pricing.
Customers appreciate the friendly service and quick claims process but dislike the constant rate increases and perceived inflexibility in pricing.
Jason
May 8, 2025
Stay away from them if you have children. My policy jumped $540 a month, and they will not exclude my daughter from the policy even though she doesn't drive my truck.
Lois
April 20, 2025
Contract
Richard
April 19, 2025
Time to Compare Rates
Auto-Owners has some of the lowest overall car insurance rates for teens. While an incident on their record can raise teens’ rates, Auto-Owners offers several ways to help teens and their parents lower costs.
The insurer offers discounts for good students, students away at school, and teens who enroll in Auto-Owners’ Teen Driver Monitoring system. Multi-car, multi-policy, and safety feature discounts, and available accident forgiveness coverage can also help reduce car insurance costs.
Many teen- and family-friendly discounts
Competitive rates for teen drivers
Not available in every U.S. state
Only a 2.1 star (out of 5) rating, and few reviews, on Trustpilot
Cheapest car insurance with a bad driving record
The cheapest car insurance company for you depends on several factors, including whether you have an at-fault accident, speeding ticket, or driving under the influence (DUI) conviction on your driving record.
Below, you’ll find several insurers that offer low rates, along with their average monthly premiums for three main types of driving violations. COUNTRY Financial, Auto-Owners, and NJM offer some of the lowest average liability-only quotes for drivers with bad records.
Insurance Company | At-Fault Accident | DUI/DWI | Speeding Ticket |
---|---|---|---|
COUNTRY Financial | $22 | $26 | $20 |
Auto-Owners | $41 | $52 | $40 |
NJM | $54 | $49 | $53 |
USAA | $60 | $76 | $57 |
State Farm | $68 | $89 | $65 |
Mile Auto | $71 | $89 | $63 |
Erie | $77 | $90 | $75 |
Allstate | $77 | $98 | $74 |
American Family | $90 | $113 | $87 |
Root | $105 | $94 | $102 |
Nationwide | $111 | $139 | $106 |
CSAA | $114 | $132 | $103 |
Travelers | $117 | $147 | $112 |
National General | $122 | $159 | $119 |
Dairyland | $122 | $156 | $118 |
Safeco | $125 | $139 | $115 |
Commonwealth Casualty | $126 | $163 | $138 |
Direct Auto | $127 | $153 | $117 |
Mercury | $132 | $132 | $125 |
Progressive | $135 | $163 | $124 |
Farmers | $137 | $174 | $131 |
State Auto | $138 | $171 | $132 |
Bristol West | $142 | $179 | $138 |
Chubb | $144 | $184 | $139 |
The General | $144 | $172 | $141 |
GAINSCO | $146 | $200 | $169 |
21st Century | $148 | $180 | $144 |
The Hartford | $167 | $151 | $163 |
AssuranceAmerica | $170 | $235 | $169 |
Elephant | $170 | $217 | $160 |
Shelter | $178 | $168 | $167 |
Clearcover | $192 | $197 | $156 |
Infinity | $200 | $264 | $212 |
Liberty Mutual | $244 | $279 | $236 |
Amica | $269 | $249 | $259 |
Hugo | $294 | $335 | $243 |
How to get car insurance with a bad driving record
Generally, people with poor driving records face higher car insurance costs than people with a clean driving record. But you can take steps to find the most affordable coverage available to you.
Research non-standard insurers. If you’re having trouble finding coverage from a standard insurance company, you can look for ones that specialize in high-risk car insurance. For example, The General says it can cover different types of high-risk drivers, from drivers who have never been insured before to ones with accidents or moving violations.
Check your state’s assigned-risk insurance pool. States that have assigned-risk pools require every insurer operating in the state to participate. When you apply for coverage through the pool, the state will assign your policy to a participating insurer that must offer you coverage.[2] But not every state has an assigned-risk pool, and you’ll generally pay higher rates if you get coverage this way.
Consider pay-per-mile or telematics insurance. Usage-based insurance may be an option worth considering if you don’t drive many miles or are focused on improving your driving skills. Pay-per-mile coverage allows you to pay only for the miles you drive, while telematics policies usually reward good driving with lower rates.
How does a bad driving record affect car insurance?
If you have a bad driving record, you may have trouble finding an insurer that’ll cover your vehicle. And when you do find coverage, it’s almost certainly going to cost more than what a driver with a good record would pay.
Insurers that cover higher-risk drivers take on a higher chance of having to pay out claims for those drivers, so they charge more.
Below, you’ll find national average monthly quotes for liability-only car insurance by driving history and the average increase after each type of incident. Drivers with a DUI or at-fault accident pay the highest average rates.
Liability-Only Rates by Driving History
How to get cheaper car insurance with a bad record
You’ll typically face higher car insurance costs if you have a bad record, but you can take some steps to get the best rate possible for your situation:
Bundle car and home insurance. Some insurers may look more favorably on your record if you have multiple policies with them. So you should consider insurers that can also provide homeowners coverage.
Take a defensive driving course. Depending on your state, you may be able to get points removed from your record if you go to driving school and pass a defensive driving course. Plus, brushing up on your defensive driving skills might help you drive more safely in the future.
Wait for offenses to leave your record. If a past ticket is due for removal from your record soon, you may be better off waiting until your record is clean before shopping for a new policy.
Talk to a broker or agent. If you have a complex driving history, you may want to talk to a professional who can help you explore your options and speak to an underwriting department on your behalf. Be completely honest with them about your record so they have accurate information to work with.
Compare quotes from multiple insurers. Comparison shopping is a good way to find the lowest rates available to you as a high-risk driver. You can use a comparison website to see quotes from multiple companies.
What is considered a bad driving record?
Specifics vary, but insurers generally view driving records as bad if they include major offenses or a pattern of repeated traffic violations. The severity of the infractions on your record also matters.
“Totaling a car is very different from knocking off a mirror,” says Ben Guttman, an insurance broker at North Central Insurance Agency. “Having a speeding ticket for 10 miles over the limit is very different from having a speeding ticket for 30 miles over the limit, where you’re bordering on reckless driving.”
These are the main types of offenses that appear on a driving record:
DUI or DWI: Driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated can lead to fines, license suspension, a prison sentence, and other consequences. You can receive a DUI conviction if you drive while impaired by drugs or alcohol. Even if you seem to be driving normally, you can receive a DUI conviction if the police pull you over and tests show that the concentration of drugs or alcohol in your body exceeds your state’s legal limit.[3]
At-fault accident: If your actions or negligence cause a crash, it appears on your record as an at-fault accident. Potential indications of fault include speeding, texting while driving, driving while intoxicated, failing to respect right of way, rear-ending another vehicle, and not keeping your car in working order. Multiple drivers can be responsible for the same accident if they each contributed to causing it.
Speeding ticket: This is the most common type of traffic violation. You can receive a speeding ticket if a police officer finds that you’re driving above the posted speed limit. You can also get a speeding ticket if you drive faster than an officer finds reasonable given the traffic or weather conditions on the road.[4]
Drivers with bad records FAQs
Learn more about buying insurance with a bad driving record below.
What are the best insurance companies for drivers with bad records?
Some of the best car insurance companies for drivers with bad records are GEICO, State Farm, and Travelers. These insurers offer some of the lowest rates for drivers with traffic violations.
What is the cheapest insurance company for a bad driving record?
COUNTRY Financial, Auto-Owners, and NJM are the three cheapest insurance companies for drivers with bad records. COUNTRY Financial offers liability-only policies that start as low as $20 per month. Auto-Owners and NJM have monthly liability rates of $38 and $52, respectively, for drivers with incidents on their motor vehicle records.
Do all insurance companies check your driving record?
Yes. All car insurance companies check your driving record when you apply because they need to know how risky it is to provide coverage for you. Generally, bad drivers present a higher risk that insurers will have to pay a claim for them.
Why is car insurance more expensive with a bad record?
Car insurance costs more for drivers with bad records because insurers charge higher premiums to higher-risk drivers. Auto insurance companies charge higher premiums to offset the risk of that driver’s behavior leading to claims.
How long will your record be bad after an accident, speeding ticket, or DUI?
How long offenses stay on your record varies by state. Accidents and speeding tickets typically remain on your record for up to five years. A DUI is a more serious violation, and it could stay on your record for 10–15 years or for your entire life, depending on where you live.
What should you do if an insurer denies coverage because of a bad record?
If an insurer denies coverage, you should check with other insurers to see if any of them will sell you a policy. If you can’t find insurance on the private market, your state might have an exchange that will cover you. This option will likely be very expensive.
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 50+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
- Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
- No additional coverage
- Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
- Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
Related articles
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How Long a Speeding Ticket Stays on Your Record
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Tickets vs. Citations: What’s the Difference?
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Does a Speeding Ticket Affect Your Car Insurance?
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Best Car Insurance Companies for High-Risk Drivers
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Find the Cheapest Car Insurance After a DUI
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How Driver’s License Points Affect Car Insurance Rates
Sources
- GEICO. "GEICO Good Driver Plan."
- International Risk Management Institute. "assigned risk plan (AR)."
- Nolo. "DUI and DWI Overview."
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. "Speeding."
Sarah Brodsky is a freelance writer with 15 years of experience covering personal finance and economics. She enjoys delving into the details of insurance, credit, loans, and the labor market. She’s written for publications including Bankrate, CNET, and Investopedia, and she’s created content for brands like Credit Karma, KeyBank, and Thrivent. When she’s not writing, you might find her learning languages or baking pizza. She has an AB in economics from the University of Chicago, and she lives in St. Louis, MO. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
)
10+ years in insurance and personal finance content
30+ years in media, PR, and content creation
Evelyn leads Insurify’s content team. She’s passionate about creating empowering content to help people transform their financial lives and make sound insurance-buying decisions.
Featured in