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.
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
10+ years in the insurance and financial services industry
Austin is an assistant manager and former agent with a decade of experience in the property and casualty insurance space. He previously worked with Answer Financial.
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
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Many drivers occasionally commit a traffic offense, but repetitive or serious driving offenses can result in expensive car insurance premiums. In fact, nearly 51% of drivers have driven 15 mph over the speed limit on a freeway, 28% have run a red light, and 23% have driven aggressively at least once in a 30-day period, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s 2021 Traffic Safety Culture Index.[1]
Traffic laws exist to protect drivers and pedestrians, so failure to comply can result in a ticket or other penalty. If you commit a significant traffic offense, you’ll typically receive points on your driving record that can increase your car insurance costs. You’ll also face legal or financial repercussions, depending on your offense.[2]
Quick Facts
On average, full-coverage insurance costs $295 per month for a driver with a clean record, $587 for someone with a DUI, and $422 for a driver with an at-fault accident.
If you have a bad record, comparing 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 car insurance companies for drivers with bad records
Shopping for car insurance with a bad record can be challenging, but many top insurers provide policies to drivers with imperfect driving histories. Below, you’ll find average monthly quotes for liability and full-coverage insurance from some of the best insurance companies available.
These quotes reflect average costs for drivers with a violation on their record. Liability-only quotes range from $139 per month with USAA to $348 per month with CSAA.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
4.3
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
835
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.
$53/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.
$114/mo
A highly recognizable name in car insurance, GEICO is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway. The company started out as the Government Employees Insurance Company, serving U.S. government workers and military personnel. In addition to auto insurance, GEICO also sells homeowner, flood insurance, life insurance, business insurance, and identity protection, among other products. A.M. Best gives GEICO its highest rating for financial stability and credit. However, GEICO has nearly twice as many complaints as expected in the National Association of Insurance Commissioner’s Consumer Complaints Index.
Pros
Good rates for good drivers, seniors, and young drivers
Accident forgiveness available
Cons
High rates for drivers with certain violations, like DUIs
No rideshare or new car replacement coverage available
Unwilling to work with clients. Especially senior citizens on a fixed income.
Janina - September 10, 2023
Verified
Awesome customer service, good prices, easy to deal with.
Kathleen - September 9, 2023
Verified
Good treatment in responding to questions and handling of my accident, especially because I was not at fault. No hesitation in paying the repair bill and then collecting from the at-fault insurance company client's policy.
GEICO offers affordable insurance to drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record. You can add accident forgiveness as part of your car insurance policy in most states for an extra fee if you qualify based on your driving history. With this add-on, you won’t face increased rates or lose good driver discounts for your first at-fault accident. GEICO rewards drivers with free accident forgiveness for maintaining a clean record for a certain period of time.
Even with a bad 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 over 500 organizations that GEICO partners with. GEICO earned an above-average ranking in all regions except for the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and Texas in the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Auto Insurance Study measuring customer satisfaction.
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
4.4
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
842
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.
$52/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.
$109/mo
State Farm has been in business for more than 100 years, and today sells auto and other vehicle insurance, homeowners, life, health, pet, disability, and small business insurance. Available in all 50 states, State Farm car insurance policies offer multiple ways to save, from customizing coverage types, to a robust list of discounts. The company has far fewer complaints than expected for the industry, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioner’s Consumer Complaints Index. State Farm also ranks among the top 10 companies for customer satisfaction in every region on the J.D. Power Overall Customer Satisfaction Index.
Pros
High rates of customer satisfaction
Rideshare insurance available
Cons
No gap insurance offering
May not be the cheapest choice for drivers with violations
I feel like I am being way overcharged for my insurance since I have had no accidents or tickets in the last 10 years.
Theresa - September 14, 2023
Verified
I really enjoyed working with them, I just couldn't keep up with the expensive rates.
Becki - September 13, 2023
Verified
I was 5 stars until the recent increase, without any explanation.
State Farm offers some of the lowest rates for drivers with a DUI or DWIon 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 slamming on the brakes.
You may face driver’s license suspension because of a DUI or another serious offense. To reinstate your license, you first need to provide proof of financial responsibility to your local Department of Motor Vehicles with an SR-22 document. Your State Farm insurance agent should be able to help you with this SR-22 filing process. State Farm earned above-average rankings in J.D. Power customer satisfaction in all regions except California.
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
4.3
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
829
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.
$89/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.
$196/mo
Travelers has been in business for more than 165 years. Today, the company sells auto insurance, homeowners, renters, flood, pet, and other types of insurance. In addition to liability and full-coverage car insurance, Travelers offers gap insurance, rental car reimbursement, roadside assistance, rideshare insurance, new car replacement coverage, and more. Policyholders can save with a number of discounts, including for bundling multiple policies, safe driving, paying in full, student discounts, and more. Travelers has fewer complaints than expected with the National Association of Insurance Commissioner’s Consumer Complaints Index. A.M. Best gives the company an A++ for financial strength.
Pros
Accident forgiveness available
Robust coverage selections and discount offerings
Cons
Rideshare coverage only available in Colorado and Illinois
High number of negative customer reviews with the Better Business Bureau
They have the lowest rates I could find.
Elise - September 11, 2023
Verified
They are one of the few companies writing policies for a full year. All these "discount companies " miss lead you by quoting 6 month policies.
If you’ve received a speeding ticket, Travelers offers 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 features like accident and minor violation forgiveness.
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.
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. USAA, Erie, GEICO, and State Farm offer some of the lowest average quotes for drivers with bad records.
Insurance Company
At-Fault Accident
DUI/DWI
Speeding Ticket
USAA
$152
$211
$142
Erie
$153
$213
$143
GEICO
$179
$249
$168
State Farm
$179
$249
$168
Travelers
$187
$261
$176
Allstate
$209
$291
$196
Kemper
$217
$301
$203
American Family
$226
$314
$212
Progressive
$230
$320
$216
Nationwide
$238
$331
$223
Dairyland
$265
$368
$248
Liberty Mutual
$282
$393
$265
The Hartford
$295
$410
$276
Farmers
$311
$433
$291
Bristol West
$342
$476
$320
CSAA
$380
$529
$356
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
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]
How does a bad driving record affect car insurance?
A bad driving record typically increases the rates that car insurance companies will quote you because insurers that issue a policy to a driver with a bad record take on more risk. They face a higher chance of having to pay out claims for drivers with a bad record, so they charge more to compensate. If you have many serious offenses on your record, finding insurance can be difficult. Insurers may turn you down entirely due to your poor record because they don’t want to take on the risk.
Below, you’ll find average monthly quotes for liability-only and full-coverage car insurance by driving history. Drivers with a DUI or at-fault accident tend to pay the highest average rates. Full-coverage insurance for a driver with a clean record costs $295 a month on average, but $587 for a driver with a DUI.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
How to get car insurance with a bad driving record
You should always shop around before purchasing or renewing a car insurance policy, but it’s especially crucial to get several quotes when you have a bad driving record.[5]
“Every carrier has a different risk tolerance,” Guttman says. Some insurers may be more willing to work with you than others, depending on what their risk pool looks like. By comparing quotes, you can get a full picture of your options and find out which policies are the most affordable.
Follow the steps below to compare quotes through Insurify.
Enter your ZIP code to get started.
Next, enter information about your car’s make and model, as well as specifics for how and when you use your vehicle, whether you’re financing your car, and whether you need to insure a second vehicle.
Enter information about yourself, including your name, birthdate, driver’s license status, and education level.
Check your eligibility for discounts by answering a few questions about your living situation and employment status.
Enter information about your current auto coverage, if applicable.
Share information about the violations on your record. It’s important to answer honestly to ensure accurate quotes.
Enter the address where you park your car.
Provide your email and phone number to save your profile. Then, select your coverage level and see available deals.
How to reduce car insurance costs 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.
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 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.
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.
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 providers 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 to 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
Full-coverage premium averages correspond to the same bodily injury and property damage limits in addition to:
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.
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.
Edited byKatie PowersAuto and Life Insurance Editor
Katie PowersAuto and Life Insurance Editor
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
10+ years in the insurance and financial services industry
Austin is an assistant manager and former agent with a decade of experience in the property and casualty insurance space. He previously worked with Answer Financial.
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
GEICO
State Farm
Travelers
