Nonstandard or “high-risk” insurance companies can help provide coverage when others won’t. However, it’s important to know that some of these insurers can offer worse service and fewer coverage options than many standard insurance companies.
NerdWallet recommends researching insurers while you shop. You should compare car insurance quotes to get your cheapest price for your record. It’s also a good idea to check how an insurer’s financial health and reputation for customer service stack up to competitors.
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What is a high-risk driver?
Many companies specialize in high-risk car insurance, but there’s no one definition all carriers use for this category. High-risk drivers may include people who:
Have tickets, at-fault accidents or DUI convictions.
Have allowed their coverage to lapse.
Are newly licensed.
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 prove you have enough insurance after a violation or license suspension. Insurers will file the form with your state’s department of motor vehicles if you need one.
Where to find affordable high-risk auto insurance
Although a few major insurance companies, such as GEICO and Progressive, accept some high-risk drivers, others like Direct 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 for your situation.
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. GEICO and Progressive are the best of this group and the most likely to provide a balance of affordable rates and a strong customer experience.
High-risk car insurance company | 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.
We usually recommend only insurers that we’ve rated 4.5 stars or higher. But many nonstandard companies have lower ratings thanks to large numbers of customer complaints, poor transparency and other factors that may negatively affect their ratings.
How much does high-risk car insurance cost?
High-risk drivers are likely to pay more for full 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 the type of coverage you buy.
A “full coverage” auto insurance policy comes with collision and comprehensive insurance, which help cover most types of damage, including thefts and damage that you’re responsible for. Full coverage is more expensive than minimum coverage because it offers more insurance protection.
Below are the average annual rates for full and 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.
| Driver profile | Full coverage rate | Minimum coverage rate |
|---|---|---|
| Clean driving record, good credit | $2,344 | $644 |
| One speeding ticket, good credit | $3,019 | $832 |
| One at-fault crash, good credit | $3,504 | $941 |
| One DUI, good credit | $4,433 | $1,227 |
| Clean driving record, poor credit | $3,929 | $1,023 |
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 comparing quotes and 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 an at-fault wreck or DUI on their record, as well as newly licensed drivers.
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The cost of car insurance with bad credit
Below are the average annual car insurance rates for drivers with poor credit
| Age | Median full coverage rate | Median minimum coverage rate |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | $4,741 | $1,337 |
| 30 | $2,417 | $660 |
| 35 | $2,344 | $644 |
| 40 | $2,277 | $629 |
| 50 | $2,112 | $591 |
| 60 | $2,028 | $586 |
| 70 | $2,161 | $658 |
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. However, 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, but our September 2026 car insurance rate analysis found that bad credit can double your insurance costs in some other states. Price differences are why it’s important to shop around.
Below are the average annual premiums for full coverage in every state for a 35-year-old driver with poor credit.
| State | Rate for drivers with good credit | Rate for drivers with poor credit |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $2,178 | $3,649 |
| Alaska | $1,650 | $2,947 |
| Arizona | $2,947 | $4,380 |
| Arkansas | $2,642 | $3,794 |
| California | $1,931* | $1,931* |
| Colorado | $3,249 | $5,452 |
| Connecticut | $2,789 | $4,238 |
| Delaware | $2,643 | $5,336 |
| Florida | $3,295 | $5,365 |
| Georgia | $3,136 | $5,432 |
| Hawaii | $1,975* | $1,975* |
| Idaho | $1,998 | $2,864 |
| Illinois | $2,461 | $3,897 |
| Indiana | $1,950 | $3,617 |
| Iowa | $2,228 | $3,527 |
| Kansas | $2,511 | $4,492 |
| Kentucky | $3,259 | $6,566 |
| Louisiana | $4,296 | $6,843 |
| Maine | $1,701 | $2,645 |
| Maryland | $3,052 | $5,227 |
| Massachusetts | $1,851* | $1,851* |
| Michigan | $2,944 | $6,138 |
| Minnesota | $2,508 | $4,269 |
| Mississippi | $2,499 | $3,863 |
| Missouri | $2,622 | $3,810 |
| Montana | $2,778 | $4,623 |
| Nebraska | $1,955 | $3,526 |
| Nevada | $3,428 | $5,036 |
| New Hampshire | $1,568 | $2,522 |
| New Jersey | $3,664 | $6,875 |
| New Mexico | $2,132 | $3,262 |
| New York | $2,674 | $4,855 |
| North Carolina | $1,789 | $2,451 |
| North Dakota | $2,423 | $3,894 |
| Ohio | $1,803 | $3,068 |
| Oklahoma | $2,192 | $3,706 |
| Oregon | $2,187 | $3,608 |
| Pennsylvania | $2,239 | $4,398 |
| Rhode Island | $3,121 | $5,496 |
| South Carolina | $2,288 | $4,400 |
| South Dakota | $2,212 | $4,046 |
| Tennessee | $2,130 | $4,340 |
| Texas | $3,608 | $6,081 |
| Utah | $2,321 | $4,378 |
| Vermont | $1,463 | $2,611 |
| Virginia | $2,151 | $3,950 |
| Washington | $2,333 | $3,374 |
| Washington, D.C. | $2,655 | $5,026 |
| West Virginia | $2,144 | $3,788 |
| Wisconsin | $2,316 | $3,621 |
| Wyoming | $1,148 | $2,870 |
*Credit is not used to price rates in this state.
» 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:
| Age | Median full coverage rate | Median minimum coverage rate |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | $4,741 | $1,337 |
| 30 | $2,417 | $660 |
| 35 | $2,344 | $644 |
| 40 | $2,277 | $629 |
| 50 | $2,112 | $591 |
| 60 | $2,028 | $586 |
| 70 | $2,161 | $658 |
On average, auto insurance rates go up about $1,160 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.
Generally, an accident stays on your insurance record for three to five years, so be sure to shop for auto insurance quotes on those anniversaries.
Below is the average annual premium for full coverage in every state for a 35-year-old driver with one recent at-fault accident.
| State | Rate for drivers with a clean record | Rate after one at-fault accident |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $2,178 | $3,447 |
| Alaska | $1,650 | $2,387 |
| Arizona | $2,947 | $4,365 |
| Arkansas | $2,642 | $4,068 |
| California | $1,931 | $3,479 |
| Colorado | $3,249 | $4,782 |
| Connecticut | $2,789 | $4,410 |
| Delaware | $2,643 | $3,850 |
| Florida | $3,295 | $4,540 |
| Georgia | $3,136 | $4,718 |
| Hawaii | $1,975 | $2,523 |
| Idaho | $1,998 | $3,107 |
| Illinois | $2,461 | $3,428 |
| Indiana | $1,950 | $2,864 |
| Iowa | $2,228 | $3,304 |
| Kansas | $2,511 | $3,790 |
| Kentucky | $3,259 | $4,721 |
| Louisiana | $4,296 | $6,409 |
| Maine | $1,701 | $2,379 |
| Maryland | $3,052 | $4,359 |
| Massachusetts | $1,851 | $2,941 |
| Michigan | $2,944 | $3,876 |
| Minnesota | $2,508 | $3,709 |
| Mississippi | $2,499 | $3,494 |
| Missouri | $2,622 | $3,575 |
| Montana | $2,778 | $4,158 |
| Nebraska | $1,955 | $3,419 |
| Nevada | $3,428 | $5,630 |
| New Hampshire | $1,568 | $2,301 |
| New Jersey | $3,664 | $5,593 |
| New Mexico | $2,132 | $3,312 |
| New York | $2,674 | $3,835 |
| North Carolina | $1,789 | $1,837 |
| North Dakota | $2,423 | $3,375 |
| Ohio | $1,803 | $2,576 |
| Oklahoma | $2,192 | $3,417 |
| Oregon | $2,187 | $3,262 |
| Pennsylvania | $2,239 | $3,306 |
| Rhode Island | $3,121 | $3,944 |
| South Carolina | $2,288 | $3,074 |
| South Dakota | $2,212 | $3,360 |
| Tennessee | $2,130 | $3,481 |
| Texas | $3,608 | $5,322 |
| Utah | $2,321 | $3,848 |
| Vermont | $1,463 | $2,336 |
| Virginia | $2,151 | $3,361 |
| Washington | $2,333 | $3,390 |
| Washington, D.C. | $2,655 | $4,276 |
| West Virginia | $2,144 | $3,479 |
| Wisconsin | $2,316 | $3,338 |
| Wyoming | $1,148 | $2,086 |
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. Depending on your state, you may face additional fines and even a license suspension. Below are the average annual auto insurance rates for a driver with a DUI.
| Age | Median full coverage rate | Median minimum coverage rate |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | $4,741 | $1,337 |
| 30 | $2,417 | $660 |
| 35 | $2,344 | $644 |
| 40 | $2,277 | $629 |
| 50 | $2,112 | $591 |
| 60 | $2,028 | $586 |
| 70 | $2,161 | $658 |
As always, these rates fluctuate significantly depending on state and company. Below are the average annual rates for full coverage in every state for a 35-year-old driver with a recent DUI.
| State | Rate for drivers with a clean record | Rate for drivers with a DUI |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $2,178 | $3,958 |
| Alaska | $1,650 | $2,849 |
| Arizona | $2,947 | $4,461 |
| Arkansas | $2,642 | $4,360 |
| California | $1,931 | $4,948 |
| Colorado | $3,249 | $5,234 |
| Connecticut | $2,789 | $6,257 |
| Delaware | $2,643 | $4,971 |
| Florida | $3,295 | $5,174 |
| Georgia | $3,136 | $4,910 |
| Hawaii | $1,975 | $3,757 |
| Idaho | $1,998 | $3,604 |
| Illinois | $2,461 | $4,178 |
| Indiana | $1,950 | $4,757 |
| Iowa | $2,228 | $4,108 |
| Kansas | $2,511 | $4,758 |
| Kentucky | $3,259 | $6,034 |
| Louisiana | $4,296 | $7,071 |
| Maine | $1,701 | $2,834 |
| Maryland | $3,052 | $4,149 |
| Massachusetts | $1,851 | $3,422 |
| Michigan | $2,944 | $6,794 |
| Minnesota | $2,508 | $4,005 |
| Mississippi | $2,499 | $3,380 |
| Missouri | $2,622 | $4,674 |
| Montana | $2,778 | $4,164 |
| Nebraska | $1,955 | $3,697 |
| Nevada | $3,428 | $5,243 |
| New Hampshire | $1,568 | $2,728 |
| New Jersey | $3,664 | $7,324 |
| New Mexico | $2,132 | $3,869 |
| New York | $2,674 | $5,111 |
| North Carolina | $1,789 | $7,644 |
| North Dakota | $2,423 | $4,165 |
| Ohio | $1,803 | $3,842 |
| Oklahoma | $2,192 | $4,494 |
| Oregon | $2,187 | $3,832 |
| Pennsylvania | $2,239 | $3,731 |
| Rhode Island | $3,121 | $6,382 |
| South Carolina | $2,288 | $4,277 |
| South Dakota | $2,212 | $3,966 |
| Tennessee | $2,130 | $4,387 |
| Texas | $3,608 | $5,045 |
| Utah | $2,321 | $4,265 |
| Vermont | $1,463 | $3,103 |
| Virginia | $2,151 | $3,612 |
| Washington | $2,333 | $3,497 |
| Washington, D.C. | $2,655 | $4,943 |
| West Virginia | $2,144 | $4,314 |
| Wisconsin | $2,316 | $4,070 |
| Wyoming | $1,148 | $2,939 |
Again, shopping around for a high-risk policy is the best way to find the cheapest car insurance available.
Car insurance costs for newly licensed drivers
One possibly unexpected group of drivers that insurers consider high risk is newly licensed drivers. Young drivers usually pay more than older drivers because they’re more likely to be involved in a crash.
According to our September 2026 analysis, car insurance for a young driver who’s 20 years old and gets their own policy is $4,741 per year. That’s compared to average for a 35-year-old, which is $2,344.
Parents can (and often must) include any licensed children on their auto insurance policies. This will raise the cost of a family’s existing policy, but rates tend to be cheaper per person than a standalone policy. Rates for these drivers often get cheaper on average with age.
Age | Median full coverage rate |
|---|---|
16 | $6,965 |
17 | $6,723 |
18 | $6,150 |
19 | $5,395 |
20 | $5,201 |
21 | $4,770 |
22 | $4,624 |
These are annual average rates for drivers who join their parents’ existing policy. Our driver shares a 2023 Toyota Camry LE with two parents, ages 50 and 45.
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. The higher a complaint ratio is compared to 1.00 indicates that a company has had many unsatisfied customers relative to the premiums it has written during the year.
Financial strength: The financial strength of a company tells you how likely it is that 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 AM Best for a variety of reasons, including that the company hasn’t requested a rating or requests not to be rated anymore.
See what you could save on car insurance
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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 (AIPSO).
How to avoid high car insurance rates
Some factors that insurers view as risky, such as age, are outside your control. Others, like owning an exotic 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 September 2026 rate analysis.
Drive safely. You can even take a driver safety course and earn discounts from some companies after completion.
Shop around once your record improves. Try to find companies offering cheaper insurance three years and five years after an accident or traffic violation.
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.
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines.
- 1.IIHS. Teenagers. Accessed Jul 17, 2026.
- 2.National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Consumer Insurance Search Results. Accessed .
Auto insurance ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s auto insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints and discounts. Our “ease of use” category looks at factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim. Using our editorial discretion, we also consider customer satisfaction surveys. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines and full ratings methodology for auto insurance.
Here’s how we evaluated each car insurance company and the weights we placed on each category:
Financial strength (30%).
Consumer complaints (30%).
Ease of use (20%).
Affordability (20%).
The best auto insurers excel at all of these categories. They provide the information people need to make a purchase without any surprises along the way. They offer insurance at a fair price and provide more than one way to buy and manage a policy. They're financially strong and able to keep their customers happy throughout the relationship.
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2022-2024. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
Average rates methodology
NerdWallet averaged rates based on public filings obtained by pricing analytics company Quadrant Information Services. We examined rates for men and women for all ZIP codes in any of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Although it’s one of the largest insurers in the country, Liberty Mutual is not included in our rates analysis due to a lack of publicly available information.
In our analysis, “good drivers” had no moving violations on record; a “good driving” discount was included for this profile. Our “good” credit rates are based on credit score approximations and do not account for proprietary scoring criteria used by insurance providers.
These are median rates, and your rate will vary based on your personal details, state and insurance provider.
Sample drivers had the following coverage limits:
$100,000 bodily injury liability coverage per person.
$300,000 bodily injury liability coverage per crash.
$50,000 property damage liability coverage per crash.
$100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person.
$300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per crash.
Collision coverage with $1,000 deductible.
Comprehensive coverage with $1,000 deductible.
In states where required, minimum additional coverages were added. We used the same assumptions for all other driver profiles, with the following exceptions:
For drivers with minimum coverage, we adjusted the numbers above to reflect only the minimum coverage required by law in the state.
For drivers with one at-fault crash, we added a single at-fault crash costing $10,000 in property damage.
For drivers with a DUI, we added a single drunken-driving violation.
For drivers with a ticket, we added a single speeding violation for driving 16 mph over the speed limit.
We used a 2023 Toyota Camry LE in all cases and assumed 12,000 annual miles driven. We analyzed rates for 35-year-old drivers.
These are rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different.
