A bad driving record can make it harder for you to find car insurance, and it can also make it more expensive if you find it. Insurers consider your driving record to be very important to them. That is why you will usually have to pay a higher premium if you have a bad driving record. They use it as a means of determining how risky granting you a policy will be.
You might need to shop for a new policy if you have recently experienced a serious traffic violation or your third minor violation in a row. If your previous provider has not been able to insure you in the future, they may increase your rates or serve you with a non-renewal notice. Here are some tips on finding car insurance when your driving record is bad.
What you need to know
- Your driving record will be checked by an insurance company. Hiding a poor record won’t work.
- After three to five years, older violations on your driving record should disappear from your record as well
- .It is important to keep in mind that newer violations on your record are more damaging than older violations.
- High-risk drivers can be covered by some insurance companies, but the premiums may be higher.
- You should ask about any discounts you may be able to get when shopping for a policy. Even high-risk insurers may be able to provide them.
Tell the truth about your record
A number of different factors, such as speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, and DUI convictions, could increase the cost of your insurance or make it harder for you to get coverage.
The best thing you can do if you have a bad driving record is to be upfront about it. If you try to hide your bad driving record, you may receive inaccurate quotes. The company could raise your rates or refuse to insure you after running a report on you. To get a quote that is accurate, you must provide accurate information.
Providers of non-standard insurance should be considered
Search for companies that offer non-standard auto policies. High-risk drivers can be insured by these companies, making your search easier. Your state may require an SR 22 filing. A high-risk insurer is often willing to cover drivers who need an SR 22, because it certifies that they have adequate insurance.
Important
It can also be helpful to speak with an agent who deals regularly with high-risk drivers and can help you find the right provider for your needs.
If necessary, reduce coverage
It is well known that insurance rates can skyrocket when a driver has a poor driving record. Eliminating comprehensive and collision coverage can allow you to lower your overall insurance costs.
In case you feel your car is too nice to drive without comprehensive coverage, you may want to sell it. Think about buying something more affordable. In the meantime, if you want to drive a used midsize car with good safety features, one that you feel comfortable driving without comprehensive and collision coverage, that might be the solution.
Important
There is generally a rule of thumb that comprehensive/collision coverage may not be profitable if the value of your car is less than ten times the amount of your premiums.
Get discounts
Getting a ticket or other traffic violation won’t qualify you for your good driver discount, but you might still be eligible for other insurance discounts. Even high-risk insurance companies offer discounts for financial stability and home ownership. The possibility of receiving discounts on multiple policies and multu-car is also available, as well as rewards for academic excellence or previous insurance discounts.
Don’t forget to ask your insurance agent if you missed any discounts.
Your payment plan will save you money
Depending on the payment plan you choose, you can save money. Let the insurance company know if you’re able to pay in full up front, which may result in a discount. You can also save money by making automatic payments from your bank account or credit card, rather than mailing checks or initiating electronic payments manually.
Let's wait
There may be certain issues on your report that remain on your record for a specific period of time, usually three to five years, but this can vary from state to state. Bad driving records don’t stick with you forever. A ticket from the past three months will weigh more than one from five years ago, for example. Recent events carry more weight than older ones.
As long as you maintain a clean driving record and avoid any tickets, you will be able to lower your insurance premiums in the future. You can also improve your chances of getting insurance by working on your credit during this time.
Please note
As with credit scores, insurance scores are based on the information contained in your credit report, and they can be used by insurance companies as a statistical tool to estimate the likelihood that you will file a claim in the near future.
Stay protected by staying insured
It is common for high-risk drivers to have difficulty staying insured. If you fail to maintain your car insurance, you may continue to pay high-risk rates for a long time after your points have run out, even after your points have expired. If you fail to keep your auto insurance active, you may continue to pay high-risk rates for a long time.
You should always continue to pay your premiums. Keep your insurance coverage now so that you will be able to benefit from lower premiums in the future.