Reviews Report
- State Farm is the best provider for high-risk drivers with bad credit, earning a 5 out of 5 Reviews.com score.
- American Family offers the best discounts for high-risk drivers who want an affordable premium.
- High-risk drivers who need SR-22 insurance should consider Safe Auto.
Drivers who struggle to get approved for a standard car insurance policy might need to consider high-risk car insurance. This includes individuals with a poor credit score, messy driving record or lengthy claims history. Auto insurance for high-risk drivers is available through select providers, and the policies tend to be much higher than average.
We did some research to find the best car insurance for high-risk drivers based on criteria like average price, coverage options, and discounts. The providers that came out on top are Geico, State Farm, American Family, Progressive, Safe Auto, Allstate, and Safeco.
The 7 Best Car Insurance for High-Risk Drivers in 2021
- Geico: Best High-Risk Car Insurance for Bad Credit
- State Farm: Best High-Risk Car Insurance for Young Drivers
- American Family: Best High-Risk Car Insurance for Discounts
- Progressive: Best High-Risk Car Insurance for Online Tools
- Safe Auto: Best High-Risk Car Insurance for SR-22 Insurance
- Allstate: Best High-Risk Car Insurance for Policy Bundling
- Safeco: Best High-Risk Car Insurance for Safe Drivers
Compare the Best High Risk Car Insurance Companies
| Reviews.com Score Score is based on company’s customer experience, financial stability, and coverage options. | AM Best Financial Strength AM Best rates insurance providers creditworthiness. Ratings are based on the provider’s ability to follow through with a payout when a consumer files a claim. | J.D. Power Overall Customer Satisfaction* J.D. Power scores are based on surveys for customer satisfaction and product quality. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pin Geico | 4.8 | A++ | 833 | |
| Pin State Farm | 5 | A++ | 847 | |
| Pin American Family | 4.8 | A | 839 | |
| Pin Progressive | 4.4 | A+ | 830 | |
| Pin Safe Auto | 4.3 | A | N/A | |
| Pin Allstate | 4.2 | A+ | 825 | |
| Pin Safeco | 4.4 | A | 826 |
Information accurate as of June 2021
*J.D. Power 2021 Auto Insurance Satisfaction Study average rating across regions. Based on a 1,000-point scale.
Best for Bad Credit
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Long list of discounts
- Highest financial strength rating
- Available nationwide
Cons
- Limited coverage options
- Few online tools and resources
- Very high number of complaints
Available Discounts
- Airbags
- Anti-lock brakes
- Anti-theft system
- Daytime running lights
- New vehicle
- Good driver
- Seat belt use
- Defensive driving course
- Driver’s ed course
- Good student
- Emergency deployment
- Federal employee
- Membership/employee group
- Military
- Multi-vehicle
- Multi-policy
Add-on Coverage
- Roadside assistance
- Rental reimbursement coverage
- Mechanical breakdown coverage
More Geico Reviews
Best for Young Drivers
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Two safe driver rewards program
- Wide variety of discounts available
- Large network of 19,000 agents
- Rideshare insurance
Cons
- Limited coverage options
- Policies can be more expensive than competitors
- Very high number of complaints
Available Discounts
- Steer Clear program
- Drive Safe & Save program
- Accident-free
- Defensive driving course
- Good student
- Good driving
- Driver training course
- Student away at school
- Vehicle safety
- Passive restraint
- Anti-theft
- Multi-policy
- Multi-vehicle
Add-on Coverage
- Car rental and travel expenses coverage
- Ridehsare insurance
- Roadside assistance
More State Farm Reviews
Best for Discounts
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Plenty of add-on coverage options
- Over a dozen discounts
- Good online tools and resources for first-time car insurance buyers
Cons
- Higher than average complaints
- Coverage isn’t available everywhere
- Not the most affordable premiums
Available Discounts
- Multi-policy
- Multi-vehicle
- Loyalty
- Early bird
- Switch providers
- Auto safety equipment
- Defensive driving course
- Good driver
- Low mileage
- KnowYourDrive
- Good student
- TeenSafeDriver
- Away at school
- Young volunteer
- Generational
- AutoPay
- Pay in Full
- Paperless billing
Add-on Coverage
- Gap insurance
- Rental reimbursement coverage
- Accidental death and dismemberment coverage
- Roadside assistance
- Accident forgiveness
- Rideshare insurance
- OEM insurance
- Travel coverage
- ForeverCar coverage
- Diminishing deductible
More American Family Reviews
Best for Online Tools
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Great online tools and resources
- Long list of discounts
- Small and large accident forgiveness is free after a certain number of years
Cons
- High number of complaints
- Poor customer satisfaction rating
- Below average claim satisfaction score
Available Discounts
- Multi-policy
- Multi-vehicle
- Continuous insurance
- Snapshot program
- Teen driver
- Good student
- Distant student
- Homeowner
- Online quote
- Sign online
- Paperless billing
- Pay in full
- AutoPay
- Claim-free
Add-on Coverage
- Deductible savings bank
- Accident forgiveness
- Gap insurance
- Rental car reimbursement
- Custom parts and equipment coverage
- Rideshare insurance
- Roadside assistance
More Progressive Reviews
Best for SR-22 Insurance
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- SR-22 and FR-44 insurance available
- Flexible payment options
- 24/7 customer service
- Month-to-month policies available
Cons
- Coverage is only available in 28 states
- Expensive premiums
- Very basic coverage
Available Discounts
- Switch providers
- Good driver
Add-on Coverage
- Rental car reimbursement
- Roadside assistance
- Accidental death benefit coverage
More Safe Auto Reviews
Best for Policy Bundling
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Wide variety of discounts available
- Milewise pay-per-mile program for infrequent drivers
- Some unique endorsements for extra protection
Cons
- Not the best customer satisfaction rating
- High number of complaints
- Coverage for high-risk drivers can be expensive
Available Discounts
- New car
- Multi-policy
- Smart student
- Anti-lock brakes
- Anti-theft device
- Early signing
- Responsible payer
- Smart student
- AutoPay
- Paperless billing
- Pay in full
- Safe driving club
- Drivewise program
Add-on Coverage
- New car replacement coverage
- Accident forgiveness
- Disappearing deductible
- Rideshare insurance
- Sound system insurance
- Personal umbrella policy
More Allstate Reviews
Best for Safe Drivers
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Affordable coverage
- Easy to get a quote online
- Highly rated mobile app
- Guaranteed repair network
Cons
- Fewer discounts than some competitors
- Can’t buy a policy online
- Above average complaints
Available Discounts
- RightTrack program
- Claim-free
- Defensive driver course
- Vehicle safety features
- Multi-policy
Add-on Coverage
- New vehicle replacement
- Rental car reimbursement
- Accident forgiveness
- Diminishing deductible
- Roadside assistance
More Safeco Reviews
High-Risk Car Insurance: What You Need to Know
High-risk car insurance is a special type of policy for drivers who are considered high-risk. You might be required to purchase high-risk insurance if you have a poor driving record, or have been convicted of a DUI. Drivers who fall into the high-risk category often struggle to get approved for coverage from a preferred provider because they are more likely to file claims in the future.
High-risk driver insurance is often sold by companies that specialize in what’s called non-standard insurance. These companies agree to insure you despite the increased risk, but they charge a much higher rate for it. You may also have to go through a non-standard insurance provider if you’re required to get SR-22 insurance.
SR-22 Insurance
SR-22 insurance isn’t actually a type of insurance. Rather, it’s a special form of proof of high-risk car insurance that verifies you meet your state’s minimum insurance requirements. SR-22 insurance is usually required for drivers who get their license suspended following a major traffic violation, like a DUI.
While some preferred providers offer SR-22 insurance, many do not. Drivers who need SR-22 insurance should consider purchasing a certificate through a non-standard insurance company instead. Because SR-22 insurance isn’t a true type of insurance, there is no monthly premium or deductible. You’ll just pay a filing fee of around $50, as well as an annual renewal fee.
An SR-22 will stay on your record for a certain number of years. The exact length of time depends on the type of offense you committed and how many offenses you have on your record. Typically, an SR-22 is needed for three to five years. Once the SR-22 is removed from your record, your car insurance premium will start to decrease.
When Someone Is Considered a High-Risk Driver
There are a number of factors that can make you a high-risk driver. Here are some of the most common ones:
What to Do If No Insurance Company Will Cover You
If you can’t find an insurance company that will cover you based on your risk profile, you have a few options for high-risk insurance. First, see if you get added to a family member’s car insurance policy as a secondary driver. It’s a simple process, and usually, the insurance company won’t need to verify the driving record and credit score for an additional driver.
Another option is to look into a state-assigned risk pool. Insurance companies in each state volunteer to offer high-risk drivers insurance to reduce the number of uninsured drivers on the road. However, this should only be used as a last resort option. In order to get coverage through a state-assigned insurance pool, you have to prove that you have been denied standard coverage multiple times.
Also keep in mind that state-assigned insurance premiums are much higher than average, and the coverage is very limited. Most states have some type of assigned risk pool, but you can check with your state’s department of insurance to see what’s available where you live.
High-Risk Car Insurance FAQ
Methodology
We evaluated car insurance companies based on discounts, coverage, online resources, financial strength, and customer satisfaction to determine Reviews.com scores and create our best car insurance reviews. To compare car insurance companies with other providers across the board, we calculate each Reviews.com score based on the following:
- Discounts: Auto insurance companies that advertised more discounts received higher scores in our methodology.
- Financial Stability: Reviews.com utilized AM Best ratings to assign a score based on each car insurance company’s financial stability.
- Customer Satisfaction: J.D. Power ranks car insurance companies by customer satisfaction, so we used its 2021 Auto Insurance Satisfaction Study to compare the average rating of insurers across all regions.
- Coverage: Car insurance companies were awarded higher scores for advertised coverages beyond the body liability, property liability, collision and personal injury protection.
- Online Resources: We reviewed the digital resources of each car insurance company and awarded higher scores to insurers with mobile claim estimates, digital insurance cards, and more.
About the Authors
Elizabeth Rivelli is an insurance writer for Reviews.com. Over the last year, she has covered insurance providers, best policies, industry trends and more. Elizabeth has been featured in The Simple Dollar, Bankrate and Coverage.com, among others. She holds a bachelor's degree in Communication Studies from Northeastern University in Boston, MA. The Best Term Life Insurance Companies is Elizabeth’s favorite review on Reviews.com.
