It pays to be a safe driver. Or perhaps it’s more accurate to say that it’s costly to be a high risk driver.
People cited for things like DUI and reckless driving can find their finances drained by heavy fines, but that’s only where the costs begin. Since your insurance company will regard you as a higher risk, your car insurance premiums can rise over two times higher than the premiums a safe driver would pay, and it takes 3-5 years to clean your record.
The insurance premium penalty for high risk drivers varies widely from state to state, and it varies by type of violation. In some states, a checkered driving history means a big increase in insurance premiums, in other states the jump in premiums is relatively small. Which states and violations are most costly for high risk drivers?
To find out, WalletHub compared car insurance quotes for different types of drivers from the five largest auto insurers. It’s only fair that people who take the most risks behind the wheel pay for their risky behavior. So we ranked the states by how much insurers penalize risky drivers, with those where premiums rise the most ranked at the top.
Our findings, tips for high risk drivers and details on our methodology can be found below. You can find insurance options for yourself with our car insurance quotes tool below.
Main Findings - Rankings Based On Annual Premium Dollar Increases
|
Overall Rank |
State |
DUI Conviction Annual Premium Increase |
Speeding Over 20 mph Annual Premium Increase |
2 Accidents Annual Premium Increase |
Reckless Driving Annual Premium Increase |
Driving With Suspended License Annual Premium Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisiana | $1,946 (1) | $602 (2) | $2,953 (2) | $1,427 (1) | $1,393 (2) |
| 2 | California | $1,752 (2) | $479 (6) | $2,685 (4) | $959 (6) | $794 (10) |
| 3 | Michigan | $547 (28) | $307 (13) | $4,253 (1) | $778 (7) | $510 (28) |
| 4 | Connecticut | $1,537 (3) | $104 (48) | $2,260 (6) | $983 (3) | $1,328 (3) |
| 5 | Illinois | $1,052 (7) | $260 (21) | $1,924 (12) | $1,074 (2) | $1,129 (4) |
| 6 | New Jersey | $1,290 (5) | $95 (50) | $2,130 (8) | $360 (43) | $1,537 (1) |
| 7 | New York | $1,359 (4) | $332 (9) | $1,727 (13) | $983 (4) | $925 (6) |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $633 (21) | $482 (5) | $2,721 (3) | $749 (9) | $723 (13) |
| 9 | Kentucky | $964 (8) | $258 (23) | $2,216 (7) | $662 (14) | $742 (11) |
| 10 | Maryland | $827 (10) | $529 (4) | $2,015 (9) | $690 (12) | $722 (14) |
| 11 | Alaska | $855 (9) | $693 (1) | $1,191 (28) | $764 (8) | $895 (8) |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $590 (24) | $202 (33) | $2,270 (5) | $373 (41) | $938 (5) |
| 13 | Nevada | $550 (27) | $413 (8) | $1,711 (14) | $698 (11) | $694 (17) |
| 14 | West Virginia | $793 (12) | $251 (24) | $1,643 (15) | $630 (17) | $613 (19) |
| 15 | Florida | $685 (17) | $558 (3) | $1,329 (24) | $620 (18) | $562 (24) |
| 16 | North Carolina | $1,110 (6) | $328 (10) | $1,533 (17) | $358 (44) | $367 (43) |
| 17 | Oklahoma | $442 (39) | $439 (7) | $1,486 (18) | $496 (25) | $684 (18) |
| 18 | Texas | $637 (20) | $177 (36) | $1,359 (22) | $658 (15) | $708 (16) |
| 19 | Minnesota | $720 (15) | $209 (31) | $1,259 (26) | $489 (29) | $798 (9) |
| 20 | Oregon | $378 (45) | $283 (16) | $1,949 (11) | $430 (36) | $430 (40) |
| 21 | Arizona | $639 (19) | $288 (15) | $1,324 (25) | $592 (20) | $592 (21) |
| 22 | Georgia | $624 (22) | $220 (28) | $1,577 (16) | $418 (38) | $477 (32) |
| 23 | Arkansas | $781 (13) | $216 (29) | $799 (45) | $730 (10) | $710 (15) |
| 24 | Mississippi | $412 (41) | $281 (17) | $1,086 (31) | $961 (5) | $439 (38) |
| 25 | Delaware | $504 (31) | $165 (39) | $2,006 (10) | $264 (49) | $222 (49) |
| 26 | Colorado | $539 (29) | $277 (18) | $1,389 (20) | $475 (31) | $465 (34) |
| 27 | New Mexico | $511 (30) | $262 (19) | $1,214 (27) | $572 (21) | $516 (27) |
| 28 | Massachusetts | $756 (14) | $261 (20) | $1,364 (21) | $297 (47) | $319 (47) |
| 29 | Tennessee | $299 (50) | $202 (34) | $952 (35) | $630 (16) | $902 (7) |
| 30 | District of Columbia | $455 (37) | $319 (12) | $1,354 (23) | $350 (46) | $488 (29) |
| 31 | Virginia | $465 (35) | $238 (25) | $1,440 (19) | $410 (39) | $410 (41) |
| 32 | Hawaii | $681 (18) | $135 (44) | $1,075 (32) | $544 (23) | $486 (30) |
| 33 | Washington | $341 (47) | $320 (11) | $1,125 (30) | $401 (40) | $729 (12) |
| 34 | Nebraska | $707 (16) | $139 (43) | $842 (42) | $619 (19) | $607 (20) |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $798 (11) | $25 (51) | $820 (44) | $689 (13) | $550 (26) |
| 36 | Alabama | $620 (23) | $258 (22) | $1,042 (33) | $473 (32) | $452 (37) |
| 37 | South Carolina | $391 (44) | $232 (26) | $1,188 (29) | $495 (26) | $436 (39) |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $503 (32) | $210 (30) | $900 (37) | $491 (28) | $582 (22) |
| 39 | Ohio | $354 (46) | $288 (14) | $1,018 (34) | $452 (35) | $473 (33) |
| 40 | Indiana | $551 (26) | $209 (32) | $683 (49) | $572 (22) | $566 (23) |
| 41 | Missouri | $462 (36) | $200 (35) | $861 (39) | $495 (27) | $486 (31) |
| 42 | Vermont | $568 (25) | $122 (46) | $832 (43) | $430 (37) | $406 (42) |
| 43 | Wyoming | $498 (34) | $141 (42) | $738 (46) | $463 (33) | $455 (36) |
| 44 | South Dakota | $283 (51) | $224 (27) | $938 (36) | $480 (30) | $246 (48) |
| 45 | Maine | $500 (33) | $103 (49) | $859 (40) | $361 (42) | $332 (46) |
| 46 | Kansas | $443 (38) | $175 (37) | $728 (47) | $241 (50) | $550 (25) |
| 47 | Iowa | $429 (40) | $154 (41) | $519 (51) | $455 (34) | $460 (35) |
| 48 | Utah | $410 (42) | $116 (47) | $862 (38) | $265 (48) | $348 (44) |
| 49 | North Dakota | $330 (48) | $173 (38) | $728 (48) | $513 (24) | $216 (50) |
| 50 | Montana | $406 (43) | $154 (40) | $849 (41) | $220 (51) | $193 (51) |
| 51 | Idaho | $314 (49) | $127 (45) | $633 (50) | $351 (45) | $344 (45) |
Average Annual Increase by Traffic Violation
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Detailed Findings - Rankings Based on Percentage Premium Increases
|
Rank |
State |
DUI Conviction % Increase |
Speeding Over 20 mph % Increase |
2 Accidents % Increase |
Reckless Driving % Increase |
Driving With Suspended License % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska ($1,063) | 80% ($1,918) | 65% ($1,756) | 112% ($2,253) | 72% ($1,826) | 84% ($1,957) |
| 2 | Connecticut ($1,535) | 100% ($3,072) | 7% ($1,638) | 147% ($3,795) | 64% ($2,517) | 87% ($2,863) |
| 3 | California ($1,700) | 103% ($3,452) | 28% ($2,179) | 158% ($4,385) | 56% ($2,659) | 47% ($2,494) |
| 4 | North Carolina ($994) | 112% ($2,104) | 33% ($1,322) | 154% ($2,527) | 36% ($1,352) | 37% ($1,361) |
| 5 | Illinois ($1,507) | 70% ($2,559) | 17% ($1,766) | 128% ($3,430) | 71% ($2,580) | 75% ($2,635) |
| 6 | Maryland ($1,626) | 51% ($2,453) | 33% ($2,155) | 124% ($3,641) | 42% ($2,316) | 44% ($2,348) |
| 7 | West Virginia ($1,345) | 59% ($2,138) | 19% ($1,596) | 122% ($2,989) | 47% ($1,975) | 46% ($1,958) |
| 8 | New Hampshire ($1,013) | 79% ($1,811) | 2% ($1,037) | 81% ($1,833) | 68% ($1,702) | 54% ($1,563) |
| 9 | Arkansas ($1,142) | 68% ($1,923) | 19% ($1,359) | 70% ($1,941) | 64% ($1,873) | 62% ($1,852) |
| 10 | Iowa ($715) | 60% ($1,144) | 22% ($870) | 73% ($1,234) | 64% ($1,170) | 64% ($1,175) |
| 11 | Vermont ($852) | 67% ($1,419) | 14% ($974) | 98% ($1,684) | 51% ($1,282) | 48% ($1,257) |
| 12 | New Mexico ($1,120) | 46% ($1,631) | 23% ($1,382) | 108% ($2,335) | 51% ($1,692) | 46% ($1,636) |
| 13 | Wisconsin ($989) | 51% ($1,492) | 21% ($1,200) | 91% ($1,890) | 50% ($1,480) | 59% ($1,572) |
| 14 | Virginia ($1,099) | 42% ($1,563) | 22% ($1,337) | 131% ($2,539) | 37% ($1,509) | 37% ($1,509) |
| 15 | Massachusetts ($1,127) | 67% ($1,884) | 23% ($1,389) | 121% ($2,492) | 26% ($1,425) | 28% ($1,447) |
| 16 | Hawaii ($1,101) | 62% ($1,782) | 12% ($1,235) | 98% ($2,176) | 49% ($1,645) | 44% ($1,587) |
| 17 | Louisiana ($3,147) | 62% ($5,093) | 19% ($3,749) | 94% ($6,100) | 45% ($4,574) | 44% ($4,540) |
| 18 | Indiana ($979) | 56% ($1,530) | 21% ($1,188) | 70% ($1,661) | 58% ($1,551) | 58% ($1,545) |
| 19 | Georgia ($1,325) | 47% ($1,949) | 17% ($1,545) | 119% ($2,902) | 32% ($1,743) | 36% ($1,802) |
| 20 | Alabama ($1,147) | 54% ($1,767) | 23% ($1,405) | 91% ($2,188) | 41% ($1,619) | 39% ($1,598) |
| 21 | Texas ($1,435) | 44% ($2,071) | 12% ($1,612) | 95% ($2,794) | 46% ($2,092) | 49% ($2,143) |
| 22 | Kentucky ($2,001) | 48% ($2,965) | 13% ($2,259) | 111% ($4,217) | 33% ($2,663) | 37% ($2,743) |
| 23 | Idaho ($733) | 43% ($1,048) | 17% ($860) | 86% ($1,366) | 48% ($1,084) | 47% ($1,078) |
| 24 | Maine ($893) | 56% ($1,394) | 12% ($996) | 96% ($1,752) | 40% ($1,254) | 37% ($1,225) |
| 25 | Wyoming ($953) | 52% ($1,451) | 15% ($1,094) | 77% ($1,691) | 49% ($1,416) | 48% ($1,408) |
| 26 | Nebraska ($1,211) | 58% ($1,918) | 11% ($1,350) | 70% ($2,053) | 51% ($1,830) | 50% ($1,819) |
| 27 | Oregon ($1,457) | 26% ($1,835) | 19% ($1,740) | 134% ($3,406) | 30% ($1,887) | 30% ($1,887) |
| 28 | Washington ($1,229) | 28% ($1,570) | 26% ($1,549) | 92% ($2,354) | 33% ($1,630) | 59% ($1,957) |
| 29 | Ohio ($1,131) | 31% ($1,485) | 25% ($1,419) | 90% ($2,149) | 40% ($1,584) | 42% ($1,604) |
| 30 | Oklahoma ($1,583) | 28% ($2,025) | 28% ($2,022) | 94% ($3,069) | 31% ($2,079) | 43% ($2,267) |
| 31 | Kansas ($964) | 46% ($1,407) | 18% ($1,139) | 76% ($1,692) | 25% ($1,205) | 57% ($1,514) |
| 32 | Nevada ($1,870) | 29% ($2,420) | 22% ($2,283) | 92% ($3,580) | 37% ($2,567) | 37% ($2,564) |
| 33 | Florida ($1,729) | 40% ($2,414) | 32% ($2,287) | 77% ($3,058) | 36% ($2,350) | 32% ($2,291) |
| 34 | Missouri ($1,192) | 39% ($1,654) | 17% ($1,392) | 72% ($2,053) | 42% ($1,687) | 41% ($1,678) |
| 35 | Rhode Island ($2,554) | 25% ($3,187) | 19% ($3,036) | 107% ($5,276) | 29% ($3,303) | 28% ($3,277) |
| 36 | South Dakota ($1,046) | 27% ($1,329) | 21% ($1,270) | 90% ($1,984) | 46% ($1,526) | 24% ($1,292) |
| 37 | Mississippi ($1,551) | 27% ($1,963) | 18% ($1,832) | 70% ($2,637) | 62% ($2,512) | 28% ($1,990) |
| 38 | Colorado ($1,569) | 34% ($2,108) | 18% ($1,846) | 89% ($2,958) | 30% ($2,044) | 30% ($2,034) |
| 39 | Arizona ($1,714) | 37% ($2,353) | 17% ($2,002) | 77% ($3,038) | 35% ($2,307) | 35% ($2,307) |
| 40 | District of Columbia ($1,491) | 30% ($1,946) | 21% ($1,810) | 91% ($2,845) | 23% ($1,841) | 33% ($1,979) |
| 41 | New Jersey ($2,722) | 47% ($4,012) | 3% ($2,817) | 78% ($4,852) | 13% ($3,082) | 56% ($4,260) |
| 42 | North Dakota ($991) | 33% ($1,321) | 17% ($1,164) | 73% ($1,719) | 52% ($1,505) | 22% ($1,208) |
| 43 | Delaware ($1,608) | 31% ($2,112) | 10% ($1,773) | 125% ($3,614) | 16% ($1,872) | 14% ($1,830) |
| 44 | Tennessee ($1,537) | 19% ($1,836) | 13% ($1,739) | 62% ($2,489) | 41% ($2,167) | 59% ($2,439) |
| 45 | New York ($2,759) | 49% ($4,118) | 12% ($3,092) | 63% ($4,486) | 36% ($3,742) | 34% ($3,685) |
| 46 | Utah ($1,041) | 39% ($1,451) | 11% ($1,157) | 83% ($1,904) | 25% ($1,306) | 33% ($1,389) |
| 47 | South Carolina ($1,462) | 27% ($1,854) | 16% ($1,694) | 81% ($2,650) | 34% ($1,958) | 30% ($1,898) |
| 48 | Pennsylvania ($2,402) | 25% ($2,992) | 8% ($2,603) | 95% ($4,672) | 16% ($2,775) | 39% ($3,339) |
| 49 | Minnesota ($1,921) | 37% ($2,641) | 11% ($2,130) | 66% ($3,181) | 25% ($2,410) | 42% ($2,720) |
| 50 | Montana ($1,039) | 39% ($1,445) | 15% ($1,193) | 82% ($1,888) | 21% ($1,259) | 19% ($1,232) |
| 51 | Michigan ($6,242) | 9% ($6,789) | 5% ($6,550) | 68% ($10,495) | 12% ($7,020) | 8% ($6,752) |
Average % Increase by Traffic Violation
Average U.S Car Insurance Annual Premiums
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Tips for High Risk Drivers
If your driving history has put you in the high risk category, it’s more important than ever to comparison shop. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind as you weigh your options:
- Take it easy behind the wheel. The best thing you can do to save on insurance is to stop digging yourself into a deeper hole. Get in the habit now of driving defensively so that you don’t add more violations to your record.
- Compare insurers. Each insurance company uses its own standards for judging risk, and some are more willing than others to offer affordable coverage to drivers with a history of serious violations. Some smaller insurers specialize in the high risk market, so you may want to look beyond the big, national brands.
- Take a class. A safe-driving class certified by your state’s DMV may be able to reduce the number of points on your driving record and may also make an insurance company more comfortable writing you a policy.
- Avoid the high-risk pool. While is possible to get insurance from your state’s assigned-risk insurance program, you should treat this as a last resort. You’ll pay lower premiums and have more options if you can get an insurer to write a policy for you directly.
- Check your record. Obtain a copy of your driving record from your state’s DMV or license bureau so that you know what’s on your record and how old the violations are. After a period of as few as three years, some insurers will disregard old violations. Insurers also look at the insurance claims history on your CLUE report from LexisNexis. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you’re entitled to a free copy of that report every 12 months.
- Keep shopping. When your insurance policy comes up for renewal, it’s time to comparison shop again. Even six months of safe driving may make you eligible for savings.
Methodology
In order to determine the impact on car insurance premiums of consumers labeled as high risk, we collected premium quotes from the websites of five of the largest insurance providers in the United States according to SNL Financial. In light of the fact that insurers use numerous variables in pricing their policies, we obtained quotes for five hypothetical consumers, identical save only for their driving history. More specifically, we sought to show the difference in annual insurance premiums among:
- A driver with no traffic violations
- DUI conviction
- 2 accidents in the last 2 years (1 per year)
- Reckless driving conviction
- Ticket for speeding over 20 mph
- Driving with a suspended license
Base case assumptions (a driver with no traffic violations), this case is meant to show the average cost of a policy:
Uninsured Motorist Coverage of $50,000 (where available)
|
Base Case – Experienced Male Driver |
|
|---|---|
|
|
|
| Annual Mileage: 16,000 | |
| Licensed: 21 Years / Age: 37 Years | |
| Marital Status and Gender: Single Male Employment Status/ Profession: Job that is not eligible for discounts |
|
| Commute: 20 miles each way Days per week: 5 Days |
|
| Vehicle: 2008 Honda Accord LX, 4 cyl., Sedan | |
| Assume driver side air bag, standard performance, no anti-theft device. | |
| COVERAGE: | |
| Bodily Injury Liability coverage of $50,000/$100,000 | |
| Property Damage Liability of $50,000 | |
| Minimum Personal Injury Protection or MedPay coverage in states where required | |
| Underinsured Motorist Coverage of $50,000 (where available) | |
| Collision with deductible of $1,000 | |
| Comprehensive with deductible of $1,000 | |
After the baseline quotes were obtained, we then used the same information as the baseline and only altered the driver’s history so we can learn how much more drivers would be paying on car insurance premiums based on the different traffic violations they have had.
Where we were unable to match the coverage details to the above specifications, we chose the value closest to our base case data. Where applicable, taxes have been included in the quote.
In order to receive a quote from the insurance provider websites, a specific ZIP code was required. For each state in which the company was active, we chose ZIP codes where the average household income was closest to the average income for the state as a whole.
Overall ranks were obtained by averaging the cost difference across all violation versus the base case, both in absolute dollars and as a percentage. States with the largest difference – those where high risk drivers pay the biggest increase in premiums compared to safe drivers – are ranked highest.
