How To Find High-Risk Auto Insurance In Dallas, Texas
It seems like some people are just more prone to accidents or speeding than others, leaving them with a spotty record that earns them a “high-risk” label. That high-risk status is reflected in their premiums which are often quite a bit higher than average. Some car insurance companies won’t even write a policy for some high-risk drivers, so what happens when you have had a few accidents but you still need to find affordable insurance?
Factors That Raise Your Insurance Premiums
Your auto insurance quote isn’t set in stone. In fact, your driving history over time can have a dramatic effect on your rates. If you have a lot of claims, accidents, and tickets then insurance can become quite expensive. Here are some risk factors and their average extra cost:
At-Fault Accidents - If you’ve caused an accident, especially if that accident results in expensive bodily harm, you could become a major insurance risk. Accidents on your record that are your fault can result in an increase of about $767 a year.
Speeding Tickets - You can expect your insurance to increase up to $337 a year after just one ticket, depending on what the violation is. Speeding is a lesser charge but it’s known to be precursor to more risky driving behavior and can add up fast.
DUIs (Drunk or otherwise impaired driving) - A DUI will result in around $90 more a month or $549 annual increases. Not only that, but you could get dropped from your insurance policy entirely. You also risk losing your license or even going to jail.
Where To Find High-Risk Auto Insurance In Dallas
While some of the big-dogs do cover high-risk drivers, like GEICO and Progressive, you might have to go to some smaller companies that specialize in insuring risky drivers. The General and Safe Auto are two of the most well-known names in high-risk driver policies.
Shopping around will be critical because not all high-risk policies will be priced the same. You can find a full report on the cost of high-risk insurance in Dallas on NerdWallet.
If you can’t find a company willing to insure you for various reasons, you can turn to your state’s high-risk insurance pool. In Texas, that’s called the Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association (TAIPA). This is very basic coverage and can be quite costly. It is really only used as a last resort.
Some of the best high-risk auto insurance companies are GEICO, Progressive, 21st Century, Kemper, The General, and Safe Auto. The good news is that over time these blemishes can be wiped away from your record and your rates decreased. It takes time and dedication to not piling on any new infractions, but it can be done. You can also take other steps like taking defensive driving courses or improving your credit score to help lower your rates and make you look more attractive as a customer.
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