What Is Non-Standard Auto Insurance?
Key takeaways
- Non-standard car insurance is for high-risk drivers.
- It usually costs more than standard car insurance.
- Some car insurance companies specialize in non-standard coverage.
How does non-standard car insurance work?
Non-standard car insurance usually provides the minimum amount of liability car insurance your state requires so you can drive legally. Liability car insurance helps cover the property damage, medical and legal expenses of others after you cause an accident.
Some states also require uninsured and underinsured motorist Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage protects you and your passengers if you’re in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have car insurance or doesn’t have enough of it. coverage or personal injury protection Personal injury protection, or PIP, covers you and your passengers if you’re injured in an accident, no matter who causes the crash. . In those states, these would also be included in your non-standard car insurance policy.
Do I need non-standard car insurance?
- Being a new, young or foreign driver
- License suspension
- Multiple speeding tickets
- Extensive accident history
- Reckless driving
- DUI convictions
- Driving without a license
- Extensive insurance claim history
- Lapse of car insurance coverage
- Poor premium payment history
- Poor credit
- Owning a rebuilt or modified car
While all of these can cause you to need high-risk car insurance, many of them drop off your record over time or, in the case of new and young drivers, pass as you get older or gain experience. At that point you can buy standard car insurance instead.
How do I get a non-standard car insurance policy?
Some companies that specialize in non-standard car insurance policies:
- Dairyland
- The General
- Infinity
- DirectAuto
The amount of coverage an auto insurance company offers in a non-standard policy may be different from a standard policy.
How much is non-standard auto insurance?
Teen driver rates are 203% higher than the national average adult rate of $2,101 a year. Drivers with DUIs pay 85% more than the national average rate for drivers with clean records.
Other factors that can affect your car insurance rate include your ZIP code and the make and model of your car.
Average annual rates for teen drivers and DUIs
| Company | 18-year-old driver | DUI conviction | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Allstate | $8,547 | $4,680 |
 | American Family | $6,385 | $3,368 |
 | Farmers | $11,931 | $5,307 |
 | Geico | $5,590 | $5,067 |
 | Nationwide | $8,214 | $5,332 |
 | Progressive | $8,434 | $2,656 |
 | State Farm | $4,577 | $3,901 |
 | Travelers | $5,978 | $2,737 |
 | USAA* | $3,188 | $2,576 |
*USAA is only available to members of the military and their families.
How can I save money on non-standard car insurance?
Shopping around for quotes
Comparing car insurance quotes to find who offers the best deal for the coverage you need is a great way to cut your car insurance costs. Make sure you use the same coverage limits for each quote to get an accurate comparison.
Take advantage of discounts
Companies offer car insurance discounts to help cut down your premium costs and to stay competitive. When talking to an insurer, ask about all the discounts you qualify for. Many companies offer bundling discounts, which can save a lot of money when you buy your auto and home or renters insurance from the same company.
Clean up your driving record
While this isn’t a solution with immediate results, building and keeping a clean driving record can lower your car insurance costs. Even DUIs eventually drop off your record in most states, making you eligible for a standard car insurance policy.
Improve your credit score
Credit scores are used to calculate car insurance risk in many states. If you live in a state that does so and you have poor credit, cleaning up your score can save you money.