Anything can happen behind the wheel, but when you have a history of car accidents and incidents on the road, it could have lasting consequences, even impacting your ability to get car insurance.
Car insurance is a legal requirement for most drivers in the U.S., but finding the cheapest car insurance when you have a rocky driving history can be a little tricky. When car insurance companies price auto insurance, they consider a list of rate factors determining your driver risk. When you have a long history of incidents behind the wheel, car insurance companies may charge you exorbitant prices — if they choose to cover you.
This is where non-standard car insurance can help.
What are some reasons a person may need non-standard auto insurance?
Non-standard auto insurance is a term to classify insurance sold to drivers whose risk factors make obtaining insurance at standard or preferred rates difficult or impossible.
“It doesn’t take much to get into the non-standard insurance ‘penalty box.’ Two or more at-fault accidents within three years, an at-fault accident where a person is injured, a DUI and speeding 15+ mph over the speed limit will put a person in the situation to need non-standard insurance,” says Earl Jones, owner of Earl L. Jones Insurance Agency.
“Once in the non-standard insurance market,” Jones says, “you may remain there for three to ten years depending on the state and the insurance company.”
As Jones explained, there are several reasons why a driver may require non-standard auto insurance.
Salvage title
If you own a car with a salvage title, you won’t necessarily pay more for auto insurance, but you may be denied comprehensive insurance for various reasons.
High-risk drivers
You may fall within the high-risk driver group with insurance companies due to multiple accidents, violations, claims, or any combination.
SR-22
If you need to carry an SR-22 to certify financial responsibility, it’s likely because you had a conviction, such as a DUI or reckless driving. Most insurers will file the form with the state to prove you have coverage. You’ll have to pay a one-time filing fee, typically about $35, on top of the premium.
Non-owner insurance
To insure yourself as a driver without owning a car, purchase non-owner insurance. Insurance companies generally charge less for a non-owner policy.
Young drivers
Even insurance for young drivers can be considered non-standard auto insurance because policies for young, inexperienced drivers are often costly. Many teens join their parents’ policies instead of having their own.
Those with bad credit
Many states can use your credit score to determine how much you pay for insurance — excepting California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan and Oregon.
Non-U.S. citizens and foreign drivers
Those with a foreign license may pay more for auto insurance if they do not have a driving record in the U.S. Insurers cannot ascertain risk, so they are more likely to refuse coverage or require additional coverage.
Lapse in coverage
If you have previously allowed your insurance to lapse, an insurance provider may refuse coverage unless you purchase non-standard insurance.
Exotic, luxury, or classic cars
Some car insurance companies may not offer coverage for rare or luxury vehicles when you own a high-value car.
Check out our comprehensive guide to standard vs. non-standard insurance
Standard vs. non-standard insurance
A standard car insurance policy is available to those who are considered low-risk by insurers. Drivers who are eligible for standard insurance include people with the following:
- Good or excellent credit
- Good driving record with few or no accidents
- Average-value vehicles
These drivers often have their pick of whatever car insurance provider they want. It’s a little different for non-standard insurance.
You don’t necessarily need to be a non-standard driver to buy insurance from a non-standard insurance company. Sometimes these specialty insurers can offer a more competitive price. Some large, well-known insurance companies own smaller non-standard insurance companies and offer non-standard policies through their agents.
How does non-standard insurance work?
Not all insurance providers will insure high-risk drivers, so you must find a provider specializing in high-risk or non-standard auto insurance. Most drivers who do not meet an insurance company’s standard or preferred risk underwriting criteria will use a non-standard insurer to obtain the auto insurance coverages they need.
As with most types of car insurance, there can be significant price variations when shopping for non-standard insurance. If you can keep a good driving record without claims, you should stay within the standard (voluntary) car insurance market and likely obtain better insurance premiums.
Once you find the auto insurance provider you want, the buying process is similar to what you may be used to with standard providers. If you need to file an SR-22, ask your insurance company about the filing process to ensure you meet the requirements.
How to buy non-standard insurance
Although similar to buying standard car insurance, there are a few things that you should know about the buying process for non-standard insurance policies.
Shop multiple car insurance providers
It’s always wise to gather and compare car insurance companies, even if you’re shopping for non-standard car insurance.
Compare non-standard insurance quotes
Shop for policies that provide the same coverage, so you compare quotes for the same coverage.
Consider your state’s assigned risk pool
As a last resort, some states have an assigned risk pool that you can use if you can’t get anyone to insure you. In this process, insurers are assigned uninsurable customers on a round-robin basis, and the state sets maximum rates.
Watch out for exclusions and limitations
Some non-standard auto insurance companies will place restrictions on your policy. For instance, there may be step-down liability limits for permissive drivers. Typically, your liability coverage fully extends to those with your permission to occasionally borrow your car. With step-down provisions, the liability limits drop to the state minimum requirements for permissive drivers, even if you buy higher limits for yourself.
Shop for quotes at renewal time
Perhaps your violations have dropped off your record, or your credit has improved. If you’ve maintained a clean driving record, you may be able to jump back into the standard driver tier, so it’s prudent to check when you are ready to renew your policy. Don’t forget to ask insurance companies about discounts you may qualify for.
Where to buy non-standard car insurance?
Some companies work only in the non-standard auto insurance business, while others file rates that are tiered into non-standard, standard and preferred tiers.
Several companies offer coverage for non-standard car insurance. Geico and Progressive are widely-known providers providing standard and non-standard car insurance.
This is a list of non-standard auto insurance companies for your policy.
- Aspire General
- Direct Auto
- Falcon
- Foremost
- Founders Insurance
- Good2Go
- Hallmark
- Infinity
- Jupiter
- Pronto
- SafeAuto
- The General
Final thoughts on non-standard auto insurance
Despite our best intentions, we sometimes run into trouble on the road. These incidents can tremendously impact the kind of car insurance we can get. The everyday car insurance provider may not be equipped to offer the type of special car insurance that high-risk drivers need to legally operate a motor vehicle in their state. It might cost you more, but your coverage will protect you until enough time passes that you are again eligible for standard auto insurance.
Regardless of whether you have a DUI or a long list of incidents on your driving record, non-standard car insurance is the kind of coverage you need to get back on the road.
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Laura Longero
Executive Editor
Laura Longero is an insurance expert and Executive Editor at CarInsurance.com, where she specializes in helping consumers navigate the complexities of the financial and insurance industries. She has 15 years of experience educating people about finance and car insurance. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she worked as a reporter and editor at the USA Today Network. Her expertise provides readers with practical guidance, helping them make informed choices about their financial and insurance needs.
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Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.
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Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.