The words “affordable” and “auto insurance” probably shouldn’t be used in the same sentence, in particular when comparison shopping for the best price on coverage for drivers with a bad driving record. Because it’s so expensive, let’s familiarize you with some of the things that have an effect on insurance rates, and find some ways to take the bite out of the next policy you buy.
The vehicle model requiring coverage is a significant factor when comparing economical insurance for drivers with a bad driving record. Vehicles with high performance, a lack of advanced safety features, or an increased likelihood of liability claims will cost quite a bit more to insure than safer, lower-performance models. The table below presents insurance rates for some of the more affordable automobiles to insure in Texas.
| Vehicle Insured | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda CR-V EX-L 2WD | $3,454 |
| Ford Escape XLT 2WD | $3,575 |
| Toyota Prius | $3,852 |
| Hyundai Elantra SE Touring Station Wagon | $3,907 |
| Ford Edge Limited 2WD | $4,009 |
| Chevrolet Impala LS | $4,017 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan SE | $4,042 |
| Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4WD 2-Dr | $4,051 |
| Toyota Camry LE | $4,047 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LT | $4,087 |
| Ford F-150 XLT Regular Cab 4WD | $4,137 |
| Ford Explorer XLT 4WD | $4,143 |
| Toyota Tacoma 4WD | $4,137 |
| Ford Focus SE 4-Dr Sedan | $4,193 |
| Honda Odyssey EX-L W/Navigation | $4,228 |
| Toyota Corolla LE | $4,237 |
| Ford Fusion S 4-Dr Sedan | $4,235 |
| Toyota RAV4 Sport 2WD | $4,337 |
| Hyundai Sonata GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $4,399 |
| Nissan Rogue S 2WD | $4,405 |
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Data based on single female driver age 50, two speeding tickets, two at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and homeowner. Price information does not factor in Austin, TX location which can impact price quotes significantly.
Looking at the numbers, you can figure that vehicles like the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, and Toyota Prius are likely to be some of the cheaper vehicles to insure for bad drivers. The price of auto insurance will be more expensive just because there is more inherent risk for drivers with a bad driving record, but overall those makes and models will probably have the best insurance prices available.
Finding out which company quotes the cheapest insurance rates for drivers with a bad driving record requires a bit more effort in order to find the lowest price quote.
Every insurance provider has their own process to set policy rates, so let’s rank the most competitive insurance companies in Austin. It’s important to know that Austin, TX insurance rates are determined by lots of factors which can significantly increase or decrease the policy premium. Improving your credit rating, buying a home instead of renting, or getting a speeding ticket can trigger changes in premium that may make certain companies more affordable than others.
Best Auto Insurance Prices for Imperfect Drivers
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Travelers | $1,041 |
| 2 | USAA | $1,117 |
| 3 | Texas Farm Bureau | $1,211 |
| 4 | Germania Mutual | $1,282 |
| 5 | Esurance | $1,421 |
| 6 | California Casualty | $1,424 |
| 7 | State Farm | $1,450 |
| 8 | Mercury | $1,521 |
| 9 | Safe Auto | $1,597 |
| 10 | Nationwide | $1,600 |
| 11 | Allstate | $1,650 |
| 12 | Progressive | $1,664 |
| 13 | Amica | $1,757 |
| 14 | GEICO | $2,072 |
| 15 | Home State | $2,092 |
| 16 | MetLife | $2,227 |
| 17 | Encompass | $2,232 |
| 18 | Unitrin | $2,264 |
| 19 | 21st Century | $2,494 |
| 20 | Titan | $2,594 |
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Travelers offers some of the best car insurance rates in Austin at around $1,041 a year. USAA, Texas Farm Bureau, Germania Mutual, and Esurance also qualify as some of the lowest-priced Austin, TX insurance companies.
As the rates illustrate above, if you are a policyholder with USAA and switched to Travelers, you could realize an annual premium reduction of in the vicinity of $76. Insureds with Texas Farm Bureau could save as much as $170 a year, and Germania Mutual insureds might lower prices by $241 a year.
To find out how much you can save, click here to start your custom quote or feel free to get quotes from the companies below.
Understand that those prices are averages for all ages of drivers and types of vehicles and do not take into consideration a specific zip code for drivers with a bad driving record. So the auto insurance company that is best suited for you may not even be in the top 23 companies shown above. That helps illustrate why you need to get rate quotes from many companies using your own specific driver information and vehicle.
Get discount Austin car insurance rates
Car insurance companies that provide policies for drivers with a bad driving record may additionally offer policy discounts that could lower prices by 25% or more if you are eligible to receive them. A list of companies and the discounts they provide are detailed below.
- American Family offers premium reductions for TimeAway discount, mySafetyValet, defensive driver, multi-vehicle, bundled insurance, good driver, and air bags.
- State Farm has savings for multiple autos, Drive Safe & Save, passive restraint, multiple policy, and good student.
- 21st Century may offer discounts for anti-lock brakes, theft prevention, defensive driver, air bags, and 55 and older.
- Travelers offers discounts including save driver, multi-car, early quote, IntelliDrive, new car, and student away at school.
- GEICO may include discounts for air bags, emergency military deployment, defensive driver, multi-vehicle, and federal employee.
The information below visualizes the comparison of yearly insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the rates. The costs are based on a female driver, two at-fault accidents and one violation, Texas state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows insurance cost with no discounts. The lower bar shows the rates with passive restraint, anti-theft, paperless filing, multiple policy, homeowner, and multiple vehicle discounts applied. When drivers take advantage of discounts, theaverage amount saved on insurance for drivers with a bad driving record is 29% or $1,540.
The information below shows how choosing a deductible can impact yearly insurance costs when quoting cheap insurance for drivers with a bad driving record. The data is based on a single female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no discounts are factored in.
The chart above illustrates that a 40-year-old driver could reduce rates by $408 a year by changing their physical damage coverage from a $100 deductible up to a $500 deductible, or save $612 by switching to a $1,000 deductible. Even younger insureds, such as the 20-year-old example, could lower their rates as much as $1,048 or even more by choosing a higher deductible.
If you do make the decision to raise your deductibles, it is important to have spare funds to enable you to cover the extra out-of-pocket expense, which is the one inconvenience of using high deductibles.
Ideas for finding budget-friendly insurance for drivers with a bad driving record
It’s not impossible to find cheaper rates, and here are some of the better thrifty suggestions that can help Austin drivers get lower-cost coverage.
- Do not pay for full coverage on older vehicles
- Bundle home and auto and save
- Avoid accidents and claims
- Frequent claims will increase rates
- Maintain a clean driving record
- Vehicles with good safety ratings have lower liability rates
- Compare rates regularly and switch companies to save money
The last tip in the list is extraordinarily critical, as we emphasized in the prior information. Auto insurance prices can be adjusted at any time, so don’t hesitate to switch to a new company if a better rate can be found. Having a favorite company is great, but it’s not recommended if that loyalty results in overpaying big bucks every year. In less than five minutes you could compare rates and find cheaper car insurance for drivers with a bad driving record in Austin.