Best Auto Insurance for High-Risk Drivers With a Bad Record in 2025

Dairyland may not be a household name, but it has been in business for over 60 years, and it specializes in high-risk auto insurance. The company offers low-cost insurance, multiple discounts, and pay-as-you-go plans for high-risk drivers with a bad record.

If you have a bad driving record and/or fit the high-risk category, you may find it difficult to find affordable car insurance. Your experience may be even more frustrating if your insurance is discontinued or you’re unable to find a new plan because no providers are accepting your application as a high-risk driver. If this is the case, you’ll have a much better chance of maintaining your insurance and finding affordable coverage with Dairyland.

Learn more about how you can save and optimize your payments by reading our extensive Dairyland pricing review.

Coverage for High-Risk Drivers

Here are what driver rate increases look like for a few high-risk driving categories (compared to annual premium averages of $2,399).

Remember that these increases represent only high-risk driver categories. If you’re in one of these driving categories and you also have a bad driving record, your rate increase may be even higher.

SR-22 Benefits

An SR-22 is a certificate proving financial responsibility for your vehicle. Your state may require you to file for an SR-22 through your provider if you’ve had a serious driving violation, like a DUI or driving without insurance. Drivers holding SR-22 car insurance with Dairyland can benefit from no add-on fees or surcharges.

Dairyland also offers non-owner insurance for drivers who need an SR-22 but who don’t own a vehicle. Non-owner insurance is generally cheaper than standard insurance and a good option if any of the following apply to you:

• You rent cars regularly.
• You use car-sharing services often.
• You want to maintain continuous coverage but do not own a car.
• You cannot reinstate your license without auto insurance.
• You need non-owner SR-22 insurance because of a serious traffic violation or DUI.

Flexible Payment Plans

Dairyland allows you to customize your payment plan to fit your schedule and monthly budget. You can benefit from a variety of payment options, including:

• A pay-as-you-go plan for month-to-month payments
• Quickpay options that you can make through the mobile app without having to manually log in to your account
• Variable down payment options for more flexibility and control over your billing cycles

Dairyland will also give you a discount if you pay your premium on a quarterly, semiannual, or annual basis instead of monthly. Since traffic violations and accidents will increase your premium from almost any insurer, simple discounts like this one can offset those costs.

Drinking and driving is one of the most serious traffic violations you can be convicted of, and its repercussions can last for years after the incident. Most drivers consider themselves lucky if no one is hurt in a drinking and driving situation. But even in the best-case DUI scenarios, you can expect your car insurance to increase by a significant amount — 83 percent on average among major providers.

Fortunately, there are companies like Progressive that — compared to companies like Liberty Mutual ($5,475) or Allstate ($4,824) — offer more affordable rates and saving opportunities to drivers with a DUI. If you’ve been in a DUI recently and are looking for affordable coverage, you should consider Progressive as one of your top options.

Affordable Rates After a DUI

Progressive’s average annual increase for drivers after one DUI is more affordable than most major providers. Here’s what Progressive’s numbers look like compared to competitors.

Significant Savings

It’s important to find a provider that offers several saving opportunities to keep your costs down after a DUI. Progressive has a long list of discounts for several drivers, so regardless of your age, homeownership status, or payment preferences, Progressive will likely have a discount for you.

Here’s how you can save with Progressive after a DUI:

• You can earn 7 percent off your car insurance (on average) by bundling your policies, like boat or motorcycle with auto.
• Save up to 12 percent on your policy when you insure multiple vehicles with Progressive.
• Progressive claims its drivers save about $322 on average when they complete its usage-based driving program, Snapshot.
• Opt to receive your documents via email, and you might qualify for Progressive’s paperless discount.
• If you add a teen driver to your plan, you may qualify for Progressive’s teen driver discount.
• You can save 5 percent or more on your premium by adding a good student (B average or higher GPA) discount to your policy.
• You can save on your car insurance simply by owning a home, even if your home isn’t insured with Progressive.
• And many more! Speak to your agent to find discounts available in your state.

SR-22 and Non-Owner Insurance

Getting a DUI is among the top reasons why you might need an SR-22. Not only does Progressive accept and file an SR-22 on your behalf, but it also offers non-owner insurance in the event that you need to reinstate your driver’s license after a DUI or other serious violation.

American Family is one of the cheapest providers on our list and the best provider if you have a speeding ticket on your record. Unlike Allstate ($3,428) or Farmers ($3,569), which are significantly more expensive for drivers with a speeding ticket, American Family is about 11 percent cheaper than competitors for drivers with one speeding ticket. While American Family is only available in 19 states, you can also look for coverage with Connect, American Family’s partnership with Costco that is more widely available.

Cheap Auto Insurance Coverage After a Speeding Ticket

American Family is known for its cheap rates. The average annual rate for American Family customers with a speeding ticket is $2,243, which is about $270 cheaper than the average annual premium of $2,511 for drivers with a speeding ticket.

See how American Family’s average annual cost after a speeding ticket compares to other leading insurers:

Young Driver Discounts

Car insurance companies charge higher premiums for young drivers since they are statistically more likely to exhibit risky driving behaviors, like speeding. In 2023, speeding was a factor in about 34 percent of all fatal accidents involving teen drivers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.³

If you have a young driver on your policy with a speeding violation, you can still lower rates with American Family’s auto insurance discounts. Drivers under 25 qualify for these discounts if they:

• Are a good student
• Are a student attending college more than 100 miles away, and have a car parked at home
• Have a parent who has an American Family policy
• Fulfill 40 hours of volunteer work every year for a non-profit

Practice Safe Driving and Save With American Family

If you have a history of speeding tickets, it might be time to improve your habits on the road. American Family encourages its drivers to drive safely with DriveMyWay, its usage-based insurance.

You enroll in the program through an agent, then download the DriveMyWay app. The app measures your driving behavior for 100 days, then gives you a discount between 5 to 20 percent based on your score.

Additionally, you can save on car insurance with the following safety and mileage discount incentives:

• Be accident-free for five years
• Drive less than 8,000 miles per year
• Have factory-installed airbags in your vehicle
• Defensive driving course for drivers age 55 and up

With Travelers, you get a trusted provider that offers quality coverage if you’re involved in an accident. With over 160 years of experience in the insurance business, Travelers is our top pick for drivers with a history of accidents. It also has customizable coverage options that may appeal to high-risk drivers, like accident forgiveness and non-owner insurance.

Low Rates for At-Fault Accidents

Among competitors, Travelers offers some of the lowest premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record. While Travelers’ annual rate for at-fault accidents is only about two percent below the national average, it still beats major providers like GEICO ($2,889) and State Farm ($2,917).

Multiple Discounts for High-Risk Drivers

High-risk drivers tend to pay higher premiums — after an at-fault accident, rates increase by an average of 47 percent. Fortunately, Travelers offers several ways to reduce your car insurance rate that don’t require a clean record. If you’re looking to reduce your premium after an at-fault accident, see if you’re eligible.

Here’s a list of discounts from Travelers you can use with a bad driving history:

• Multi-policy discount if you bundle auto insurance with home or renters insurance
• Homeowner discount on your policy if you own a home or condo (even if it’s insured elsewhere)
• Continuous insurance if you’ve been a Travelers customer for a certain number of years and have no coverage lapses
• Hybrid/electric car discount if you own or lease a hybrid or electric vehicle
• New car discount if you buy or own a vehicle that is less than three years old
• Early quote discount if you have a different provider and get a quote before your policy expires
• Good student discount if you’re a high school or college student with a 3.0 GPA
• Student away at school discount if you go to school at least 100 miles away from where your car is garaged
• Driver training discount if you take an approved driver education course

If you are eligible, USAA is one of the best options to find affordable coverage if you have a bad driving record. The insurer consistently has the most affordable premiums across all driving profiles, whether you have a DUI on your record, a speeding ticket, several claims, or other moving violations. Plus, infrequent drivers can bring costs down with SafePilot Miles, USAA’s pay-per-mile auto insurance program.

Cheap Rates for Bad Records

While USAA is known for offering low rates overall, it also provides cheap rates for drivers with poor records. USAA’s premiums for a speeding ticket are 30 percent lower than its competitors’, and rates for DUIs are 12 percent lower than the national average.

USAA also has a long list of discounts that you can apply even if you have a history of traffic violations or accidents. Military members and families can combine these discounts with their affordable rates to save on car insurance.

Here are USAA car insurance discounts you can qualify for even with a bad record:

• Bundling discount for pairing auto insurance with another policy
• New car discount for vehicles less than three years old
• Student discount for high school or college attendees with a 3.0 GPA or higher
• Garaging discount if you park your car on a military base
• Storage discount if you need to store your vehicle long-term, for deployment or any reason
• Safety discount if you take a defensive driving or basic driver training course
• Telematics discount if you track your driving habits using the SafePilot app
• Vehicle safety discount if your car has anti-theft and safety features
• Legacy discount when you transition off your parents’ policy and onto your own

Pay-Per-Mile Discounts

USAA incentivizes pay-per-mile insurance because people who drive less are generally less likely to be involved in an accident or file a claim. If you have a bad driving record and don’t drive often, you should consider USAA’s pay-per-mile program, SafePilot Miles.

The average driver in America travels 13,476 miles per year.⁴ If you drive less — around 8,000 miles per year — you could save on your car insurance.

According to USAA, you can earn up to 20 percent off your policy for driving less. The SafePilot app tracks your mileage and driving behavior. USAA also awards an additional 20 percent off at renewal for practicing safe driving habits.⁵