Car Insurance For High Risk Drivers

High risk drivers are those who insurers deem are more likely to make a claim, whether you have done so in the past or not. You may be considered high risk if any of the following apply to you:

• You only recently passed your driving test
• You're under 25
• You live in a high-traffic, densely-populated area, one that is more prone to accidents occurring
• You live in an area with higher rates of car thefts
• You've made a claim previously – the more recent, the likelier it is your quote will be higher
• You've been involved in an accident before
• You've received multiple points on your licence
• You've previously had your licence revoked
• You have motoring or criminal offences
• Your occupation is considered to be high risk, whether this is due to being a shift worker or spending more time on the road in your profession

Some driving convictions will often place you in the high risk bracket with insurers, depending on the severity of the driving offence. Why is this you may ask? Well, insurers take this as evidence that you have been a high-risk driver in the past, making you a greater risk in the future.

Some of the most common convictions are for speeding offences, which range from minor to major in terms of the points issued on your licence. For your first offence (depending on what speed you were going), you can often take a speed awareness course as an alternative to being issued with penalty points, meaning this won't affect your premium. However, more serious offences will result in mandatory points being issued on your licence, and you'll need to declare these when looking for a quote. Being caught using a mobile phone while driving is another conviction which can place you in a high risk category with insurers, as is not stopping at the scene of an accident.

You'll also be deemed high risk if you're found to be driving without insurance or under the influence of alcohol or drugs – these are much more serious offences that can lead to your licence being revoked. In this event, you may even find you need to get specialised convicted drivers insurance.

If you have any of the convictions listed above, you'll likely face significantly higher car insurance premiums.

It can be. You may have a perfect driving record consisting of no convictions or claims along with years of experience. But while that's a great springboard to cheap car insurance, your choice of vehicle will impact the price you ultimately pay.

For comparison's sake, consider a run-of-the-mill, reliable hatchback versus a brand new, imported sports car. If damaged due to accident or fire, or stolen by thieves, which one is more likely to be expensive to repair, or more of a target for car theft? Essentially, you need to weigh up the cost of your vehicle by considering how much it would cost your insurer to pay out should you claim.

To opt for a lower risk car, avoid the following:

• Modified Vehicles: Cars with modifications, like alloy wheels or performance enhancements, are seen as higher risk. These changes can increase your car’s value, repair costs, and appeal to thieves, which leads to higher insurance premiums.
• Powerful Engines: High-performance cars, including sports cars and high-end salons, are more expensive to insure due to their larger engines, faster speeds, and increased accident risk.
• Unusual Vehicles: Cars that are rare or have unique features, like three-wheelers, are considered higher risk because they may be harder to repair or replace.
• Valuable Cars: Expensive vehicles are at greater risk for theft and costly repairs, making them more expensive to insure.
• Classic Cars: While some classic cars might be cheaper to insure due to limited use, others may require specialist insurance due to their higher value and unique parts.
• Easier to Steal: Cars with outdated or easily compromised security systems can land you in the high-risk category. Investing in modern anti-theft devices can help reduce your premiums.
• Imported Cars: Imported vehicles are often more expensive to insure because parts can be difficult to find, and insurers may find it harder to assess the risk.
• Kit Cars: These self-built, unique vehicles typically require specialist insurance due to their custom nature and the difficulty in determining their value and risk.

For drivers deemed high risk, there are a number of ways you can actively become a lower risk driver.

• Drive a cheaper car: Cars are categorised by insurance groups ranging from 1 to 50, based on many of the variables listed above, with 1 being the lowest. To keep insurance costs to a minimum, opt for a cheaper, reliable and less powerful model in these lower insurance groups.
• Take an advanced driving course: If you've got a conviction or just want to improve your risk score, consider taking an advanced driving course to increase your experience – ones like Pass Plus are beneficial especially if you've only recently passed your test.
• Consider telematics insurance: Also known as black box insurance, this is a device fitted to your vehicle which records your driving habits, the data then proving to insurers whether you're at lower risk.
• Secure your vehicle: Adding measures such as immobilisers and car alarms is a cost-effective way to reduce the risk of your car being stolen, as is storing it in a secure garage.
• Be careful how you drive: This one goes without saying, but the lowest risk driver is one that follows the rules of the Highway Code and drives responsibly.

Along with our tips above, heed the following to reduce your quote:

• Pay upfront: Paying for your premium upfront – typically for an annual term – as opposed to monthly instalments is cheaper overall.
• Choose a higher excess: Weigh up how much you'd be willing to pay yourself in the event of a claim, as often a higher voluntary excess decreases your quote.
• Watch out for optional extras: They appear tempting with the additional cover they offer, but not all of them are worth it.
• Look at multi-policy discounts: If you have multiple vehicles in your household, a multi-policy can insure all drivers under one policy, often at a better rate.
• Change providers annually: When it comes to insurance, loyalty doesn't pay. You'll almost always get a better deal by comparing and switching to a new insurance company.
• Shop around for deals and compare car insurance quotes: Insurance is a bit like finding the best pizza in Italy – you've got to research and compare quotes to find the best deal. Use a tool like ours to view a wide range of cheap insurance deals from a huge range of providers to find the one that's right for you.