Plutus Award winner
12+ years writing about insurance and personal finance
Emily is a widely recognized expert on personal finance and has authored several personal finance books. She’s a frequent guest on national and regional media.
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7+ years in content creation and management
5+ years in insurance and personal finance content
Ashley is a seasoned personal finance editor who’s produced a variety of digital content, including insurance, credit cards, mortgages, and consumer lending products.
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Licensed insurance agent for 25+ years
15 years as VP of Sales and Operations at Answer Financial
Licensed in more than 40 states, Shawn leverages his deep industry expertise to support the accuracy and trustworthiness of Insurify’s content.
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Updated November 21, 2024
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Table of contents
If you live in Florida and have incidents on your driving record — such as a speeding ticket, at-fault accident, or DUI — your insurance company may consider you to be a high-risk driver. You may also have a hard time finding affordable coverage because your insurance company will see you as more likely to file a claim, making you more of a risk to insure.
But it’s still important to maintain Florida’s minimum liability insurance requirements to stay legal on the road. Here’s what you need to know about finding high-risk car insurance in Florida.
Car insurance costs for high-risk drivers vary greatly depending on several risk factors. Drivers who have caused accidents or received DUI citations will have higher costs than drivers with bad credit.
Florida drivers with a clean record pay an average of $157 per month for liability coverage, while drivers with an incident pay $184 per month, Insurify data shows.
Florida saw 479 alcohol-related crashes in March 2022, which resulted in 41 deaths and 41 serious injuries.[1]
Best auto insurance for high-risk drivers in Florida
Even though high-risk drivers pay more for car insurance than people with a clean driving record, insurance rates can still vary widely depending on the type of traffic violation you have (or how many violations you’ve incurred within a certain period of time).
The three insurers below are some of the best car insurance companies for high-risk drivers in the Sunshine State.
Best insurer for customer satisfaction: State Farm
User Reviews | 4.2 |
---|---|
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 9.3 /10 |
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $68/mo |
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $83/mo |
Drivers appreciate the helpful local agents and initial service but dislike the high prices and frequent rate increases.
Drivers appreciate the helpful local agents and initial service but dislike the high prices and frequent rate increases.
Charles
November 19, 2024
New Car Price
Ronald
November 19, 2024
State Farm Experience: 35 Years+
David
November 19, 2024
Too expensive
State Farm is the largest car insurance company in the U.S. by market share, and J.D. Power consistently ranks it highly for customer and claims satisfaction in Florida.
If you’re paying higher rates because of your driver status, you may be able to offset some of your premium costs with State Farm’s discount for taking a defensive driving course. And if you need an SR-22 in Florida, State Farm can file this form on your behalf.
Second-highest J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating in Florida
Offers several discounts
SR-22 filing available for high-risk drivers
Doesn’t offer accident forgiveness
Gap insurance not available
May not be the cheapest insurer for drivers with moving violations
Best insurer for discounts: GEICO
User Reviews | 4.0 |
---|---|
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 9.0 /10 |
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $69/mo |
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $86/mo |
Drivers appreciate the excellent customer service and initial low prices but dislike the frequent price increases.
Drivers appreciate the excellent customer service and initial low prices but dislike the frequent price increases.
George
November 19, 2024
Service
James
November 19, 2024
Unsatisfactory Experience with Geico
Edward
November 18, 2024
Experience with Geico
If you’re looking for ways to lower your car insurance rates as a high-risk driver in Florida, GEICO offers numerous discounts that could help you save. You could get a discount for having safety devices in your vehicle, using your seat belt, taking a defensive driving course, bundling multiple policies, and more. GEICO also offers SR-22 filing for high-risk drivers, which not all insurers offer.
SR-22 filing available for high-risk drivers
A++ (Superior) AM Best financial strength rating
Above-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating in Florida
Doesn’t offer new car replacement coverage
Rideshare insurance not available
Negative customer reviews on Trustpilot
Best insurer for young drivers: Allstate
User Reviews | 4.0 |
---|---|
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 8.9 /10 |
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $117/mo |
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $145/mo |
Drivers appreciate the initial pricing and overall service but dislike the frequent rate increases and misleading pricing tactics.
Drivers appreciate the initial pricing and overall service but dislike the frequent rate increases and misleading pricing tactics.
Rodney
November 20, 2024
Lower Insurance
Lyudmila
November 14, 2024
No Discount for Seniors
Latonya
November 12, 2024
Not Recommended
Teens and young drivers are statistically a higher risk on the road, and they already pay the highest car insurance rates out of any age group. If you’re a high-risk young driver in Florida, enrolling in Allstate’s Drivewise program could help you lower your rates for safe driving habits. The company also offers optional accident forgiveness coverage so that your rates won’t increase after an accident — even if you were found at fault.
Offers rideshare insurance
SR-22 filing available for high-risk drivers
Above-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating in Florida
If you’re enrolled in Drivewise and it detects unsafe driving habits, like speeding or hard braking, your car insurance rates could go up
May not have the cheapest insurance rates for young or high-risk drivers
Negative customer reviews on Trustpilot
To determine the best car insurance companies for high-risk drivers in Florida, we compared multiple factors, including coverage options, customer service reviews, customer claims satisfaction, discounts offered, and Insurify Quality Scores. We also considered whether a company offers SR-22 filing for high-risk drivers.
Cheapest car insurance for Florida drivers with an at-fault accident
Having an at-fault accident on your record means you were involved in a collision determined to be your fault. If you’re responsible for an accident, insurance companies will see you as a higher risk since you may be more likely to cause future collisions.
Florida’s no-fault insurance system doesn’t prevent this high-risk status. A no-fault state means each driver’s insurance company is responsible for paying for their client’s minor injuries and not those of the other party.
If you have an at-fault accident on your record in Florida, the following insurers have affordable rates for you to consider.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Quote: Liability Only ▲▼ | Average Quote: Full Coverage ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
State Farm | $187 | $184 |
GEICO | $192 | $189 |
Travelers | $305 | $350 |
Allstate | $326 | $320 |
Progressive | $345 | $464 |
Safeco | $325 | $393 |
Liberty Mutual | $448 | $545 |
Mercury | $473 | $456 |
The General | $692 | $1,483 |
Direct Auto | $395 | $406 |
Bristol West | $569 | $715 |
Cheapest car insurance for Florida drivers with a DUI
Florida imposes fines starting at $500 for the first DUI offense and increasing with each offense to a maximum of no less than $2,000 for a fourth offense.[2]
Drivers convicted of DUI may also face prison time, depending on the circumstances of the offense. Insurance companies consider drivers with a DUI conviction to be high risk.
Here are several insurers that offer policies to high-risk drivers with a DUI in Florida.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Quote: Liability Only ▲▼ | Average Quote: Full Coverage ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
State Farm | $261 | $257 |
GEICO | $267 | $263 |
Travelers | $424 | $488 |
Allstate | $454 | $446 |
Progressive | $480 | $647 |
Safeco | $452 | $547 |
Liberty Mutual | $623 | $758 |
Mercury | $659 | $635 |
The General | $963 | $2,064 |
Direct Auto | $549 | $565 |
Bristol West | $792 | $995 |
Cheapest car insurance for Florida drivers with a speeding ticket
Speeding can seem like a relatively low-risk activity to shorten your commute, but it’s a dangerous driving habit. This is why Florida levies fines starting at $25 for drivers exceeding the speed limit by six to nine miles per hour, all the way up to $250 for going 30 mph faster than the posted maximum speed. Each county also imposes civil penalties and surcharges for speeding within its borders.
You can also expect your insurer to potentially increase your rates, based on the severity of your speeding violation.
The following insurers offer policies to high-risk Florida drivers with speeding tickets.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Quote: Liability Only ▲▼ | Average Quote: Full Coverage ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
State Farm | $176 | $173 |
GEICO | $180 | $177 |
Travelers | $285 | $328 |
Allstate | $306 | $300 |
Progressive | $323 | $436 |
Safeco | $304 | $369 |
Liberty Mutual | $419 | $511 |
Mercury | $444 | $427 |
The General | $649 | $1,390 |
Direct Auto | $370 | $381 |
Bristol West | $533 | $670 |
Cheapest car insurance for Florida drivers with poor credit
Unfortunately, having poor credit can affect your insurance risk level. Even though your ability to drive may seem completely divorced from your ability to manage your finances and credit, many insurers determine that drivers with bad credit are more likely to file auto insurance claims. For that reason, having bad credit can classify you as a high-risk driver.
The following insurers offer lower-cost policies to high-risk Florida drivers with poor credit. Here are their average monthly costs for liability-only coverage:
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote ▲▼ |
---|---|
State Farm | $203 |
GEICO | $208 |
Travelers | $330 |
Safeco | $352 |
Allstate | $353 |
Progressive | $374 |
Direct Auto | $428 |
Liberty Mutual | $485 |
Mercury | $513 |
Bristol West | $617 |
The General | $750 |
How to improve your driving record and lower your car insurance rates in Florida
In addition to looking for an affordable car insurance policy as a high-risk driver, you can also work on lowering your insurance costs by improving your driving record. You can reduce your high-risk status in a number of ways:[3]
1. Drive safely
It sounds simple, but one of the best long-term ways to reduce your risk status and lower your insurance costs is by committing to driving safely. That means obeying posted speed limits, eliminating distractions, remaining calm, and maintaining a sense of situational awareness. This won’t have an immediate effect on your driving risk status, but it’ll pay off greatly in the long run.
2. Take a defensive driving course
Defensive driving courses can not only help reduce the cost of your auto insurance, but they may also help you avoid getting points added to your license, depending on the infraction.
3. Seek legal counsel
Hiring a reputable lawyer to represent you after you receive a traffic violation may help reduce the number of points on your license or reduce other factors that could increase your risk status and insurance costs.
4. Build and maintain good credit
Poor credit can increase your driver risk level, so working to improve your credit can help lower your insurance costs over time. To improve your credit, make sure you pay all your bills on time and lower your debt-to-income ratio. As with committing to safe driving, this process won’t be immediate, but it’ll have long-term benefits.
Florida high-risk drivers insurance FAQs
Figuring out how to afford auto insurance in Florida if you’re a high-risk driver can be challenging. The information below can help as you’re researching your coverage options.
Which drivers are considered high-risk in Florida?
Insurance companies in Florida consider drivers with the following characteristics to be high-risk:
History of traffic violations and tickets
History of accidents and insurance claims
Low credit score
Youth and lack of driving experience
Advanced age
Owning a vintage or super-powered car
Spending more time driving than average
How do auto insurance companies calculate risk in Florida?
Insurance companies use a number of different factors to calculate a driver’s risk, including your credit history, age, marital status, whether you rent or own your home, driving history, and more.
What’s the cheapest insurance company for Florida high-risk drivers?
State Farm is one of the cheapest insurance companies for high-risk drivers in Florida, with average monthly liability rates of $79.
Does Florida have assigned-risk car insurance?
Yes. Florida provides assigned-risk car insurance through the Florida Automobile Joint Underwriting Association. This coverage is available to high-risk drivers who haven’t been able to find traditional car insurance.
What is SR-22 insurance in Florida?
The state of Florida may require high-risk drivers to carry an SR-22 or FR-44 certificate after receiving a serious traffic violation. These certificates aren’t actually insurance — they prove that you meet Florida’s minimum car insurance requirements.
If you have an FR-44 requirement, you may need more than the minimum insurance coverage.
Which company provides the best car insurance in Florida?
Allstate, GEICO, and State Farm are some of the best car insurance companies in Florida. J.D. Power rates them highly for customer and claims satisfaction, and they all have high Insurify Quality Scores. These insurance companies also offer SR-22 filing, which high-risk drivers in Florida may need, depending on the type of moving violation they have on their record.
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 50+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
- Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
- No additional coverage
- Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
- Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
Related articles
More cities in Florida
Sources
- Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. "FLHSMV launches Never Drive Impaired campaign, discusses DUI dangers."
- Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. "Florida DUI and Administrative Suspension Laws."
- Insurance Information Institute. "Nine ways to lower your auto insurance costs."
Emily Guy Birken is a former educator, lifelong money nerd, and a Plutus Award-winning freelance writer who specializes in the scientific research behind irrational money behaviors. Her background in education allows her to make complex financial topics relatable and easily understood by the layperson.
Her work has appeared on The Huffington Post, Business Insider, Kiplinger's, MSN Money, and The Washington Post online.
She is the author of several books, including The 5 Years Before You Retire, End Financial Stress Now, and the brand new book Stacked: Your Super Serious Guide to Modern Money Management, written with Joe Saul-Sehy.
Emily lives in Milwaukee with her family.
7+ years in content creation and management
5+ years in insurance and personal finance content
Ashley is a seasoned personal finance editor who’s produced a variety of digital content, including insurance, credit cards, mortgages, and consumer lending products.
Featured in
Licensed insurance agent for 25+ years
15 years as VP of Sales and Operations at Answer Financial
Licensed in more than 40 states, Shawn leverages his deep industry expertise to support the accuracy and trustworthiness of Insurify’s content.
Featured in