6 years experience in personal finance writing
Featured on Credit Karma and Insider
Jamie is a meticulous researcher who has published 2,000+ personal finance articles. Her expertise is trusted by major brands like Bankrate and Rocket Mortgage.
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Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years in content creation and marketing
As Insurify’s home and pet insurance editor, Danny also specializes in auto insurance. His goal is to help consumers navigate the complex world of insurance buying.
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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 October 30, 2024
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Table of contents
- Factors that determine high-risk status in Georgia
- Best Georgia auto insurance companies for high-risk drivers by violation
- Cheapest Georgia car insurance companies for high-risk drivers with poor credit
- How to find affordable car insurance for high-risk drivers in Georgia
- How to improve your driving record and lower your car insurance rates in Georgia
- Georgia high-risk drivers insurance FAQs
Table of contents
- Factors that determine high-risk status in Georgia
- Best Georgia auto insurance companies for high-risk drivers by violation
- Cheapest Georgia car insurance companies for high-risk drivers with poor credit
- How to find affordable car insurance for high-risk drivers in Georgia
- How to improve your driving record and lower your car insurance rates in Georgia
- Georgia high-risk drivers insurance FAQs
Insurance companies will likely consider you a high-risk driver if you have a speeding ticket, accident, or DUI on your driving record. Your insurer will probably view you as more likely to file a claim, and you’ll almost always pay more for car insurance than a driver with a clean record.
Depending on your level of risk, some insurers may even refuse to provide you coverage. Fortunately, you can still find the insurance coverage you need with the right steps. This article explores which insurers provide the best coverage for high-risk drivers in Georgia, as well as ways to improve your driving record.
Insurers will consider you high risk if you have speeding tickets, accidents, or DUIs.
High-risk drivers pay more for car insurance than drivers with clean records.
High-risk Georgia drivers can still find affordable auto insurance.
Factors that determine high-risk status in Georgia
Your driving record plays a significant role in how much you pay for car insurance. If your driving record is less than ideal, your insurance company might view you as a high-risk driver.
“Insurance companies use data from previous policyholders to determine the risk that you will file a claim,” explains Jesse Cunningham, an independent, licensed insurance agent and owner of online insurance platform Bauple. Some factors that determine high-risk driving status include:
Traffic violations and tickets: Most insurers will consider you a high-risk driver if you have multiple traffic violations or tickets in the last three to five years.
Accidents and claims: If you’ve been involved in more than one at-fault accident, you’ll likely be considered a high-risk driver.[1]
Credit score and financial history: A low credit score and shaky financial history may also result in you being labeled a high-risk driver.[1] But Georgia law prohibits insurance companies from using credit information as the only factor in setting insurance rates, so your credit score holds less weight than in some other states.[2]
Age and driving experience: Drivers without much experience, like teenagers, are also often seen as high-risk drivers and may have a difficult time securing affordable coverage.[1]
Vehicle type and usage: If you drive a car that’s expensive to repair or replace, your insurer may consider you high risk, as even one collision could result in an expensive claim.[3]
History of DUIs: If you have a history of DUIs, you’ll almost certainly pay more for car insurance and may even be denied coverage.[1]
Lapses in coverage: Georgia drivers are legally required to carry the state-minimum liability insurance.[4] If you’ve had any lapses in coverage, your insurer may consider you a high-risk driver.
Best Georgia auto insurance companies for high-risk drivers by violation
The cost of car insurance can vary dramatically depending on your driving history. But your car insurance costs will also vary depending on the insurance company you choose. Some insurers are more generous to drivers with spotty driving records than others. Below, you’ll see some of the best insurers for high-risk drivers.
Best car insurance for Georgia high-risk drivers with an at-fault accident
You can almost always expect your insurance rates to increase if you’re found at fault for an accident, but you can still find affordable rates with some insurers.[1] State Farm and Auto-Owners Insurance offer the cheapest monthly rates for drivers with a history of accidents.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Quote: Liability Only ▲▼ | Average Quote: Full Coverage ▲▼ | Insurify Quality (IQ) Score ▲▼ |
---|---|---|---|
USAA | $192 | $233 | 4.5 |
State Farm | $164 | $199 | 4.4 |
Travelers | $206 | $280 | 4.3 |
GEICO | $265 | $322 | 4.3 |
Allstate | $179 | $217 | 4.1 |
Nationwide | N/A | $292 | 4.1 |
Auto-Owners Insurance | $153 | $186 | 4.1 |
Progressive | $222 | $285 | 4.1 |
Safeco | $233 | $373 | 3.8 |
Liberty Mutual | $232 | $392 | 3.8 |
State Auto | $257 | $392 | 3.8 |
Mercury | $325 | $395 | 3.6 |
The General | $419 | $571 | 3.4 |
Direct Auto | $355 | $413 | 3.2 |
Clearcover | $345 | $458 | 2.9 |
Bristol West | $406 | $601 | 2.2 |
Our editorial team spent more than 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. The team weighted criteria by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.
We rate each company on a 1 to 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.
- Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
- Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 28,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
- Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the U.S., as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
- Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
- Availability and reach: Insurify scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.
Best car insurance rates for high-risk drivers in Georgia with a DUI
You can expect your car insurance rates to skyrocket if you get a DUI. Some insurers may even refuse to cover you, and the state may require you to obtain SR-22 insurance. In Georgia, State Farm and Auto-Owners Insurance offer the most affordable monthly rates for drivers with a DUI.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Quote: Liability Only ▲▼ | Average Quote: Full Coverage ▲▼ | 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. ▲▼ |
---|---|---|---|
USAA | $267 | $324 | 4.5 |
State Farm | $229 | $277 | 4.4 |
Travelers | $287 | $390 | 4.3 |
GEICO | $368 | $448 | 4.3 |
Allstate | $249 | $302 | 4.1 |
Nationwide | N/A | $406 | 4.1 |
Auto-Owners Insurance | $213 | $259 | 4.1 |
Progressive | $308 | $396 | 4.1 |
Safeco | $324 | $519 | 3.8 |
Liberty Mutual | $322 | $545 | 3.8 |
State Auto | $358 | $545 | 3.8 |
Mercury | $452 | $549 | 3.6 |
The General | $583 | $794 | 3.4 |
Direct Auto | $494 | $575 | 3.2 |
Clearcover | $480 | $637 | 2.9 |
Bristol West | $565 | $836 | 2.2 |
Best auto insurance for Georgia high-risk drivers with speeding tickets
Speeding tickets may seem like a minor traffic violation, but even they can cause your insurance rates to go up — and especially if you get multiple tickets. State Farm and Auto-Owners Insurance both offer affordable monthly rates to drivers with speeding tickets on their record.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Quote: Liability Only ▲▼ | Average Quote: Full Coverage ▲▼ | 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. ▲▼ |
---|---|---|---|
USAA | $180 | $218 | 4.5 |
State Farm | $154 | $186 | 4.4 |
Travelers | $193 | $263 | 4.3 |
GEICO | $248 | $302 | 4.3 |
Allstate | $168 | $204 | 4.1 |
Nationwide | N/A | $273 | 4.1 |
Auto-Owners Insurance | $143 | $174 | 4.1 |
Progressive | $208 | $267 | 4.1 |
Safeco | $218 | $350 | 3.8 |
Liberty Mutual | $217 | $367 | 3.8 |
State Auto | $241 | $367 | 3.8 |
Mercury | $304 | $370 | 3.6 |
The General | $393 | $535 | 3.4 |
Direct Auto | $332 | $387 | 3.2 |
Clearcover | $323 | $429 | 2.9 |
Bristol West | $381 | $563 | 2.2 |
Cheapest Georgia car insurance companies for high-risk drivers with poor credit
Your credit score is another factor that can influence how much you pay for car insurance. However, Georgia prohibits insurance companies from using credit history as the sole factor in determining insurance rates.[2] While the quality of your credit score will affect your rates, it won’t have as significant of an effect as it would in other states.
Auto-Owners Insurance, State Farm, and Allstate offer the cheapest rates for drivers with bad credit.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote ▲▼ |
---|---|
Auto-Owners Insurance | $166 |
State Farm | $178 |
Allstate | $194 |
USAA | $208 |
Travelers | $223 |
Progressive | $240 |
Liberty Mutual | $251 |
Safeco | $253 |
State Auto | $279 |
GEICO | $287 |
Mercury | $352 |
Clearcover | $374 |
Direct Auto | $384 |
Bristol West | $440 |
The General | $454 |
How to find affordable car insurance for high-risk drivers in Georgia
High-risk drivers will almost always pay more for car insurance, but you can still find affordable rates. Here are some ways to reduce how much you pay for car insurance:
Take advantage of discounts. Most insurance companies offer discounts on auto insurance, such as discounts for bundling your home and auto insurance, or low-mileage.[5]
Drive a safe vehicle. Some insurance companies will offer you a discount if your car has certain safety features, like anti-theft systems and child locks.[1]
Improve your credit score. Insurers consider your credit score when setting rates, so improving it may help you lower your premium.[5] Focus on paying down debt and paying your bills on time to improve your score.
Take a defensive driving course. You may be able to earn cheaper insurance rates by taking a defensive driving course. Look for insurers that offer this discount before enrolling in a course.[1]
Shop around. One of the best ways to find cheap car insurance is by comparing quotes from multiple insurers. Insurance companies often offer different rates for the same coverage, so it’s worth comparing to see which company works best for you.
Cheapest recent rates in Georgia for drivers with a traffic citation
Drivers using Insurify have found quotes as cheap as $66/mo for liability only and $123/mo for full coverage in Georgia.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users within the last 10 days. Last updated on October 30, 2024
*Quotes generated for Insurify users within the last 10 days. Last updated on October 30, 2024
How to improve your driving record and lower your car insurance rates in Georgia
The best way to lower your insurance rates is by improving your driving record. It’s one of the most significant factors in how much you pay in premiums.
Some ways you can begin improving your driving record include:
Be a defensive driver and maintain good driving habits.
Take steps to protect your vehicle from theft, like always locking your car.[1]
Always have a plan for how you’re going to get home if you plan to drink.
Buy a vehicle with numerous safety features.[1]
Sign up for a telematics program that tracks your driving and rewards safe driving behavior.
Georgia high-risk drivers insurance FAQs
You can still get affordable car insurance as a high-risk driver. Here’s some additional information about how high-risk drivers can find cheap car insurance in Georgia.
Which driver is considered high risk in Georgia?
Drivers with a history of at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, DUIs, and traffic violations are typically considered high risk. You may also be considered high risk if you have bad credit or lapses in insurance coverage.
Insurers consider high-risk drivers more likely to file an insurance claim, so they charge them higher premiums for car insurance.
How do auto insurance companies calculate risk in Georgia?
In Georgia, auto insurance companies calculate risk by considering your driving history, credit score, age, and numerous other factors. However, Georgia doesn’t allow insurance companies to use your credit history as the sole factor in determining insurance rates, so it affects your rates less than it would in many other states.
What’s the cheapest insurance company for Georgia high-risk drivers?
Auto-Owners Insurance is the cheapest company for high-risk drivers in Georgia. The company offers the lowest average rates for drivers with a history of accidents, DUIs, speeding tickets, and poor credit.
How much does high-risk auto insurance cost in Georgia?
The price of high-risk car insurance will vary drastically depending on which insurance company you choose and the types of violations you have on your driving record. Drivers with DUIs will pay more than drivers with speeding tickets, but both will pay more than drivers with clean records, for example.
How long does reckless driving affect insurance in Georgia?
Reckless driving is considered a serious offense in Georgia and can stay on your driving record indefinitely and continue to negatively affect your car insurance rates.[6]
“Reckless driving will increase car insurance rates,” Cunningham says. “Depending on your location, other violations on your driving record, and policy selections, this can increase your rates by a fraction of your existing premium or more than double your existing premiums.”
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 Georgia
Sources
- Insurance Information Institute. "What if I can't find auto coverage?."
- CREDIT-BASED INSURANCE SCORES: IMPACTS ON CONSUMERS OF AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE. "A Report to Congress by the Federal Trade Commission."
- Insurance Information Institute. "What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?."
- GeorgiaLegalAid.org. "What should I know about car insurance?."
- Insurance Information Institute. "Nine ways to lower your auto insurance costs."
- Justia U.S. Law. "2020 Georgia Code Title 40 - Motor Vehicles and Traffic Chapter 6 - Uniform Rules of the Road Article 15 - Serious Traffic Offenses § 40-6-390. Reckless Driving."
Jamie Johnson is a Kansas City-based personal finance writer whose work has been featured on several of the top finance and business sites in the country, including Insider, Credit Karma, Bankrate, Rocket Mortgage, Fox Business, Quicken Loans, and The Balance. For the past six years, she's dedicated more than 10,000 hours of research and writing to more than 2,000 articles about personal finance topics.
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years in content creation and marketing
As Insurify’s home and pet insurance editor, Danny also specializes in auto insurance. His goal is to help consumers navigate the complex world of insurance buying.
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