Accidents can happen to anyone. But when drivers break the law, they face an uphill battle to get the cheapest car insurance available. In fact, many insurance companies may be unwilling to provide coverage at all to bad drivers. If this happens to you, there are several alternatives you can pursue.
Stay with Current Insurer
If you are able, it may actually be cheaper to stay with your current provider. You will still experience an increase in rates but it is likely to be substantially less than if you try to get a new policy from a different insurance company. Tickets and citations stay on your record for three to five years. If you have been with your current provider for several years, you may find that you have options to keep rates low. For example, some providers offer “accident forgiveness” to customers under certain circumstances. Qualifying for such a deal means your rates will only increase by a small amount.
Look for a Bad Driver Insurer
There are insurance companies that specifically cater to drivers with poor driving records. You can find these companies online. Get free quotes from multiple insurance companies so you can compare coverage and rates. You are unlikely to be presented with extremely low rates but you can still select the rate that is the cheapest for your situation.
Get SR-22 Coverage
As a last resort, you may have to get an SR-22 policy. This type of coverage is often mandated by states for drivers with multiple violations and excessive citations. Not all insurance companies offer this coverage so you need to research your options. If you do get this coverage, your insurance company is required to report your payments to the government so the state knows you are in compliance with legal insurance requirements at all times.
Always make sure your cheapest car insurance policy is legitimate and actually provides the protection you need. Paying money for empty coverage can hurt you even more in the long run if you are involved in yet another accident or receive another moving violation citation.
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