What Makes A Person A High-Risk Driver?

Insurance companies, such as Budget Insurance Offices Inc, place drivers into categories when calculating rates for them, and the worst category to be in is the high-risk category. When you are considered a high-risk driver, you will always pay more for your car insurance coverage than you would if you were considered a lower-risk driver. If you are considered a high-risk driver, you might be wondering why you are in this category, and here are some of the top reasons for this.

Your age

One thing you cannot control is your age, yet your age plays a role in the risk level the insurance company brands you with. Teen drivers are among the most common type of drivers to get in accidents that lead to claims being filed. Because the chances of a teen driver getting in an accident is so high, insurance companies view all teens as high-risk drivers.

Your driving record and claim record

The second thing that can make you a high-risk driver is your driving record and insurance claim record. If you have tickets on your record, or major traffic violations like a DUI, you might be a high-risk driver. Any types of claims on your record also put you in a category that make you more likely to file a claim again in the future, and this too will lead to the insurance company viewing you as a high-risk driver.

Major violations

A major violation, like a DWI or DUI, is one of the worst things to have on your record, as these types of charges can remain there for a very long time. Getting a major violation like this will cause you to be considered a high-risk driver for years, or even decades. If you have a DUI on your record, you may even have to purchase special auto insurance in order to keep your driver's license, and this is called SR-22 insurance.

Insurance coverage in the past

One other factor that affects your level of risk, that you might not suspect, is your previous insurance coverage. If you ever allow your coverage to lapse, you might automatically fall into the high-risk insurance category even if you have never had a ticket or claim in the past before.  

These are some of the things that can make a person a high-risk driver. If you would like to learn more about this or get a quote, contact an insurance agency of your choice.


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