Auto Insurance Tips for High-Risk Drivers

Even though every one of us wants to experience the thrill of driving fast, the wind going through our hair, seeing an empty stretch of road, and putting the pedal to the metal, there are so many consequences to it. The most important and dangerous thing is getting in a nasty car accident. No one wants to be in that, and that’s why we restrain ourselves to the speed limit and drive like a responsible drivers.

But some drivers do not want to be restrained by the law, or the risks of getting in a car accident. These high-risk drivers are the ones who drive a bit fast, and a bit too rashly. If you are one of them, you might be in for an expensive surprise. Due to your high-risk driving habits, your auto insurance rates would go as high as your speed on an empty freeway.

But auto insurance is necessary, and mandatory as well. If not selected properly, you might end up spending more and getting poor coverage. So we have decided to select and present some tips that would be very useful if you are a high-risk driver. Follow them to ensure a safe drive that would prevent you from spending more money on auto insurance. Let’s get started. 

Deductibles are Important

When you make an auto insurance claim, there is a small amount of money (relative to the amount of insurance payout) that you need to pay from your pockets before the car insurance company pays the rest. This is called the “deductible” of your insurance policy. It is usually a percentage of your total coverage amount. 

So for example, if you get in a car accident and the total cost of repairs comes around to $5,000, and your deductible amount is $1,000, then you need to pay a thousand dollars first after which the vehicle insurance company would pay the rest of $4,000. 

If the cost of repairs is under $1,000, you cannot make a claim. So how do deductibles affect high-risk drivers? It can help you save a lot of money, or lose a lot of it as well. Deductibles directly affect the price of your insurance premium. A higher deductible amount would decrease your insurance premium rates and vice versa. 

But here’s the catch; while having a higher deductible would reduce insurance premium rates, in an accident, you’ll have to pay more from your pocket. If the deductible is low, you’ll pay less from your pockets in a car accident, but pay more in insurance premium rates. 

So if you are a high-risk driver, i.e., your chances of being in a car accident and making an insurance claim are higher, you might want to keep your deductibles low. Yes, you’ll have to pay a higher insurance premium but if you get in a car accident, you won’t have to shell out a fortune. 

Look for the Best Options

Being a high-risk driver automatically makes you ineligible for low and affordable auto insurance prices. Since you are more likely to make an insurance claim, car insurance companies will charge you more both for insurance policies and premium rates. So it all comes down to you making the right choice. 

Instead of just looking at one or two auto insurance companies, get quotes from all the vehicle insurance providers in your state, including local companies. You have to find the company that charges you the lowest while not compromising on the insurance coverage. If you don’t compare prices, you will miss out on some great, money-saving auto insurance companies.

Increase Your Coverage Limit

Being a high-risk driver is already a dangerous thing, but it can be made even worse if your liability coverage limit is just enough to satisfy the state’s minimum coverage limit requirements. You have no idea how dangerous this combination can be. 

The State’s minimum coverage limit is not at all enough to pay for the cost of repairs and medical treatments. A single ambulance ride can cost hundreds of dollars, how do you think $50,000 would be enough to pay for a complex treatment? 

The best way to avoid this is by increasing your coverage limit, especially if you are a high-risk driver. The high probability of you causing an accident is enough to make you be prepared for a big insurance payout. When it comes to coverage limits, the best thing to do is hope for the best, and prepare for the worst. 

Get Personal Protection Plan

In a car accident involving two cars, both the drivers will get hurt. So unless you are made of steel, you need to look out for your health as well. If you are driving around without a personal injury protection plan, not only you can get in a nasty accident but might end up paying a fortune for your medical treatments. You can skip the car repairs part if you don’t have the money to fix it, but not the same can be done with your body. 

There are 12 states where it is mandatory to have a personal injury protection plan. But even if you do not live in one of these “no-fault” states, getting a personal injury protection plan is completely worth it, even if you are not a high-risk driver. A personal injury protection plan will pay for the cost of medical treatments needed due to a car accident, irrespective of whose fault the accident was. 

What’s even better is that the personal injury protection plan also pays for any lost wages due to the accident. So get this policy if you don’t have it already and make driving a little more secure. It might cost you a pretty penny, but isn’t your life worth more than pennies?