High risk car insurance, also called high risk driverÕs insurance, is intended for an individual whose driving record is not that good and for one who is involved in accident-prone car sports. This insurance is offered by a number of insurance companies to provide coverage for high-risk drivers. This is also considerably pricier than the standard car insurance normally two or three times more expensive for the same amount of coverage. And even though the coverage amount is the same, more often than not, you will not be able to acquire as low a deductible as you would with standard car insurance plan.

However, you can lessen the amount of money you would have to shell out to pay for your high risk car insurance bills by doing a bit of research before comparing insurance quotes and buying insurance online.

Who Can be Considered a High Risk Driver?

The categories listed hereunder are considered by car insurance companies in determining whether an individual is a high risk driver. If you fall in at least one of these categories, you should go for high-risk car insurance:

• A driver below the age of 20 is considered a high-risk driver.
• A driver over the age of 70 is also considered a high-risk driver.
• A first-time driver, regardless of his or her age, is regarded a high-risk driver. Even if a first-time driver does not take up high-risk car insurance, he or she will still be paying a lot higher for the normal coverage.
• Male drivers are deemed greater risks than women drivers.

More Reasons You May Be a High Risk Driver

• Drivers in urban areas are deemed greater risks than drivers in rural areas.
• A driver whose credit history is not good. This may seem irrelevant and unfair, but drivers with bad credit scores tend to file more claims, and this is why car insurance companies classify bad credit holders as having higher risks.
• A driver who has a history of traffic tickets drunk driving.
• A driver whose driving history involves a record of getting arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI) will be placed immediately in the high-risk category.
• A driver with a number of car insurance claims over a period of time.
• A driver with a driving history involving car accidents regardless of who is at fault. Note that the more accidents you are involved in, the higher your rates will be.
• A driver with a driving history of getting speeding tickets.
• A driver who participates in speed tests.
• A driver who participates in sports racing and other automobile sports.
• A driver whose license is revoked or suspended and as per US law, needs an SR-22 insurance policy to be able to restore it.
• Having auto insurance continuously over many years builds you up while having gaps in car insurance coverage is a point against you.
• A driver who has had 3 or more nolo contendere pleas, guilty pleas, and/or convictions for moving violations.
• A driver who has had 3 or more nolo contendere pleas, guilty pleas, and/or convictions for hit-and-run driving, DUI, DWI, reckless use of a vehicle or a similar violation, or vehicular negligent injury, within a 12-month period.

(The nolo contendere stands for No contest or "do not wish to contest".It is a plea where the defendant neither disputes nor admits the accusation. It has the same immediate effects of the guilty plea.)

What are the Types of High Risk Car Insurance?

High risk car insurance has the following various types, depending on the involved extent and category of risk:

1.) Bad credit auto insurance
Naturally, an insurance company would rather not offer insurance to a driver who has higher claim statistics and whose credit history is not good. Bad credit car insurance will cover a bad credit driver but improving his or her credit rating within a particular period of time is a requirement for him or her.

2.) SR-22 insurance
This is needed by a high-risk driver to restore his or her license that has either been revoked or suspended. This serves as the insurance companyÕs guarantee to the government that the driver has an operational financial coverage to overcome accountabilities.

3.) DUI car insurance
Majority of car insurance companies will terminate the insurance if a driver gets booked for driving under the influence. DUI car insurance will allow the driver to be covered in the event of this offense. However, this could get really expensive. The cost for this insurance ranges somewhere from 200 to 300 percent of the standard car insurance.

4.) Assigned Risk car insurance
If you have been trying to apply for car insurance coverage but no other insurance company would approve your application, then your state will have the provision to offer assigned risk car insurance to you.