The words “cheap” and “auto insurance” really shouldn’t be used in the same sentence, in particular when you are looking for the best coverage prices for drivers with a bad driving record. To help control this cost, let’s get started by showing you some things that can significantly affect insurance premiums, and see if you can reduce the price of the next policy you buy.
Deciphering which companies quote the cheapest car insurance rates for drivers with a bad driving record will involve a little more sweat in order to find a policy that fits your budget. Each auto insurer uses their own calculation to set premium rates, so let’s look at the rankings for the car insurance companies with the most affordable rates in Durham, NC.
We do need to point out that Durham car insurance rates are impacted by many things that control the price you pay. Improving your credit score, filing a claim, or getting into an accident can trigger changes in premium that can make some companies more affordable than others.
Find the Best Cheap Insurance for Imperfect Drivers
Progressive quotes some of the cheapest car insurance rates in Durham at around $651 per year. This is $221 less than the average premium paid by North Carolina drivers of $872. Utica National, Penn National, Liberty Mutual, and NC Farm Bureau also qualify as some of the cheaper Durham, NC insurance companies.
In the above example, if you buy coverage from Penn National and switched to Progressive, you may realize annual savings of roughly $74. Insureds with Liberty Mutual may save as much as $77 a year, and NC Farm Bureau policyholders might lower prices by up to $79 a year.
To find cheaper insurance rates for your vehicle, click here to start your custom quote or feel free to get quotes from the companies below.
Remember that these premiums are averaged for all types of insureds and vehicles and do not factor in a specific vehicle garaging location for drivers with a bad driving record. So the company that can offer you the best rate may not even be in the list above. That’s why you need to get quotes using your own driver information and specific vehicle type.
For bad drivers, one of the largest considerations that are looked at to determine insurance cost is where you keep your vehicle in Durham. More densely populated places tend to pay more, whereas areas with lower crime rates and fewer weather claims have the luxury of lower rates.
The table below ranks the priciest cities in North Carolina for drivers with a bad driving record to purchase auto insurance in. Durham ranks #4 with the yearly price of $797 on average, which is about $66 per month.
| Rank | City | Premium Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville | $923 |
| 2 | Jacksonville | $891 |
| 3 | Charlotte | $816 |
| 4 | Durham | $797 |
| 5 | Greensboro | $786 |
| 6 | Wilmington | $781 |
| 7 | Gastonia | $779 |
| 8 | Huntersville | $764 |
| 9 | Wilson | $754 |
| 10 | Cary | $749 |
| 11 | Indian Trail | $745 |
| 12 | Goldsboro | $743 |
| 13 | Apex | $739 |
| 14 | Greenville | $738 |
| 15 | Raleigh | $737 |
| 16 | High Point | $723 |
| 17 | Rocky Mount | $718 |
| 18 | Winston Salem | $716 |
| 19 | Hickory | $711 |
| 20 | Chapel Hill | $703 |
| 21 | Concord | $690 |
| 22 | Salisbury | $684 |
| 23 | Burlington | $678 |
| 24 | Kannapolis | $669 |
| 25 | Asheville | $661 |
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Premium amounts are estimated as the specific zip code location can modify premiums greatly.
The vehicle model needing coverage is one of the largest factors that determines whether or not you can buy the best car insurance for drivers with a bad driving record. Vehicles with high performance features, a lack of safety features, or a high likelihood of having liability claims will cost substantially more to insure than safer, lower-performance models.
The information below ranks car insurance prices for some of the most economical vehicles to buy coverage for.
| Make, Model, and Trim Level | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda CR-V EX 4WD | $3,712 |
| Hyundai Elantra GLS Touring Station Wagon | $3,822 |
| Ford Escape Limited 4WD | $3,908 |
| Toyota Prius | $4,119 |
| Ford Explorer XLT 2WD | $4,268 |
| Volkswagen Jetta SE 2.5 Station Wagon | $4,316 |
| Ford F-150 XLT Regular Cab 4WD | $4,325 |
| Toyota RAV4 4WD | $4,343 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LS AWD | $4,351 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan Hero | $4,343 |
| Chevrolet Impala LS | $4,430 |
| Ford Focus SES 4-Dr Sedan | $4,501 |
| Ford Edge Sport AWD | $4,542 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab TRD Sport Package 4WD | $4,572 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LT | $4,579 |
| Nissan Altima 3.5 SR 4-Dr Sedan | $4,583 |
| Toyota Camry SE | $4,681 |
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Cost estimates assume single male driver age 30, two speeding tickets, two at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Table data does not factor in specific zip code location which can impact insurance rates substantially.
Looking at the data, you can assume that models like the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Elantra, Ford Escape, Toyota Prius, and Ford Explorer will definitely be a few of the most budget-friendly vehicles to insure for bad drivers. The price for an auto insurance policy will tend to be more expensive just because there is more claim risk for drivers with a bad driving record, but overall those makes and models will have the lowest insurance prices available.
The diagram below illustrates how your deductible choice can increase or decrease insurance premiums when trying to find cheap insurance for drivers with a bad driving record. The premium estimates are based on a single male driver, comp and collision included, and no discounts are factored in.
In the chart above, a 40-year-old driver could save $286 a year by changing from a $100 deductible up to a $500 deductible, or save $432 by choosing a $1,000 deductible. Younger drivers, like the 20-year-old example, can cut as much as $944 annually by selecting a higher deductible.
When using a larger deductible, it will be important to have spare funds to be able to cover the extra out-of-pocket expense, which is the one inconvenience of using high deductibles.
Insuring your vehicle with the highest-rated insurance company can be a challenge considering how many different companies there are to choose from in North Carolina. The company rank data listed below could help you pick which car insurance providers you want to consider when trying find the best insurance for drivers with a bad driving record. These rankings are only comprised of companies that write coverage in many states, so companies with more of a regional focus are not taken into consideration for these rankings.
| Company | Value | Customer Service | Claims | Customer Satisfaction | A.M Best Rating | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travelers | 93 | 98 | 99 | 88% | A++ | 95.1 |
| USAA | 83 | 99 | 100 | 91% | A++ | 94.1 |
| AAA Insurance | 91 | 95 | 92 | 90% | A | 93.3 |
| Nationwide | 85 | 95 | 97 | 89% | A+ | 92.4 |
| Allstate | 77 | 100 | 97 | 88% | A+ | 90.7 |
| State Farm | 80 | 94 | 96 | 88% | A++ | 90.6 |
| The Hartford | 88 | 93 | 91 | 87% | A+ | 90.4 |
| Safeco Insurance | 91 | 95 | 85 | 88% | A | 90.2 |
| Progressive | 88 | 94 | 83 | 88% | A+ | 90.1 |
| American Family | 91 | 86 | 95 | 83% | A | 89.7 |
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Data Source: Insure.com Best Car Insurance Companies
Impact of violations and accidents on rates in Durham
A great way to maintain affordable car insurance premiums for bad drivers is to pay attention while driving and avoid accidents and keep your driving record clean. The example below demonstrates how citations and at-fault collisions can affect insurance premiums for each different age group. The price estimates are based on a single male driver, comp and collision included, $1,000 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.
The chart shows that the average cost of car insurance in Durham per year with no accidents and a clean driving record is $1,401. Get written up for two speeding tickets and the average cost hikes up to $1,843, an increase of $443 each year. Now include two accidents along with the two speeding tickets and the yearly cost of car insurance for drivers with a bad driving record goes up to an average of $3,703. That’s an increase of $2,303, or $192 per month, just for not driving carefully!
How to find the cheapest auto insurance for drivers with a bad driving record
The list below summarizes some penny-pinching ideas that can help drivers get cheaper coverage.
- Pay for small claims rather than turning them in to your insurance company
- Drive safely
- Drive vehicles with five-star safety ratings
- Avoid preventable accidents
- Buy your auto and home insurance from the same company and save
- Compare rates and switch if you can find a better deal
The last idea is highly important, as we emphasized in this write-up. Auto insurance rates can change considerably in a year, so drivers shouldn’t be reluctant to buy from a new company if you can save money.
Having brand loyalty is commendable, but it’s not a great idea if that dedication is costing money that could be going to better use. In just a couple of minutes you could shop around to find cheaper car insurance for drivers with a bad driving record in Durham.