Insurance premiums for drivers with driving offenses can be skyrocketing, and in many cases insurance providers will flat out reject auto insurance claims from people with driving offenses. This is due to the fact that insurance providers view drivers with driving infractions as risky, which means that if the risk is not there, the insurance company will not make any money. In other words, if you have a speeding ticket, chances are good that you will not get cheap car insurance any time soon. The following tips will help you find affordable car insurance.
Tip number one is to find out what kind of offenses you are likely to be accused of. Most states have a list of standard driving offenses. If your state does not have this information, you should take the time to find it. In some cases, a driver conviction for driving under the influence (DUI) or other serious crimes like DUI can result in increased insurance premiums.
Tip number two is to request a copy of your driving record from the Department of Motor Vehicles. If your record shows no accidents or moving violations, then you should request an overview of your record. This will allow you to see what traffic violations occurred and how many times your vehicle has been cited. If you have three or more convictions for DUI in the past three years, you may be able to receive discounts on your policy.
Your third tip is to try to convince an insurer that you are not a convicted driver anymore. Many insurers will look at driver activity, such as how long you have been licensed, as well as how many speeding tickets or parking infractions you have cleared. If you have cleared all of these offenses, it is possible that your company will overlook any other driving offenses. Be prepared, however, to submit proof, such as traffic school certificates, before your claim is approved. You can receive hefty fines for speeding or parking infractions.
The fourth strategy is to avoid being classified as a repeat offender. According to Determining Auto Insurance Rates' report, nine out of ten drivers are initially classed as "first-time offenders." These first time offenders are granted a provisional driver's license which is automatically extended each year until the drivers' insurance policy is active. As most insurance policies do not include penalty points for previous driving offenses, provisional drivers are granted penalty points until their driving record is cleared. If your provisional driver's license is extended, but you are then convicted of another DUI or DWI offense within three years of your original license, you will lose your privilege to drive altogether. Instead, you will be required to pay heavy fines and undergo a mandatory drivers' education course.
If you are unsure whether or not you fit into one of the above categories, you can request a free auto insurance estimate. Depending on your drink drivers insurance provider, you may find that the cost of insurance will go up if you are a repeat offender. In addition, if you have been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or another controlled substance within three years of your first conviction, your provider may find a lower standard of liability in order to protect you from the increased risk of accidents. If you are a driver with an impaired driving record, you should certainly discuss these options with your insurance agent.