For high risk drivers, one of the more important things used to determine insurance cost is where you choose to live in Alabama. Areas with more people or higher crime rates like Birmingham, Bessemer, and Homewood are more likely to pay higher prices, whereas areas with less crime or weather claims tend to receive cheaper rates.
The next table lists the most expensive cities in Alabama for high risk drivers to purchase auto insurance in.
Rank | City | Average Per Year |
---|---|---|
1 | Birmingham | $1,480 |
2 | Mobile | $1,440 |
3 | Bessemer | $1,435 |
4 | Prichard | $1,413 |
5 | Homewood | $1,364 |
6 | Northport | $1,349 |
7 | Gadsden | $1,339 |
8 | Alabaster | $1,336 |
9 | Phenix City | $1,326 |
10 | Vestavia Hills | $1,325 |
11 | Montgomery | $1,325 |
12 | Hoover | $1,314 |
13 | Prattville | $1,305 |
14 | Tuscaloosa | $1,294 |
15 | Madison | $1,291 |
16 | Athens | $1,287 |
17 | Auburn | $1,283 |
18 | Anniston | $1,279 |
19 | Decatur | $1,248 |
20 | Opelika | $1,244 |
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Annual rates are approximated as the specific garaging location can decrease or increase rates considerably.
Locating reasonably-priced insurance is tough enough, and deciding which company has the cheapest auto insurance rates for high risk drivers will require even more rate comparisons. Insurance rates will probably be much higher than the average price in Alabama, with the increase attributed to the posibility of more claims associated with offering insurance for high risk drivers, but reasonably-priced coverage should be attainable if you compare enough rates. Every car insurance company uses their own calculation for determining rates, so first let’s look at the rankings for the auto insurance companies with the overall cheapest rates in Alabama.
It’s a good idea to know that Alabama auto insurance rates are calculated based on many things which can significantly increase or decrease the cost of a policy. Taking a driver safety course, becoming a homeowner, or getting a ticket for careless driving can trigger rate changes that can cause some rates to be more expensive than others.
Best Cheap Insurance Rates for Risky Drivers
Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
---|---|---|
1 | Travelers | $815 |
2 | Cincinnati Insurance | $836 |
3 | USAA | $922 |
4 | GEICO | $1,061 |
5 | Auto-Owners | $1,170 |
6 | Safeway | $1,170 |
7 | Country | $1,195 |
8 | Progressive | $1,248 |
9 | State Auto | $1,373 |
10 | MetLife | $1,381 |
11 | California Casualty | $1,451 |
12 | State Farm | $1,533 |
13 | Nationwide | $1,642 |
14 | ALFA | $1,692 |
15 | Allstate | $1,873 |
16 | Farmers | $1,931 |
17 | Liberty Mutual | $2,611 |
18 | Safeco | $2,686 |
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Travelers may offer some of the best car insurance rates in Alabama at around $815 each year. Cincinnati Insurance, USAA, GEICO, and Auto-Owners are also some of the most economical Alabama auto insurance companies.
In the above example, if you have coverage with Cincinnati Insurance and switched to Travelers, you could realize annual savings of roughly $21. Customers with USAA could save as much as $107 a year, and GEICO policyholders might lower prices by $246 a year.
To see how much you can save, click here to start your free quote or quote prices from the following companies.
Bear in mind that those premiums are averages for all ages of drivers and types of vehicles and do not factor in a rate surcharge for high risk drivers. So the company that can offer you the lowest price may not even be in the company chart above. That illustrates why you need to get rate quotes using your own driver data and vehicle information.
The safety and performance level of the vehicle you are trying to insure is probably the largest consideration when quoting cheap insurance for high risk drivers in Alabama. Vehicles with higher performance characteristics, poor passenger safety features, or a history of substantial liability claims will cost more to insure than safer models.
The data below illustrates car insurance costs for some of the most affordable automobiles to insure.
Make, Model, and Trim Level | Annual Cost | Semi-Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
---|---|---|---|
Chevrolet Malibu LT | $3,332 | $1,666 | $278 |
Ford Focus SEL 4-Dr Sedan | $3,414 | $1,707 | $285 |
Honda Accord LX-P 4-Dr Sedan | $2,784 | $1,392 | $232 |
Hyundai Sonata SE 4-Dr Sedan | $3,732 | $1,866 | $311 |
Kia Optima LX | $3,580 | $1,790 | $298 |
Nissan Altima Hybrid 4-Dr Sedan | $3,484 | $1,742 | $290 |
Toyota Camry Hybrid | $3,766 | $1,883 | $314 |
Volkswagen Jetta LE 4-Dr Sedan | $3,298 | $1,649 | $275 |
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Table data represents married male driver age 30, two speeding tickets, two at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and Alabama minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-vehicle, and multi-policy. Rate information does not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can impact coverage rates significantly.
Make, Model, and Trim Level | Annual Cost | Semi-Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
---|---|---|---|
Acura RDX Technology Package AWD | $3,156 | $1,578 | $263 |
Chevrolet Traverse LTZ AWD | $3,004 | $1,502 | $250 |
Ford Escape XLT 4WD | $2,820 | $1,410 | $235 |
Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer AWD | $3,332 | $1,666 | $278 |
GMC Acadia SL 2WD | $3,112 | $1,556 | $259 |
Honda CR-V LX 4WD | $2,784 | $1,392 | $232 |
Honda Fit Sport VSA | $2,708 | $1,354 | $226 |
Honda Pilot EX-L 2WD | $3,332 | $1,666 | $278 |
Hyundai Tucson Limited 2WD | $3,298 | $1,649 | $275 |
Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4WD | $3,484 | $1,742 | $290 |
Jeep Patriot Limited 2WD | $3,298 | $1,649 | $275 |
Lexus RX 350 2WD | $3,954 | $1,977 | $330 |
Toyota Highlander Limited 2WD | $3,520 | $1,760 | $293 |
Toyota RAV4 Sport 2WD | $3,298 | $1,649 | $275 |
Volvo XC90 3.2 2WD | $3,484 | $1,742 | $290 |
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Price data assumes married male driver age 30, two speeding tickets, two at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and Alabama minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle. Estimates do not factor in specific location information which can impact auto insurance rates substantially.
Make, Model, and Trim Level | Annual Cost | Semi-Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
---|---|---|---|
Chevrolet Silverado LT Extended Cab 4WD | $3,298 | $1,649 | $275 |
Dodge Ram 3500 Mega Cab SLT 4WD | $4,942 | $2,471 | $412 |
Dodge Ram Quad Cab Sport 4WD | $3,802 | $1,901 | $317 |
Ford F-150 XLT Regular Cab 4WD | $3,148 | $1,574 | $262 |
Ford F-250 XL Harley Turbo Diesel 4WD | $4,214 | $2,107 | $351 |
GMC Canyon SLE Ext Cab 4WD | $3,148 | $1,574 | $262 |
GMC Sierra 2500HD SLT Extended Cab 2WD | $3,918 | $1,959 | $327 |
GMC Sierra SLE Crew Cab 2WD | $3,484 | $1,742 | $290 |
Toyota Tacoma 4WD | $3,148 | $1,574 | $262 |
Toyota Tundra SR/5 Double Cab 2WD | $3,580 | $1,790 | $298 |
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Table data assumes married male driver age 30, two speeding tickets, two at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and Alabama minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Rate quotes do not factor in specific location which can lower or raise premiums considerably.
The illustration below highlights how deductible selection can change insurance rates when searching for cheap insurance for high risk drivers. The rate quotes are based on a single male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
The chart above illustrates that a 30-year-old driver could lower their car insurance rates by $310 a year by increasing from a $100 deductible to a $500 deductible, or save $470 by switching to a $1,000 deductible. Even younger insureds, like the age 20 example, could roll back prices $910 annually just by using higher deductibles. If you do raise deductibles, it will now be necessary to have enough savings to allow you to pay the extra out-of-pocket expense, which is the one inconvenience of using high deductibles.
When it comes to buying auto insurance for high risk drivers in Alabama, four of the best places to start are Progressive, Geico, State Farm, and Allstate. If you put them all together, they insure 48.5% of the car insurance market in the United States. The next table ranks ratings for price and service, as well as some optional coverages .
Progressive | Geico | State Farm | Allstate | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Policy Discounts | 4th | 2nd | 3rd | 1st |
Overall Satisfaction | 3rd | 1st | 4th | 2nd |
Claims Rank | 4th | 3rd | 2nd | 1st |
Overall Price | 3rd | 1st | 2nd | 4th |
Percent of U.S. market | 8.8% | 11.4% | 18.3% | 10% |
A.M. Best rating | A+ | A++ | A++ | A+ |
Accident forgiveness coverage | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
New car replacement insurance | No | No | No | Yes |
Emergency roadside assistance | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Usage-based insurance | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Coverage for Uber and Lyft drivers | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Mechnical breakdown | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Available in Alabama | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Insurance Agents | Indpendent agents or online | From a Geico agent or online | Only from State Farm agents | Allstate-only agents |
Number of agents | 30,000+ | 150+ | 18,000+ | 11,000+ |
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There are a variety of different ways to find cheaper auto insurance in Alabama, but the most popular ways are through a non-exclusive or independent agent, a captive (or exclusive) agency like State Farm or Liberty Mutual, or direct online or over the phone from a company like Geico or Progressive.
All three ways are similar, but they are slightly different in how they work.
Independent agents write for multiple companies and can get rate quotes from every one. Independent agents can sell policies from many different companies and can give you more rates, which may provide you with a better chance of finding cheaper coverage. If a cheaper rate is found, it’s simple to move the policy and you can remain with the same agent.
Exclusive agents are limited to one insurance company, two of the more popular are Allstate or State Farm agents. Exclusive agents cannot provide rates from more than one company, which does not give you the best rate comparison.
Buying from a direct company means bypass a local insurance agent and instead shop direct online or over the phone from a company like Progressive or Esurance. Buying direct may be a decent choice families who do not have a complex risk profile and have a good understanding of what auto insurance covers.
So comparing independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct, which one works best to find cheap insurance for high risk drivers in Alabama? Our initial answer would be shopping direct saves the most money because there isn’t an agent involved, but unfortunately, that is not always true. A valid argument could also be made that buying from an independent agent guarantees the cheapest rates because they can shop around, but that is not accurate either. In the right set of circumstances, the exclusive agents may have very competitive prices that cannot be met by either independent or direct companies.
Because there is so much variation in auto insurance prices, the best way to ensure you are not overpaying is to compare, compare, and compare some more. It’s a good idea to get price quotes all three ways to give yourself plenty of rates to compare. For a list of auto insurance companies with low rates, click here to view.
It is possible to find better rates, and here are some of the better penny-pinching solutions that can help drivers buy low-cost coverage.
The final tip is incredibly valuable, as we discussed in this article. Auto insurance rates fluctuate constantly, so don’t be hesitant to buy from a different company if a cheaper rate is available.
Many drivers tend to have loyalty to a certain company, but it’s not recommended if that faithfulness ends up costing you big bucks every year. If you have a few minutes, compare rates to find cheaper auto insurance for high risk drivers.