You may be wondering if you are a high-risk New York driver if you have been involved in a driving accident or multiple. An insurance company considers a high-risk driver anyone who is likely to file an insurance claim in the future, regardless of driving record or age.
New York is a safe state, even though it can be costly for car insurance. It currently has a death ratio of 4.8 for every 100,000 residents, compared to the U.S. average of 11. New York is a dynamic state so there are areas that are more dangerous than others. The state suffered 299,452 accidents in 2014 (the most recent year for which data are available).
New York is a large state. However, there are a lot of claims that insurance providers must process. High-risk auto insurance in New York is more expensive because of this. The severity of your violation will determine how much you’ll be charged.
New York rates for high-risk auto insurance
Although all the risk factors mentioned above will increase your car insurance, certain ones will cause it to be more expensive. A minor fender bender, for example, isn’t as serious as a DUI. Teen driving tickets are also not as severe as a DUI. The most important thing is to remember that your driving record will impact how damaging the violation is to you premium.
Rates for speeding tickets
Speeding is one the most common causes of automobile accidents and deaths in America. Your insurance bill will rise if you get a speeding ticket. The severity of your offense will affect how much you pay.
You will notice that the increase is not consistent across insurance agencies. You can shop around if you are not satisfied with your rates after a speeding ticket.
Rates for an accident
There are many kinds of road accidents. There are many types of accidents that can happen on the road. You could be involved in a simple fender bender, where nobody was hurt, or an incident that caused multiple cars to collide and resulted in numerous injuries. The amount you pay for a car accident can vary from the figures below.
Remember that your premium rate could increase if you cause an accident as a teenager or drink and drive.
Rates for DUI
Drivers convicted of DUI are often required to submit an SR-22 and FR-44 form to the DMV. Unlike commonly believed, an SR-22 and FR-44 are not special types of insurance. They are simply proof that you meet New York’s minimum coverage requirements.
You can see the increase in percentages below. However, many companies won’t allow drivers renew their licenses after a DUI conviction.
These are only estimates of what drivers can expect to pay. The severity of your DUI, and any other driving violations will have a significant impact on the amount you pay.
Teen drivers: Rate
High-risk drivers are teens who have less experience driving.
Although the New York DMV does not have any data since 2014 we still have some information about statistics regarding teen drivers. Teen drivers were responsible for 8% of all accidents and 6% of all deaths in New York that year. In total, 39,954 claims related to teenage drivers were processed by insurance companies. This is a large amount of money for a small population.
The table below shows the price increase that a 16-year old adds to an existing policy. Look for insurance companies that offer multiple discounts teens can use such as student away, good student and defensive driving when rate shopping.
Who are high-risk drivers?
An high risk driver is someone that an insurance company believes is most likely to file a claim. Your past history and characteristics can impact the cost of high-risk New York auto insurance.
- Speeding tickets
- At-fault accidents
- Living in an area of high risk
- Teen driver
- Credit score low
- DUI/ DWI
- Coverage gaps
This is slightly different than the industry definition of high-risk driver. It is anyone who is not able to obtain a policy from their preferred carrier. It may be true. Drivers may have to pay higher rates in many cases.
How to lower your rate for high-risk drivers
New York high-risk insurance is more expensive, but there are strategies that can help you lower your premium.
- Compare prices: Every car insurance company has a different pricing system. You will probably get different rates from each company.
- Older cars are more affordable to replace and therefore more expensive to insure. You can save the most money by driving an older car that has a high safety rating.
- Your credit score should be increased: Car insurance companies in New York are allowed to raise your premium due to a low credit score. Your monthly premium will be decreased if you have a better credit score.
Another great way to reduce your premium is to keep driving safely. While it won’t instantly lower your premium, it will gradually.
Questions frequently asked
Which New York car insurance company is best?
Every driver has different insurance requirements. However, we have narrowed down the options to the companies that we feel deserve your attention, based on average rates and policy options, customer satisfaction, and other factors.
What is the average price of car insurance?
The average cost for car insurance in America is $1,674 for full coverage or $565 for minimum. New York’s minimum is $1,062 and $2,321 respectively.