Car insurance rates in Alabama are traditionally calculated based on a driver’s age, auto make and model, driving history and other personal information. However, for high-risk drivers in Alabama, car insurance rates may be higher due to their increased risk to an insurance company.

High-risk drivers include those who have two or more traffic violations, at-fault accidents, DUIs, poor credit scores or no prior car insurance coverage. 

We have created this guide to make your search for car insurance for high-risk drivers hassle-free. It provides details on how auto insurance rates change based on infractions like speeding tickets, at-fault accidents and DUI convictions. It also reveals the cheapest car insurance companies for high-risk drivers based on driving profiles in Alabama. 

Key Highlights
  • High-risk drivers have minor violations like speeding tickets or major violations like DUI convictions or lapses in insurance coverage.
  • Drivers in Alabama pay 20% more for auto insurance for a ticket for driving 1-10 mph over the speed limit than without a violation.
  • If you are convicted of DUI or DWI in Alabama, you can expect your car insurance rates to increase 57% more for auto insurance.
  • An at-fault accident increases car insurance rates by 48% in Alabama, based on a data analysis by CarInsurance.com.
author-img
Written by:
Prachi Singh
Contributing Writer
Prachi is an insurance writer with a master’s degree in business administration. Through her writing, she hopes to help readers make smart and informed decisions about their finances. She loves to travel and write poetry.
author
Reviewed by:
Laura Longero
reviewer icon
Executive Editor
Laura Longero is an insurance expert and Executive Editor at CarInsurance.com, where she specializes in helping consumers navigate the complexities of the financial and insurance industries. She has 15 years of experience educating people about finance and car insurance. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she worked as a reporter and editor at the USA Today Network. Her expertise provides readers with practical guidance, helping them make informed choices about their financial and insurance needs.
ZIP Code
Please enter valid ZIP

Who is a high-risk driver in Alabama?

Drivers of all age groups, those with or without experience, can be categorized as high-risk drivers by car insurance companies in Alabama if they have minor violations like speeding tickets or major violations like DUI convictions or lapses in insurance coverage.

Car insurance rates for high-risk drivers by driving profile in Alabama

The experts at CarInsurance.com have analyzed the rates for high-risk drivers based on driving profile for drivers with – speeding tickets, DUI offenses and at-fault accidents.

Here’s how each of the violations affect car insurance rates in Alabama.

Speeding tickets

In Alabama, car insurance rates increase based on the speeding limits you violate. For example, a driver who drives 1-10 MPH over the speed limit will pay 20% more for auto insurance than before having a speeding ticket.

Learn more: How much your insurance goes up after a speeding ticket

Cheapest car insurance companies in Alabama for drivers with speeding tickets

In Alabama, Nationwide offers the cheapest car insurance for drivers with speeding tickets at $1,242 annually. The car insurance rates offered by Nationwide increase by $251 after a speeding ticket violation.

CompanyRates before speeding ticketRates after speeding ticket$ Difference% Difference
Allstate$1,550 $1,724 $174 11%
Auto-Owners$1,640 $1,888 $248 15%
Farmers$2,088 $2,730 $643 31%
Geico$1,148 $1,908 $761 66%
Nationwide$991 $1,242 $251 25%
Progressive$1,937 $2,536 $599 31%
State Farm$1,705 $1,849 $144 8%
Travelers$1,318 $1,779 $460 35%
USAA$1,151 $1,324 $174 15%

DUI offense

If you are convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) or DWI (driving while intoxicated) or OUI (operating under the influence) in Alabama, you can expect your car insurance rates to increase by 57% on an average, according to 2023 CarInsurance.com data analysis.

ViolationRates after a DUIRates without a DUI$ Difference% Difference
DUI/DWI first offense$2,356 $1,503 $853 57%
DUI/DWI second offense$3,390 $1,503 $1,887 126%

Here’s how much your insurance goes up after a DUI

Cheapest car insurance companies in Alabama for drivers with a DUI

State Farm offers the cheapest car insurance rates for drivers with a DUI at $1,849 per year, in Alabama. The rate increases by $144 after getting a DUI offense on your driving history.

The second cheapest car insurance for high-risk drivers with DUI is offered by Travelers at $2,015 a year.

See below for the auto insurance premiums offered by companies in Alabama for drivers with a DUI.

CompanyRates before DUI offenseRates after 1st DUI offenseRates after 2nd DUI offense
Allstate$1,550$2,082$2,553
Auto-Owners$1,640$3,192$6,916
Farmers$2,088$2,848$4,050
Geico$1,148$2,421$3,073
Nationwide$991$2,015$2,744
Progressive$1,937$2,390$3,452
State Farm$1,705$1,849$1,849
Travelers$1,318$2,015$2,856
USAA$1,151$2,392$3,020

At-fault accident

After an at-fault collision, your car insurance premiums could spike in Alabama – unless you’ve added endorsements like accident forgiveness to your coverage.

According to a 2023 rate analysis by CarInsurance.com, on average, after an at-fault accident, car insurance rates increase by 48%.

However, there are states where car insurance companies provide coverage to the policyholder regardless of who was responsible for the collision or cover the medical expenses of the other driver. They are referred to as no-fault states and tort states.

Learn more: How much does car insurance go up after an accident?

Cheapest car insurance companies in Alabama for drivers with at-fault accidents

If you are looking for the cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident, Nationwide is your best bet. It offers insurance at $1,610 per year.

CompanyRates before an at-fault accidentRates after an at-fault accident
Allstate$1,550 $2,425
Auto-Owners$1,640 $2,111
Farmers$2,088 $2,968
Geico$1,148 $1,938
Nationwide$991 $1,610
Progressive$1,937 $3,314
State Farm$1,705 $2,065
Travelers$1,318 $1,856
USAA$1,151 $1,739

Reckless driving

Reckless driving is a grave offense with serious consequences. Unlike other traffic violations, it is usually classified as a misdemeanor. It carries severe penalties such as hefty fines or even imprisonment, depending on the state laws, according to Findlaw, an online legal information resource.

Compare the car insurance rates for drivers with and without a reckless driving violation in Alabama.

ViolationReckless driving
Rates after a reckless driving$2,384
Rates before a reckless driving$1,503
$ Difference$881
% Increase59%

Cheapest car insurance companies in Alabama for reckless a driving violation

CompanyRates before a reckless driving violationsRates after a reckless driving violations
Allstate$1,550 $2,082
Auto-Owners$1,640 $3,192
Farmers$2,088 $3,267
Geico$1,148 $2,421
Nationwide$991 $2,015
Progressive$1,937 $2,890
State Farm$1,705 $1,849
Travelers$1,318 $2,015
USAA$1,151 $1,728

Cheapest car insurance options for high-risk drivers in Alabama

Use the calculator below to see the cheapest companies for high-risk drivers in Alabama by violation.

Average cost of car insurance in Alabama for high-risk driver

Select your state and risk factor below to see the insurance company and its
average annual full coverage rates.

Average Annual Car Insurance Rate for At-fault bodily injury accident in Alabama is $2,884
Show Graph View
Company Name Insurance Rates
Travelers $2,078
State Farm $2,151
USAA $2,210
Nationwide $2,235
Auto-Owners $2,696
Geico $2,845
Allstate $3,379
Progressive $3,944
Farmers $4,269

How to lower your car insurance rate if you are a high-risk driver

There are ways to lower car insurance rates even if you are a high-risk driver.

Increase in car insurance rates for high-risk drivers: By driver profile

Resources & Methodology

Sources

Findlaw. “Reckless driving laws by state.” Accessed January 2023.

Methodology

Data is sourced from the Auto Problems Report 2022. Rates are based on the driving profile of a 40-year-old male driver who drives a Honda Accord LX and opts for a full-coverage policy with coverage limits of 100/300/100 and a $500 comprehensive and collision deductible across around 1500 ZIP codes with 50,00,736 records from 27 companies.
Note: In most states, USAA is the cheapest company for drivers with traffic violations, but it is only available to military members, veterans and their immediate families.

Laura Longero

Ask the Insurance Expert

Laura Longero

Executive Editor

Laura Longero is an insurance expert and Executive Editor at CarInsurance.com, where she specializes in helping consumers navigate the complexities of the financial and insurance industries. She has 15 years of experience educating people about finance and car insurance. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she worked as a reporter and editor at the USA Today Network. Her expertise provides readers with practical guidance, helping them make informed choices about their financial and insurance needs.

John McCormick

Ask the Insurance Expert

John McCormick

Editorial Director

John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.

Leslie Kasperowicz

Ask the Insurance Expert

Leslie Kasperowicz

Executive Editor

Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.

Nupur Gambhir

Ask the Insurance Expert

Nupur Gambhir

Managing Editor

Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.

Please Enter Valid Question. Min 50 to max 250 characters are allowed. Only (& ? , .) charcters are allowed.
Please Enter Valid Email.
Error: Security check failed
Thank You, Your message has been received. Our team of auto insurance experts typically answers questions within five working days. Note that due to the volume of questions we receive, not all may be answered. Due to technical error, please try again later.
author image
Contributing Writer

Prachi is an insurance writer with a master’s degree in business administration. Through her writing, she hopes to help readers make smart and informed decisions about their finances. She loves to travel and write poetry.