2015's States With the Highest & Lowest Insurance Premium Penalties for High Risk Drivers

From Wallet Hub April 28, 2015

With the weather warming up and summer driving season approaching, the personal finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2015’s States with the Highest & Lowest Insurance Premium Penalties for High Risk Drivers – highlighting the states where bad drivers pay the biggest insurance premium penalty for their bad habits, and where they pay the least penalty.

We did so by comparing car insurance quotes in each of the 50 states and D.C. for hypothetical consumers who had identical demographics but a range of driving histories. This allowed us to compare the impact of various violations on car insurance premiums.

For drivers who find themselves in the high risk category, the report also includes tips for finding affordable auto insurance. A few highlights of our findings are below.

Key Stats

• Having two accidents in the last two years on your record is the most costly traffic violation, with premiums almost doubling.
• The next violation to watch out for is a DUI conviction (44% increase), followed by driving with a suspended license(40%), reckless driving (37%), and finally, the least expensive being a ticket for speeding over 20 mph (17%).
• In California, drivers can expect their premiums to go up 158% after two car accidents, the largest percentage increase for high risk drivers in any state.
• A Michigan driver with two car accidents will pay $4,253 per year more than a driver with no accidents or violations, which is the largest dollar amount jump for high risk drivers in any state.
• A speeding ticket for 20 mph over the speed limit will only trigger a $25 rise in premiums for New Hampshire drivers, which is the smallest penalty for high-risk behavior in any state.

For the full report and to see where your state ranks, please visit: LINK