Auto Insurance for High-Risk Drivers in Mississippi

Being labeled a high-risk driver in Mississippi can mean many things, but it usually means a driver who has speeding tickets, DUIs or accidents on their record. Age, too, is a highly recurring one as well. None of this is without reason. For example, in Mississippi in 2016:

• 1 out of 3 teen deaths was a result from a car crash
• DUIs were responsible for 18{de3fc13d4eb210e6ea91a63b91641ad51ecf4a1f1306988bf846a537e7024eeb} of all traffic deaths in the state
• Speeding caused 17{de3fc13d4eb210e6ea91a63b91641ad51ecf4a1f1306988bf846a537e7024eeb} of all traffic deaths in the state

If you are a high risk driver, the most important thing you need to watch is your driving behavior. The second most important thing is your insurance premium. Mississippi high-risk auto insurance often costs twice as much as a normal policy.

Rates for high-risk car insurance in Mississippi

The rate you receive for high-risk auto insurance in Mississippi will largely depend on your risk factor because some are worse than others. Moreover, there are many high-risk factors an insurance company weighs when calculating a premium, but the most common ones are:

• Speeding tickets
• Age/ Too little time behind the wheel
• DUIs
• Accidents

We discuss each below.

Rates after a speeding ticket

If you get a speeding ticket in Mississippi, you may see a rate increase somewhere in the 20{de3fc13d4eb210e6ea91a63b91641ad51ecf4a1f1306988bf846a537e7024eeb} range. Should speeding tickets become the norm with you, your insurance premium is unlikely to level off. It will most likely go up with each speeding ticket because speeding is a major cause of accidents and fatalities on the road. Each major violation you receive suggests to the insurance company that you may file claims in the future.

Below are the average increases drivers see with major providers after receiving a speeding ticket.

Rates after an accident

As with any increase in insurance, the amount you may see will largely depend on your driving history and personal information (meaning where you live and what type of car you drive).

The table below illustrates the average rate increase received from major providers operating in Mississippi.

Besides a rate increase, if you get into too many accidents in Mississippi, you may be required to get an SR-22. Contrary to what is commonly posted online, an SR-22 is not insurance. Instead, an SR-22 is proof of insurance submitted by an insurance company to the state. Insurance companies are required by law to notify the state if a driver cancels their policy if that driver is required to have an SR-22. Basically, an SR-22 is a line of communication between insurance companies and states about individual drivers who are considered high-risk.

Rates after a DUI

The minimum increase drivers see after a DUI is 12{de3fc13d4eb210e6ea91a63b91641ad51ecf4a1f1306988bf846a537e7024eeb}, but the average increase is 47{de3fc13d4eb210e6ea91a63b91641ad51ecf4a1f1306988bf846a537e7024eeb}. However, increases largely center around the severity of the DUI and BAC, as well as past driving history. So while some companies will increase your premium more so than others, equally as important is the offense itself.

Also worth noting is that some companies may choose to either cancel a policy or not renew it after a DUI conviction. Plus, because Mississippi is an SR-22 state, you may have to find a company that is willing to submit one on your behalf (but most national companies offer this service if needed).

Rate for teen drivers

Young or new drivers are considered high-risk drivers because they do not have as much experience behind the wheel. Because of this, they may be more likely to make poor decisions. Fortunately, over time, insurance companies consider these drivers to be less of a risk and will lower their premium with each passing year they have behind the wheel.

*16 year old on their parent’s policy

Who is a high-risk driver?

According to the insurance industry, a high-risk driver is simply anyone who is at a higher risk of getting into an accident and filing a claim. However, this is too broad of a definition because insurance companies have specific things they look at. To be considered a high-risk driver, you may have one or more of the following traits:

• Being a new or teenage driver
• Multiple speeding tickets
• Multiple accidents
• DUI/ DWI
• Lapse in coverage
• Low credit score
• Multiple citations
• Living in a high-risk area
• Driving a sports car

Each insurance company has its own factors and how severe they rank each.

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

To lower your high-risk car insurance in Mississippi, you go about it the same way as you would if you were not considered high risk. This means you should look into:

• Increasing your deductibles: An increased deductible means less of a payout should you file a claim and more money out of pocket before the insurance carrier helps with the costs, but it also means a lower monthly payment. Speak with an agent to see what kind of deductible options you have, as most companies have multiple options to choose from. Choose a deductible that suits both your comfort level and budget.
• Driving an older car: Driving an older car with a high safety rating can help you save a lot on your premium. Do some research, and find a car that will also get you discounts. Many insurance companies offer vehicle-based discounts, such as dual airbag discount, or a daytime light discount. An older car you own outright could also mean that you decide not to carry comprehensive and collision coverage.
• Increasing your credit score: In Mississippi, it is legal for an insurance company to increase your premium because of your credit score. Drivers with a low credit score are statistically more likely to get into an accident and file a claim. Therefore, if you raise your credit score, your insurance premium might come down.
• Shopping around: Insurance companies charge different rates. It is not a guarantee that you will receive the same rate with another company because each insurance company uses its own pricing algorithm. One company may ding you for having a low credit score, while another may not by as much.
• Comparing discounts: Many companies offer multiple discounts, but the savings you might receive with each company may differ by a significant margin.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average cost of car insurance?

The average cost of car insurance in the United States for a full policy is $1,674 a year. In Mississippi it is $1,782.

What should I look for when choosing an insurance company?

To find the best insurance company, you may want to look at the following factors:

• J.D. Power scores for customer satisfaction ratings
• Amount of discounts and amount of savings with discounts
• AM Best ratings for financial strength
• Average premium cost
• Coverage types available
• Mobile app

Consider which of these are most important to you to find a provider that meets your needs.

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze 2021 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quoted rates are based on a 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:

• $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $50,000 property damage liability per accident
• $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
• $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
• $500 collision deductible
• $500 comprehensive deductible

To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverages that meet each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2019 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually. These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.

High-risk drivers
Incident: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base), at-fault accident, single speeding ticket, single DUI conviction and lapse in coverage.