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Buying Car Insurance with a Bad Driving Record
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Are you feeling down about your bad driving record? Have you faced speeding tickets, DWIs, careless driving charges, or hit and run accidents? All is not lost. Though it may not be easy for you to find affordable car insurance, we assure you there are companies out there willing and eager to help!
As the saying goes, time heals all wounds -- even the ones on your driving record. The best cure for a bad driving record really is time; the time needed for your past mistakes to erase themselves from your history. However, whether you have a DWI or DUI on record, a history of breaking local speed laws, a past blemished by leaving the scene of an accident, or a careless driving charge against you, auto insurance is available to you.
To save money now, while waiting for your bad record to fade away, you can carry a policy with a higher-than-normal deductible. You should also consider driving a vehicle that is well-received by insurers -- avoid sports cars, large trucks or SUVs, brand new or leased cars, and others that can drive up the cost of your insurance by hundreds or thousands of dollars. Make yourself as low-risk as possible, and your insurance costs will come down.
If your vehicle is affordable to repair or replace, consider purchasing only liability insurance and sacrificing comprehensive or collision coverage. As long as you are not involved in any thefts, vandalism, or accidents, carrying a liability only policy will allow you to meet legal minimums for insurance coverage while still saving as much money as you can.
Does your driving record make you practically uninsurable? Even if high risk insurance specialists have refused you, every state offers liability insurance through the “shared market,” allowing auto insurance companies to pool their resources in order to cover the riskiest drivers. The cost will be very high -- so make sure that you have shopped around for the best rates on auto insurance first -- but at least you will have the legal protections necessary to operate your vehicle in your state.
Perhaps most importantly, commit to changing your bad habits before they get you into even more trouble. Attend Alcoholics Anonymous or similar meetings if you have a problem with DWIs or other traffic violations related to alcohol or drug impairment. If an addiction is not the issue, make sure to have a sober, designated driver on hand or use public transportation if you are planning to consume any alcoholic beverages. Not only will you be cleaning up your driving record, but you will also be keeping yourself and others safe from harm.
Driving classes may also be a good idea for drivers with bad records. These classes can help you be more aware of your driving habits, and can teach you about local laws, defensive driving, and how to make better choices on the road.
If the rising cost of car insurance is the only negative thing to come out of your poor driving history, be thankful. Auto insurance will get cheaper as long as you maintain a clean record, but an accident that injures another driver will weigh on your mind forever.
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