Is your driving record slightly (or seriously) marred, and now you're having difficulty finding an auto insurance company that will cover you? For high risk drivers, auto insurance can turn into a nightmare of paperwork and expensive premiums that can make it seem as though the aggravation just isn't worth it. Since driving without insurance can be the breaking point between keeping a license and losing it, however, the last thing you want if you have been classified as a high risk driver is to be caught without coverage.

If you can't find affordable auto insurance coverage and you don't want to be caught without it, what can you do?

What is High Risk?

Before we launch into a discussion on high risk auto insurance, let's take a moment to discuss what it means to be a high risk driver. A high risk driver is one whose past driving record indicates that they're more likely to have an accident in the future. Accidents mean claims on the part of the insurance company, and since that's something they try to avoid as often as possible in order to keep their profit margin high those individuals that they're likely to have to pay out a claim for are either denied coverage or classified as high risk.

A high risk classification from an auto insurance company can be given following an accident, multiple traffic infractions, a DUI/DWI conviction, or some other form of legal disciplinary action. It is also given to young drivers (drivers who have had their license for less than five years), older drivers and those with physical or mental disabilities. There are numerous other reasons that a driver may be considered high risk, but these tend to be the most common.

What is High Risk Auto Insurance?

A high risk driver is going to find it difficult to find auto insurance. Many companies won't cover high risk drivers on a policy on their own, requiring that they be covered by another driver with a more dependable record. Other companies are willing to cover a high risk driver for a price. This is what is known as high risk auto insurance.

High risk auto insurance always carries a higher premium than a non-high risk policy. Why? Insurance companies want to increase their chances of making a profit! If a driver pays $1200 a year in premiums but accumulates $3500 worth of claims on an annual basis the insurance company is losing money. High risk drivers may pay two to three times the premium they paid previously, depending on the severity of their conviction.

What Companies Provide High Risk Auto Insurance?

Since many of the so-called "big name" auto insurance companies don't insure high risk drivers, those individuals with a less than perfect driving record are going to find themselves having to do a little bit of legwork in order to find an affordable policy. The best bet is to work with a company such as QuoteScout.com that can compare the rates of multiple insurance companies nationwide.

By comparison shopping through an online resource you will be able to look at the rates of multiple providers without finding yourself on the receiving end of a sales pitch by an insurance salesman, decreasing the chance that you'll purchase the first auto policy that falls into your lap and making it more likely that you'll find good coverage at a price you can afford.

QuoteScout helps you find the auto insurance coverage you need at the lowest price. QuoteScout provides consumers with a free, simple, and effective way to shop for insurance. As a leading online marketplace for insurance, QuoteScout works with a combination of local agents, regional and national carriers to ensure that you are provided with a wide variety of responses to your request for a quote. Please visit our website for more information at www.QuoteScout.com