Car Insurance For Convicted Drivers

Car Insurance For Convicted Drivers
by James Robinson

Is it still possible to find cheap auto insurance rates even when you are a convicted driver? Let's face it; everyone makes mistakes at some point in their life. Some people make mistakes when they are teenagers that lead them to detentions or referrals in school, suspensions, court and even jail. Some other people decide to break the law while driving which leads them to getting their license suspended or being convicted of reckless driving and driving under the influence of alcohol. Because we all deserve second chances, I'm here to tell you that if you are a convicted driver you too can be someone with cheap auto insurance. With the number of vehicles on the roads of the United States increasing and a not so perfect driving record it will be a little harder to find the low cost policy that every convicted person is looking for when is time to drive. However, do not panic because in order to get the best deal out there you will have to be patient and spend a little time and effort searching for that perfect quote you have been dreaming of.

In the United States a person may loose his or her driving privilege (that is when they take your drivers license away and they don't allow you to get another one) for many reasons. One of them is conducting a crime involving a motor vehicle in which the result is the revoking of your driver privilege (cases such as DUI's and DWI's). You can also lose your license if you fail to meet the requirements of a probation or fail to pay traffic citations issue to you, over a specified period of time. Last but not least, you will be without the privilege to drive if you accumulate more points than those allowed in your respective state (for more information on this go to your state's Department of Safety and Motor Vehicle website).

Although it is difficult to not be able to drive and to lose your privilege, a convicted driver should always be looking forward to the day when he or she will be able to once again take the car on the road. Because of this it is important to start researching what they will do when that time comes. The key to finding any cheap automobile insurance policy is to go out and shop around, or to do so within the comfort of your own home. If you are going to do it personally make a list of the local insurance agencies that you want to visit and a list of questions regarding your situation, so you can ask the agent what you should do when time comes. If on the other hand you are doing the shopping around online it is important for you to visit as many websites as possible (company websites) so you can get quotes from each of them and find the lowest price possible. You could also visit an online comparison website that will allow you to see the different between the many companies in the market. If you do this last one however, make sure that you are one hundred percent certain that the website is independent and it does not have a contract with any big auto insurance company.

If you are a driver convicted of a DUI make sure you ask insurance companies if they have some sort of classes you can attend to in which they go over the dangers of drinking and driving. This will not guarantee that your policy will be any cheaper, however; most of these classes will take points of your driving records and show the auto insurance companies that you want to change and start new without making any mistakes.

Another thing you can do in case of being convicted is asking for any special discounts that you insurance company will be willing to give you. Because discounts vary from company to company and in each state, it is important for you to know which ones apply to you. For a driver convicted of reckless driving or even DUI a defensive driving course discount would be the best choice. This discount focuses on the techniques of driving, how to avoid accidents and how to be alert at all times when behind the wheel. An insurance company will take note of this and give you a big discount on your auto insurance rates to reward you for being proactive and attending a class to improve your driving skills.

Another discount that a person can apply for is the safety feature discount; this will allow them to save some money if they have safety equipment such as air bags and anti-lock brakes in the car. If all those discounts are not enough try to drive a little less miles when you do hit the road. Most insurance companies reward what they call "low mileage" drivers and if you stay low and don't do a lot of driving in the first months after you get your driving privilege back, you will be able to save some money.

If everything else fails try to drop some coverage's or bundle your insurances. If you already have health insurance through an independent company then simply drop the medical part from your automobile insurance policy. You can also add your auto insurance to other types of insurances (life, health, homeowners, renters) if you do have them. This is what experts called bundling insurances because you will have all your services under one insurer. This will save you a lot of money because the insurer treats you as an special customer and will give you what is called the "multiple lines" discount.

As you can see being a convicted driver is never easy and finding cheap policies after a conviction could take a little time. However, if you are patient and follow the advice given above you will be able to find the lowest priced auto insurance policy in the market.