High risk car insurance

How we calculate Comprehensive Car Insurance Finder Scores

Read full methodology

What different scores mean

9+

Excellent

These products offer the best value and outcomes considering various product features and price.

7+

Great

Competitive products within their group.

5+

Standard

But these products still offer reasonable value and have the basics sorted.

0+

Basic

Offering basic cover with limited features or higher pricing.

What makes a driver considered ‘high risk’?

Largely, people are considered high risk drivers because they’ve:

• Got prior claims for an at-fault accident
• Got multiple fines for things like speeding or other forms of dangerous driving
• Been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI)
• Had their licence suspended
• Have a criminal record for something unrelated to driving, like fraud or arson
• Done nothing wrong, they’re just younger drivers — typically under the age of 25
• Done nothing wrong again, they just drive longer distances per year and therefore are on the road more often, increasing their exposure to accidents

Can I get car insurance if I’m a high risk driver?

Most likely but it’ll depend on why you’ve been deemed a ‘high risk’ driver and how long ago any offences occurred.

In some cases, the insurer will decide you’re risky and up your premium. This is particularly true in the case of younger drivers, high mileage drivers, those with prior at-fault claims, and those with speeding fines.

In other, more serious cases, they'll decide you’re too risky and refuse to cover you. This is particularly true for those with DUIs, licence suspensions and criminal records. However, not all insurers are created equal and we’ve found a bunch who may cover you for some of these instances.

Car insurance for drivers with a licence suspension

Every month, we source quotes from 11 car insurers in Australia. We answer "yes" when asked if the driver's licence has been "cancelled, suspended or restricted" due to any driving offence(s). Of the 11, we were only able to return quotes for 3 providers.

Keep in mind, whether you'll actually be able to get cover depends on your specific offence, individual circumstances and your risk profile.

Brand	Annual cost	Apply
	$1,946.26	Get quote
	$1,919.81	Get quote

^{Prices accurate as of February 2026}

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Finder Score	Roadside Assistance	Accidental damage	Agreed or market value
Promoted Finder Score 8.2 Great QBE Comprehensive	Finder Score 8.2 Great			Agreed or Market	Save $75 when you purchase a new comprehensive policy online. T&Cs apply.	Who it might be good for: Those who want a trustworthy insurer and more cover than other brands, such as 3-year new car replacement (e.g. they'll give you money for a new car for up to 3 years if yours is written off).	Get Quote View details Compare product selection Compare	loading

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Case study

"I had my licence suspended at 18. It was only low range speeding, but NSW has a no tolerance rule for P-platers. As a result, I later had to cop higher car insurance premiums for like 10 years, as I was considered a high risk driver. I also had way fewer options, as a lot of companies wouldn't cover me at all. The only way I was able to save money was going with third party property damage cover rather than comprehensive. It was super frustrating but at least I had some level of cover."

Tim Bennett

Insurance Publisher

Finder survey: How many people have accrued demerit points for a driving offence?

Car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident claim

Every month, we run quotes from 10 popular car insurance providers in Australia to see who might offer cover for drivers with an at-fault accident claim. To get our quotes, we chose “yes” when asked about a past accident claim and selected "at fault".

It’s worth noting, usually, insurers asked about offences in the last 3 or 5 years. So if your at fault claim is beyond then, you won’t need to list it.

The good news is, we were able to return quotes for all 10 providers. The bad news is, it’s a little expensive.

Remember, the below should be used as a guide only. Your own risk profile will differ and your own quotes will reflect your personal circumstances.

Brand	Annual cost	Apply
	$1,438.35	Get quote
	$1,017.33	Get quote
	$1,119.07	Get quote
	$2,105.68	Get quote
	$2,456.93	Get quote
	$2,116.26	Get quote
	$2,594.69	More info
	$1,068.21	More info
	$2,225.09	More info
	$2,074.87	Get quote

^{Prices accurate as of February 2026}

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Finder Score	Roadside Assistance	Accidental damage	Agreed or market value
Promoted Finder Score 8.2 Great QBE Comprehensive	Finder Score 8.2 Great			Agreed or Market	Save $75 when you purchase a new comprehensive policy online. T&Cs apply.	Who it might be good for: Those who want a trustworthy insurer and more cover than other brands, such as 3-year new car replacement (e.g. they'll give you money for a new car for up to 3 years if yours is written off).	Get Quote View details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Promoted Finder Score 8.3 Great Bingle Comprehensive	Finder Score 8.3 Great			Market	Summary: Bingle car insurance delivers decent coverage across the basics, such as damage to your car, theft and storms. Who it might be good for: Drivers looking for a no-frills policy with accessible coverage options.	Get Quote View details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Promoted Finder Score 9.9 Excellent Budget Direct Comprehensive Finder Award	Finder Score 9.9 Excellent	Optional		Agreed or Market	Receive 15% off your first year's premium when you purchase cover online. T&Cs apply.	Summary: Budget Direct Comprehensive is highly commended as a feature-packed car insurance. It's cheaper than most, plus you can lower costs by adding age restrictions. Who it might be good for: Anyone who wants a good value policy.	Get Quote View details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder Score 9.9 Excellent Qantas Comprehensive	Finder Score 9.9 Excellent	Optional		Agreed or Market	Earn up to 35,000 Qantas Points with every car insurance policy. Ends 1 April 2026. Plus save 15% on your 1st year’s premium when you purchase online. T&Cs apply.	Summary: You need car insurance so why not get one that lets you earn Qantas Points? It's good value too (it's underwritten by the same insurer as Budget Direct). Who it might be good for: People who want more bang for their buck with Qantas Points.	Get Quote View details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder Score 8.6 Great Australian Seniors Comprehensive	Finder Score 8.6 Great	Optional		Agreed	Save 5% on your first year's car insurance premium by holding a valid Seniors Card. T&Cs apply.	Finder’s summary: Australian Seniors’ comprehensive policy includes complimentary hire car for a stolen car, up to $1,000 for a damaged trailer or caravan, up to $500 for emergency travel and accommodation cover. Who it might be good for: People over 50 years old looking for flexible cover options.	Get Quote View details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder Score 8.3 Great Huddle Comprehensive	Finder Score 8.3 Great	Optional		Agreed or Market	Summary: Huddle's comprehensive policy will cover you if your vehicle is damaged or lost as a result of a collision, a natural event, a malicious act, theft or fire. It also includes up to $500 for essential repairs. Who it might be good for: Someone who drives less than 15,000 km a year can opt for Pay As You Drive cover.	Get Quote View details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder Score 8 Great Real Comprehensive	Finder Score 8 Great	Optional		Agreed	Summary: Real Comprehensive Car Insurance provides similar coverage to other insurers for the important stuff like looking after your car if it's stolen or you crash. It's also one of the few insurers who offer a Pay As You Drive policy, so you might be able to save big if you don't drive much. Who it might be good for: Those that don't drive much can take advantage of its Pay As You Drive policy.	Get Quote View details Compare product selection Compare	loading

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Getting cheaper car insurance for high risk drivers

As you’ll — rather painfully — know, getting car insurance when you’re deemed a high risk driver, can be expensive. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to save that don’t rely on having a squeaky clean driving history. Here’s what you can do:

• Take advantage of sign up discounts. Many insurers offer up to 15% off —sometimes even more — your first year’s premium when you buy online. That’s over $100 in savings for anyone’s quote that lands in the thousands.
• Choose a higher excess. This can lower your premium, but you'll pay more upfront if you make a claim. Read more about car insurance excess.
  Restrict who can drive your car. Excluding young drivers, such as those under 25, and naming who else will drive your vehicle are both ways you could reduce costs.
• Pay premiums annually. If possible, paying premiums annually can be cheaper than paying monthly or fortnightly.
• Get quotes for both agreed and market value. Insuring your car for market value used to be a good way to lower your premium but as the second hand car market booms, this isn't always the case anymore. Depending on your car, it may be cheaper to insure for an agreed value. Getting a quote for each and weighing up the pros and cons is a good way to know your options and reduce costs.
• Shop around and compare your options. Every insurer is so different and there’s often hundreds of dollars difference in the quotes. Don’t pay more than you need to.

FAQs

• Can I get car insurance with an accident history?

  Most likely, yes. Your premiums may be more expensive but largely, insurers are still happy to cover you.
  If you have multiple past at-fault accident claims then you may have a harder time finding cover but for just one, you should be able to find cover.

• What makes someone a high risk driver?

  Typically, a high risk driver is considered as someone who has:

  • Got prior claims for an at-fault accident
  • Got multiple fines for things like speeding or other forms of dangerous driving
  • Been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI).
  • Had their licence suspended
  • Have a criminal record for something unrelated to driving, like fraud or arson
  • Done nothing wrong, they’re just younger drivers — typically under the age of 25
  • Done nothing wrong again, they just drive longer distances per year and therefore are on the road more often, increasing their exposure to accidents

• What insurance companies in Australia will cover high-risk drivers?

  Our research shows that the following should cover those who’ve had a licence suspension:

  People with a licence suspension:

  • QBE
  • Kogan

  And if you’ve got an at-fault prior accident claim, then our research shows that you may be able to find cover with the following:

  • Bingle
  • Budget Direct
  • Qantas
  • Australian Seniors
  • Huddle
  • Real
  • Ahm
  • Coles
  • Everyday
  • QBE

• Can I get car insurance while my licence is suspended?

  Most likely, yes but you’ll just need to tell your insurer that your licence is suspended when you’re prompted for this information in the quote form.
  Our research shows there’s at least 3 insurers who may be willing to cover those with a suspended licence.

Written by

Peta Taylor

Publisher of Insurance

Peta Taylor is a publisher at Finder, working across all of insurance. She's been analysing product disclosure statements and publishing articles for over 2 years. Peta is passionate about demystifying complex insurance products to help users make well educated decisions with confidence. Peta is part of Finder's insurance awards team and works alongside editorial and insights experts to bring users the best insurance products every year. See full bio

Co-written by

James Martin

Journalist

James Martin was the insurance editor at Finder. He has written on a range of insurance and finance topics for over 7 years. James often shares his insurance expertise as a media spokesperson and has appeared on Prime 7 News, Insurance News, 7NEWS and The Guardian. An experienced journalist, James' work has featured in publications including The Irish Times, Companies100 and In Business. He holds a Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification and a Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification, both of which meet the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). See full bio

James's expertise

James has written 182 Finder guides across topics including:

• Car, home, life, health, travel and pet insurance
• Managing the cost of living
• Money-saving tips