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.
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.
Finder survey: How many people have accrued demerit points for a driving offence?
Response
Male
Female
Yes
56.25%
45.59%
No
41.67%
53.26%
I have never driven before
2.08%
1.15%
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1006 Australians, December 2023
Car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident claim
Every month, we run quotes from 11 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 11 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.
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
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.
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
Our research shows that the following should cover those who’ve had a licence suspension:
People with a licence suspension:
Australia Post
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
Australia Post
Real
Ahm
Coles
Everyday
QBE
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.
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
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, WIN News, Insurance News, 7NEWS and The Guardian. 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 204 Finder guides across topics including:
Just like your car, you can protect your boat in the same way with insurance. Boat insurance can cover you for a range of things from personal liability and third party damage, to natural disasters and vandalism.
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