The perception is that 20 something males are high-risk drivers. But in reality anyone that has had a major violation or several smaller violations, from any social or economic background, may be considered to be a high-risk driver by car insurance companies. New drivers can also start off being classified as high-risk until they’ve established a good driving record.

Your classification as a high-risk driver could also be due to the type of vehicle you drive. Driving a high performance sports car is considered a higher risk, but did you know that traveling the country in a motor home can get you classified as high-risk as well? If your insurance premium is too expensive and you have a good driving record you might need to consider selling your car and buying a safe low profile vehicle.

Don’t forget to get your premium payment in on time. Paying your premium late can result in lapsed coverage which could land you in the high-risk category resulting in a more expensive car insurance premium.

Insurance premiums for high-risk (or nonstandard) drivers vary depending on your location (rural is cheaper than city), age (older is cheaper than younger), driving experience and record as well as the vehicle you drive.

If you are required to provide your state department with an SR-22 form due to a conviction, you will need to find an insurance company that provides this service, not all insurers do so this will be another hurdle.

At the end of the day being classified as a high-risk driver is going to result in your insurance policy costing a lot more. In general you can expect your premium to be 10-15% higher and up to three times the price of premiums for standard drivers. How much more your premium is will depend on why you’re in the high-risk category.

Many popular insurers sell policies to high-risk drivers, so you do have options and you should shop around to get the cheapest policy. As a last resort, you could be stuck with insurance from your state, which is going to be very expensive. No matter what your situation is driving without insurance is putting yours and others lives and property at risk.

Establishing a clean record can take between 3 and 5 years, and is well worth it due to the significant reduction you will receive in your car insurance premium. Be sensible (don’t drive while intoxicated), obey laws and police and get your premium payments in on time and you will be on the road to being classified as a standard driver.