High risk car insurance
Getting car insurance for a high risk driver can be possible, it just depends on the offence and how long it's been. Learn more about your cover options below.
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.
Key takeaways
- Your ability to find car insurance as a high risk driver depends on the offence, how long it’s been and the insurer’s criteria.
- We found 2 providers who said they may provide cover for those who have had a licence suspension.
- We found 10 providers who said they may provide cover for those with an at-fault accident claim.
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
We source quotes from 10 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 10, we were only able to return quotes for 2 providers.
Keep in mind, whether you'll actually be able to get cover depends on your specific offence, individual circumstances and your risk profile.
2 of 2 results
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Finder Score for car insurance
We analyse over 30 car insurance products across insurance providers, and rate each one for price and features. We collect up to 36 quotes per product, for male and female drivers in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia. Quotes are collected for 20 year olds, 30 year olds and 60 year olds, assuming an excess of $850 for a 2020 Toyota Corolla 4 door sedan model, with an average 15,000 kms driven each year. While we are not allowed to display actual quotes, our Finder Score aims to serve as an indicative guide to how cost and feature competitive a product might be for you.
Our feature score assesses each product for more than 15 features across loss and damage coverage, repairs and assistance coverage, personal items coverage and policy coverage. Features we assess include but are not limited to legal liability, essential repairs, new car replacement, car hire events, roadside assistance, agreed or market value, windscreen damage and natural disaster coverage.
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."
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
In April 2026, we ran 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.
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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.
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