Shopping around for reasonably-priced insurance is tough enough, and deciding which company offers the best insurance rates for drivers with a bad driving record may require even more diligence. Each auto insurance company uses slightly different criteria to set policy rates, so we’ll take a look at the overall cheapest insurance companies in Lincoln.
We do need to point out that Lincoln, NE insurance rates are based on many factors that will increase or decrease the policy premium. This price variability is why it is critical to shop around to find the best auto insurance rates for drivers with a bad driving record. Auto insurance prices are influenced by many risk factors and change substantially, so the most affordable company when you bought your policy may now not even be in the top five.
Find the Cheapest Auto Insurance for Imperfect Drivers
Safeco has some of the most affordable car insurance rates in Lincoln at around $788 each year. This is $528 less than the average price paid by Nebraska drivers of $1,316. The Hartford, Auto-Owners, Allied, and Farm Bureau Mutual also rank well as some of the cheaper Lincoln, NE insurance companies.
As the rates illustrate above, if you currently buy coverage from Allied and switched to Safeco, you could see annual savings of about $161. Insureds with Farm Bureau Mutual could save as much as $192 a year, and Nationwide policyholders might see rate reductions of $209 a year.
To find cheaper insurance rates for your vehicle, click here to start a quote or quote prices from the following companies.
Bear in mind that those estimates are averaged for all drivers and vehicles and do not take into consideration a specific zip code for drivers with a bad driving record. So the insurer that has the cheapest price for you may not even be in the top 24 companies in the list above. That illustrates why you need to get quotes using your own personalized driver profile and vehicle information.
One of the many criteria that aid in calculating auto insurance rates is where you keep your car. Areas with more people or even just a higher incidence of claims tend to have more expensive car insurance rates, whereas areas with fewer weather claims and lower vehicle theft rates have the luxury of lower rates.
The information below ranks the most expensive areas in Nebraska for drivers with a bad driving record in which to buy car insurance. Lincoln comes in at #24 with a yearly cost of $1,073 for car insurance, which is around $89 per month.
| Rank | City | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scottsbluff | $1,374 |
| 2 | Gering | $1,343 |
| 3 | Alliance | $1,340 |
| 4 | McCook | $1,331 |
| 5 | Lexington | $1,303 |
| 6 | Beatrice | $1,272 |
| 7 | Omaha | $1,270 |
| 8 | South Sioux City | $1,251 |
| 9 | North Platte | $1,250 |
| 10 | Crete | $1,234 |
| 11 | Kearney | $1,200 |
| 12 | Seward | $1,191 |
| 13 | Bellevue | $1,190 |
| 14 | Blair | $1,188 |
| 15 | Nebraska City | $1,188 |
| 16 | York | $1,180 |
| 17 | Hastings | $1,158 |
| 18 | Columbus | $1,150 |
| 19 | Fremont | $1,131 |
| 20 | Norfolk | $1,125 |
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Table data uses estimated as zip code location can impact insurance rates noticeably.
The make and model of vehicle requiring insurance is probably the largest consideration when trying to find the best insurance for drivers with a bad driving record. Vehicles with lower performance, a plethora of safety features, or a positive history of liability claims will cost much less to insure than adrenaline junky models.
The table below illustrates car insurance prices for the most economical vehicles to insure in Nebraska.
| Insured Vehicle | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda CR-V EX 2WD | $2,888 |
| Ford Escape XLS 4WD | $2,898 |
| Toyota Prius | $3,148 |
| Volkswagen Jetta 2.0T Station Wagon | $3,170 |
| Ford F-150 XL Super Cab 2WD | $3,270 |
| Ford Focus S 4-Dr Sedan | $3,288 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LT 2WD | $3,320 |
| Chevrolet Impala LS | $3,386 |
| Ford Edge SE AWD | $3,420 |
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 2WD | $3,422 |
| Toyota Camry LE | $3,431 |
| Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid | $3,422 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan Hero | $3,430 |
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Data variables include single male driver age 50, two speeding tickets, two at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Nebraska minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle. Table data does not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can change coverage rates significantly.
Looking at the rates, you can presume that makes and models like the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, and Toyota Prius will definitely be some of the cheaper vehicles to insure for bad drivers. Auto insurance rates will be higher anyway because of the fact that there is a higher risk for drivers with a bad driving record, but generally speaking those models will have the lowest prices available.
How careless driving impacts Lincoln insurance rates
The best way to earn low insurance prices in Nebraska for bad drivers is to drive attentively and avoid accidents and keep your driving record clean. The chart below shows how speeding tickets and at-fault collisions can drive up car insurance costs for different categories of driver ages. The information is based on a married female driver, full physical damage coverage, $1,000 deductibles, and no policy discounts are applied.
In the chart above, the average cost of an auto insurance policy in Lincoln per year with no accidents or violations is $1,305. Get written up for two speeding tickets and the average cost swells to $1,846, an increase of $541 each year. Now add one accident along with the two speeding tickets and the annual cost of insurance for drivers with a bad driving record jumps again to an average of $2,398. That’s an increase of $1,093, or $91 per month, just for being a little careless behind the wheel!
Nebraska insurance company ratings
Picking the highest-rated insurer can be rather challenging considering how many choices you have in Lincoln. The company rank data below could help you pick which car insurance providers you want to consider when trying to find cheaper insurance for drivers with a bad driving record. These rankings are for companies with a national presence, so companies that focus mainly on Nebraska business will not be included in this list.
Top 10 Major Auto Insurance Companies Overall in Lincoln
- USAA
- 21st Century
- GEICO
- Nationwide
- AAA Insurance
- Liberty Mutual
- Safeco Insurance
- State Farm
- Travelers
- American Family
Top 10 Major Auto Insurance Companies in Lincoln Ranked by Value
- USAA
- GEICO
- AAA Insurance
- Liberty Mutual
- State Farm
- Allstate
- Safeco Insurance
- Travelers
- 21st Century
- Nationwide
Cost comparison with and without full coverage
Reducing the cost of insurance is the goal of most people, and a good way to pay less for insurance for drivers with a bad driving record is to buy liability only. The illustration below shows the comparison of insurance premiums with full coverage compared to only the Nebraska minimum liability coverage. The costs are based on a clean driving record, no claims, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are single, and no other discounts are factored in.
As an average for all age groups, physical damage coverage on your policy costs $1,263 per year more than just buying liability only. That is a significant amount which raises the question if paying for full coverage is worth it. There is no definitive formula for excluding full coverage, but there is a broad guideline. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is about 10% or more of the settlement you would receive from your company, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.
For example, let’s say your vehicle’s settlement value is $4,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, you would only receive $3,000 after the policy deductible has been paid. If premium cost is more than $300 annually for physical damage coverage, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
How to find economical auto insurance for drivers with a bad driving record
Here are a few money-saving ideas that can help you locate cheap auto insurance.
- Do not get tickets or violations
- Increase your credit score
- Having at-fault accidents will increase rates
- Buy safe vehicles
- Avoid filing excessive claims
- Comparison shop at least every other year
The last idea is very vital, as was discussed in this write-up. Car insurance rates fluctuate constantly, so you should be ready to switch to a new company if you can find a cheaper rate. Brand loyalty is not necessarily bad, but we do not recommend it if your bullheadedness ends up costing you a considerable chunk of change every month. In less than five minutes you could compare prices to find cheaper car insurance for drivers with a bad driving record in Lincoln.