I've been wondering about this lately... say you get a couple speeding tickets or maybe a minor accident that's your fault. Nothing crazy, but enough that the insurance company tags you as "high-risk." Does anyone know how much your coverage changes? Like, do they force you to buy extra coverage or special policies, or is it just way more expensive? Curious if anyone's dealt with this personally and how it worked out.
Had a friend who went through this exact thing—couple speeding tickets and one fender-bender. They didn't force him into special coverage or anything, but his premiums definitely jumped up quite a bit. Took him about two years of clean driving to get back to normal rates...
Actually, from what I've seen, some insurers do push you into special coverage if your record gets messy enough. Happened to me after a couple speeding tickets and a minor accident—my company didn't just hike my rates, they flat-out refused renewal. Had to shop around step-by-step until I found one willing to cover me at a higher premium. Took about three years of squeaky-clean driving before I could switch back to a regular policy... Maybe it depends on the insurer?
Yeah, sounds rough... but honestly, shopping around is probably the smartest move anyway. I've noticed some insurers are way more forgiving than others. Plus, three years isn't forever—good on you for sticking it out and getting back to normal rates.
"Plus, three years isn't forever—good on you for sticking it out and getting back to normal rates."
Yeah, three years can feel like a lifetime when you're stuck paying those higher premiums. I remember when I got dinged after a minor fender-bender (totally my fault, unfortunately). My insurer at the time wasn't exactly forgiving, and shopping around definitely helped ease the pain a bit. Still, it taught me to be extra cautious—insurance companies have long memories, and even small mistakes can haunt you longer than you'd think...
