If you are paying a lot for your car insurance coverage, it could be because you are a high-risk driver. A driver in this category is one that insurance companies think are seen as greater liabilities, and insurance companies always charge more to insure people like this, as more is at stake. If you are a high-risk driver right now, you should realize that you will not stay in this category forever. Here are some of the factors that make people high-risk drivers, as well as information to help you understand how long you will be labeled a high-risk driver.

The definition

The first thing to understand is what it means to be labeled as a high-risk driver. When you receive the label of high-risk driver, it simply means that the insurance company thinks there is a higher risk that you will end up causing an accident or being involved in other trouble on the road that leads to a claim being filed against your policy. Anytime this occurs, the insurance company must pay out money to settle the claim, and this is never a good thing for insurance companies.

Reasons for falling into this category

There are so many different reasons that people fall into this category, and some of the reasons are out of a person's control. For example, teen drivers are considered high-risk drivers, and male teen drivers are even more of a risk than female teen drivers. Your age is a factor, but this is out of your control.

The other factors are within your control, though, and they include your driving record, previous claim status, and record of insurance history. If you have violations on your driving record, such as speeding tickets or DUIs, these will go against you and cause you to be a high-risk driver. Driving without insurance also puts you in this category, as well as having a lapse in auto coverage. These are some of the top reasons you might be in this category.  

The time frame for being considered a high-risk driver

It is hard to say how long you will be a high-risk driver, as it will depend on so many different variables, but if you can keep insurance coverage on your car and avoid all traffic violations, you might be able to get out of this category in as little as two to three years.

You do not always have to be a high-risk driver; however, you will need to make sure you follow all the rules and laws related to driving if you want to pay lower rates in the future. For a quote, contact an auto insurance agent today.