Who Has Affordable Buffalo Car Insurance for Drivers with a Bad Driving Record?

Shopping around for cheap car insurance is not the easiest thing to do, and deciding which insurers offer the lowest-priced insurance rates for drivers with a bad driving record will involve even more perseverance. Every car insurance company uses a little different formula for filing rates in each state, so first let’s look at the rankings for the most competitive insurance companies in New York.

Keep in mind that New York insurance rates are based on many factors that may substantially change the cost of having a policy. That is why it is crucial to compare lots of rates to find the lowest car insurance rates for drivers with a bad driving record. Car insurance prices are determined by many different factors and can change substantially, so the best option six months ago may now be an over-priced policy.

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Rankings for the cheapest New York auto insurance companies
Rank Company Cost Per Year
1 USAA $1,187
2 Erie $1,242
3 Utica National $1,504
4 Allstate $1,541
5 Progressive $1,558
6 Travelers $1,559
7 MetLife $1,572
8 Amica $1,628
9 Preferred Mutual $1,686
10 New York Central Mutual $1,892
11 State Farm $1,904
12 GEICO $1,926
13 Safeco $1,946
14 Central Mutual $2,008
15 Liberty Mutual $2,026
16 Hanover $2,393
17 Encompass $2,689
18 Nationwide $3,054
19 Mercury $3,926
20 21st Century $4,281
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USAA normally has some of the best car insurance rates in Buffalo at around $1,187 each year. Erie, Utica National, Allstate, and Progressive also make the cut as some of the most economical Buffalo, NY car insurance companies.

As the rates illustrate above, if you currently have a policy with Utica National and switched to USAA, you could see a yearly price reduction of around $317. Insureds with Allstate may save as much as $354 a year, and Progressive customers might lower prices by up to $371 a year.

It’s important to note that these policy rates are averages across all ages of drivers and types of vehicles and do not take into consideration a specific location for drivers with a bad driving record. So the auto insurance company that is best suited for you may not even be in the top 20 companies in the list above. That illustrates why you need to quote rates from as many companies as possible using your own specific driver and vehicle information.

The car, truck, or SUV on the policy is probably the most important factor when shopping around for affordable insurance for drivers with a bad driving record. Vehicles with lower acceleration and performance, good crash test ratings, or a track record of few liability claims will cost significantly less to insure than fast, unsafe models. The information below outlines auto insurance costs for a selection of the most cost-effective vehicles to buy coverage for.

Cheapest Vehicles to Insure in Buffalo, NY
Make and Model Estimated Cost for Full Coverage
Hyundai Elantra GLS Touring Station Wagon $8,253
Ford Escape XLT 2WD $8,258
Honda CR-V EX-L 2WD $8,361
Toyota Prius $8,808
Jeep Wrangler Sport Islander Package 4WD 2-Dr $8,865
Toyota Tacoma 4WD $9,225
Ford Edge SE 2WD $9,235
Ford Focus S 4-Dr Sedan $9,295
Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 4WD $9,477
Honda Odyssey EX $9,659
Chevrolet Impala LT $9,672
Dodge Grand Caravan Crew $9,766
Toyota RAV4 Limited 4WD $9,771
Toyota Corolla LE $9,813
Chevrolet Malibu LT $9,874
Toyota Camry XLE $10,119
Volkswagen Jetta SE 4-Dr Sedan $10,213
Ford F-150 Lariat King Ranch 2WD $10,221
Chevrolet Equinox LTZ AWD $10,213
Honda Civic GX 4-Dr Sedan $10,244
Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 2WD $10,297
Dodge Ram 3500 Mega Cab Laramie 2WD $10,512
Dodge Ram Quad Cab TRX4 Off Road 2WD $10,600
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Table data assumes single male driver age 30, two speeding tickets, two at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and New York minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and homeowner. Estimates do not factor in garaging location in Buffalo, NY which can influence premium rates noticeably.

Based on these rates, we can tell that models like the Hyundai Elantra, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Toyota Prius, and Jeep Wrangler should be a few of the most affordable vehicles to insure for bad drivers. The price of auto insurance will tend to be more expensive just because there is more claim exposure for drivers with a bad driving record, but overall those particular models will probably have the lowest insurance prices that you’ll find.

For bad drivers, one of the big things that aid in calculating car insurance rates is where you normally keep your vehicle. More populated areas tend to pay more, whereas areas with less people or fewer weather incidents have the gratification of cheaper auto insurance rates.

The table below lists the priciest cities in New York for drivers with a bad driving record to buy auto insurance in. Buffalo is ranked #13 with the annual price of $1,533 for the average insured, which is approximately $128 each month.

How much does car insurance cost in Buffalo, NY?
Rank City Average Per Year
1 New York $2,654
2 Freeport $2,281
3 Hempstead $2,211
4 Levittown $1,981
5 Mount Vernon $1,978
6 Yonkers $1,920
7 West Babylon $1,913
8 Brentwood $1,910
9 Hicksville $1,900
10 Coram $1,784
11 White Plains $1,629
12 New Rochelle $1,627
13 Buffalo $1,533
14 Cheektowaga $1,253
15 West Seneca $1,237
16 Niagara Falls $1,201
17 Tonawanda $1,177
18 Syracuse $1,097
19 Utica $1,092
20 Rochester $1,067
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Prices are comparative as specific location information can revise coverage rates substantially.

Violations and accidents raise rates

The best way to enjoy the best insurance rates for bad drivers is to pay attention while driving and avoid accidents and violations. The illustration below demonstrates how speeding tickets and accidents can affect car insurance costs for different insured age categories. Data assumes a married female driver, comp and collision included, $500 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.

In the chart above, the average cost of car insurance in Buffalo per year with a clean driving record and no accidents is $1,059. Get written up for one speeding ticket and the average cost rises to $1,231, an increase of $172 each year. Then include two accidents along with the one speeding ticket and the annual cost of insurance for drivers with a bad driving record jumps again to an average of $2,739. That’s an increase of $1,680, or $140 per month, just for not driving responsibly!

Finding the highest-rated company can be rather challenging considering how many companies are available to choose from in New York. The company rank data in the next section can help you analyze which car insurance providers to look at when comparing rates. These rankings only include companies that write coverage in many states, so smaller companies that only insure vehicles in New York will not be included in this list.

Top 15 Insurance Companies for Drivers with a Bad Driving Record in New York
Company Value Customer Service Claims Customer Satisfaction A.M Best Rating Overall Score
The General 96 100 92 91% A- 95
Mercury Insurance 87 96 100 87% A+ 93.4
The Hartford 88 96 91 93% A+ 92.6
Progressive 84 94 99 90% A+ 92.4
Travelers 84 93 100 87% A++ 92.3
State Farm 84 93 95 87% A++ 91
Farmers Insurance 87 92 90 85% A 90.6
Erie Insurance 92 90 82 88% A+ 88.5
Safeco Insurance 85 91 87 86% A 88.4
USAA 71 93 98 87% A++ 88
GEICO 73 93 95 85% A++ 87.1
21st Century 85 85 91 89% A 86.9
Liberty Mutual 72 91 97 83% A 86.4
AAA Insurance 85 85 88 86% A 85.8
Nationwide 71 90 93 83% A+ 84.9
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Data Source: Insure.com Best Car Insurance Companies

The insurance agencies listed below can answer your questions and help you decide which coverages are best, as some drivers wish to get some professional advice when shopping around for cheaper insurance for drivers with a bad driving record. It can be hard to find the best coverage on your own, so getting professional guidance from a licensed agent can bring peace of mind knowing your coverage gives you sufficient protection if you have a claim.

To locate a Buffalo insurance agent close to you, click the button at the bottom.

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How to find cheaper auto insurance for drivers with a bad driving record

Lowering your rates is not difficult, and here are a few money-saving ideas that can help drivers find cheaper auto insurance.

The last tip in the list is incredibly important, as was stressed in this write-up. Car insurance rates can be adjusted at any time, so don’t be unwilling to buy a different policy if a cheaper rate is available.

Staying with the same car insurance company is fine, but is isn’t recommended if your bullheadedness ends up costing you money that could be spent on other things. If you have a few minutes, compare rates to find cheaper insurance for drivers with a bad driving record in Buffalo.