Updated March 2026
What Is Non-Standard Auto Insurance Insurance?
Non-standard auto insurance provides the same core coverage types as standard policies — liability, collision, comprehensive, and uninsured motorist protection — but is underwritten by insurers who specialize in high-risk drivers. The difference is not what's covered, but who qualifies and what it costs. You select coverage limits just like any other policy, though some non-standard carriers may require higher liability minimums or restrict comprehensive and collision options until you've demonstrated payment history. Many non-standard policies include SR-22 or FR-44 filing services, which your state may require to reinstate or maintain your license after certain violations.
- You were convicted of DUI in Florida and need SR-22 coverage to reinstate your license. You purchase a non-standard policy with state minimum liability limits of 10/20/10 ($10,000 bodily injury per person, $20,000 per accident, $10,000 property damage). Your insurer files the SR-22 with the state for a $25 fee. Six months later, you rear-end another vehicle at a stoplight, causing $8,000 in damage and $15,000 in medical bills to the driver. Your liability coverage pays the full $8,000 property damage and $10,000 of the medical bills — the per-person limit. You're personally responsible for the remaining $5,000 in medical costs because you carried only state minimums.
- You have three speeding tickets and one at-fault accident in the past two years. A non-standard carrier quotes you $320/month for 100/300/100 liability limits plus collision and comprehensive with a $1,000 deductible. Two months into your policy, your car is stolen from your driveway. It's recovered with $4,500 in damage. Your comprehensive coverage pays $3,500 after your deductible. Because you've been paying premiums on time, your insurer renews your policy at the six-month mark and reduces your rate by 8% — the first step toward standard rates as your record clears.
- You let your previous policy lapse for four months due to non-payment, and now standard carriers won't quote you. You purchase a non-standard liability-only policy at $195/month to meet your state's requirements and avoid further license suspension. Three weeks later, you slide on ice and hit a guardrail, causing $2,800 in damage to your own vehicle. Your liability-only policy pays nothing for your car — you cover the repair cost yourself. If you had hit another vehicle, your liability coverage would have paid for their damage and injuries up to your policy limits, but collision coverage (which you didn't purchase) is what covers your own vehicle in at-fault accidents.
Who Needs Non-Standard Auto Insurance Insurance?
You need non-standard auto insurance if standard carriers have declined your application or quoted rates so high they're functionally a denial — typically due to DUI convictions, multiple major violations within 3-5 years, at-fault accidents with significant claims, SR-22 or FR-44 requirements, or coverage lapses longer than 30 days. It's also your best option if you've been canceled for non-payment or fraud, even if your driving record is otherwise clean. Non-standard coverage keeps you legal, protects others from your liability, and starts the clock on rehabilitating your insurance record so you can eventually return to standard-market rates.
Get quotes from both standard and non-standard carriers, even if you think you won't qualify for standard — underwriting varies widely and one DUI doesn't automatically disqualify you everywhere. If standard quotes are available but 30-50% higher than non-standard, consider the non-standard policy for the first six months, then re-shop as your record clears. Always carry at least 100/300/100 liability limits if you can afford it — state minimums leave you personally liable for any excess damages, and a non-standard policy won't protect your assets in a serious accident if your limits are too low.
How Much Does Non-Standard Auto Insurance Insurance Cost?
Non-standard auto insurance typically costs between $150 and $500 per month ($1,800 to $6,000 annually), depending on your violation history and coverage limits.
- Type of violation: DUI convictions typically increase premiums 80-250%, while at-fault accidents may add 40-100% and multiple speeding tickets 25-75%.
- SR-22 or FR-44 requirement: The filing itself costs $15-50, but needing one signals high risk and often doubles your base premium.
- Length of coverage lapse: Gaps under 30 days may add 10-20% to premiums, while lapses over 90 days can increase rates 50-100%.
- Coverage limits selected: Raising liability from state minimums to 100/300/100 typically adds $30-80/month, while adding collision and comprehensive can add $80-200/month depending on vehicle value.
- Payment history with non-standard carrier: Many insurers reduce rates by 5-15% every six months if you pay on time and avoid new violations, creating a pathway back to standard rates.
- Credit and driving record severity: Multiple compounding factors (DUI plus accident plus lapsed coverage) can push you into the highest tier, where rates may exceed $500/month even for minimum coverage.