Non-Standard Auto Coverage

Posted on by Brad Smith
What is a non-standard driver. They come in many forms and there are many reasons one might be classified as non-standard. Risky, more accidents, tickets, and multiple accidents are just a few reasons. The most common thread of non-standard drivers is that most pay significantly higher premiums. Are you a non-standard driver?
Non-Standard Drivers come in many forms

Most properly licensed persons who drive cars (including vans, SUVs, hybrids, crossovers or pickup trucks) are eligible for policies designed for standard and preferred drivers. In the insurance world, standard and preferred refer to those who typically:

  • 路Drive vehicles that are relatively inexpensive to repair or replace
  • 路Do not use their cars for business
  • 路Have good driving habits
  • 路Do not suffer impairments that seriously affect their ability to drive
  • 路Do not rack up an inordinate amount of annual mileage
  • 路Have few accidents and/or traffic violation

Drivers who fall outside of the typical range of vehicle operators qualify as non-standard drivers.

Is you auto insurance breaking the bank? If so you might have a non-standard auto insurance policy
Expensive Auto Insurance

Generally, non-standard drivers cause more losses so insurance companies may charge them substantially higher premiums or restrict the amount and type of coverage. Besides charging higher premiums, non-standard insurers often charge additional amounts for tickets and accidents. Limits are controlled by offering limits that match what is required by state laws or offering limits slightly higher than these minimums, but which are far less than what is provided by standard and preferred programs. Non-standard programs often are more restrictive, excluding coverage for situations such as special or custom vehicle features (stereo systems, custom wheels, special paint jobs, engine enhancements, etc.). These programs may also bar coverage for more situations, such as when a loss involves a car that the driver has either rented or borrowed.

Being classified as a non-standard driver is often a temporary situation that can change with the passage of time, such as newly licensed drivers, or drivers who had a period of several tickets or accidents. Other situations involve the opposite, where drivers may be re-classified because of having a medical impairment or who reach a very advanced age. Other reasons for re-classification may be due to the vehicle, such as operating a car that is too old to be written by standard insurers, as well as cars that are highly customized, are very expensive or are designed for higher performance.

There are a number of reasons why a driver鈥檚 only option is the non-standard market, including merely having a preference for a minimum amount of insurance protection. However, it is a market that provides full coverage (protecting against legal liability for causing loss to others and protecting against damage to one鈥檚 own vehicle), though the coverage is not as broad or economical as what is available from the standard market. Regardless, this market performs a critical role that permits a greater number of drivers and vehicles to get needed insurance protection.

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