Top Car Insurance Companies That Only Look Back Two Years (2024)

Your driving record is very important to car insurance companies. It tells them whether or not you are a risk for them to insure.

While most companies like to see three or more years of your driving record, it is possible to find very few car insurance companies that only look back two years.

How much does insurance go up after a ticket or an accident? That will depend on your car insurance company and how they look at your driving record.

If your driving record is less than perfect, shop around to find the lowest rates for you. Each car insurance company will weigh your driving record differently and offer different rates.

Before you start reading about car insurance companies that only look back two years, enter your ZIP code to compare free quotes from companies in your area.

What car insurance companies only look back two years?

Most insurers like to see at least a car insurance three-year accident history. This gives them a look into the type of driver you are and how risky you will be to insure.

Car insurance companies that don’t only look back two years can look back up to 10 years depending on the state that you live in.

Some states only allow tickets and accidents to stay on your record for three years, while other states allow DUIs and more serious offenses to stay on your record up to 10 years.

However, you can find some companies that will only look back two years to evaluate your driving.

In many instances, rates from car insurance companies that only look back two years will be higher because they have less information about you.

Each car insurance company will weigh your driving record differently. For example, USAA car insurance rates will be much different than Geico’s or The General’s.

Insurance companies check driving records every so often to see if anything has changed. How often checks are made will also depend on your car insurance company.

How often does State Farm check driving records? The company doesn’t say how often it pulls your driving record, but you can be sure it is often enough to catch any changes.

You should also be honest with your car insurance company about anything on your driving record. In most states, accidents and tickets will stay on your record for three years. (For more information, read our “How do insurance companies find out about speeding tickets?“)

If you lie to your insurance company about your driving record, you can be committing insurance fraud according to the Insurance Information Institute.

Read More: Top Ten Insurance Companies in the United States

How does your driving record affect your car insurance rates?

It’s no secret that your driving history plays a huge role in your car insurance rates. (For more information, read our “Why Did My Car Insurance Rate Go Up? No Accident or Ticket“).

You may think a car insurance company that doesn’t look back very far will offer lower rates. However, quotes from car insurance companies that only look back two years can be higher than a traditional company.

This table shows you just how much your driving history can affect your rates.

Average Annual Car Insurance Rates Based on Driving History

Drivers with accidents, tickets, and DUIs will pay a much higher rate than drivers with a clean driving history. In fact, you can pay around $150 more per month if you have one DUI on your driving record.

If you have enough infractions, you can be labeled a high-risk driver. Not only will your car insurance rates skyrocket, but some insurers may even refuse to offer you coverage.

Read More:

• Do I have to tell my insurance company about my speeding ticket?
• Do insurance companies report accidents to the DMV?

How can drivers with bad driving records save money on car insurance?

Don’t worry if your driving history isn’t perfect. There are still ways you can save on your car insurance.

First, take a defensive driving course. Most insurance companies will offer you a discount for taking the class, and some states will even remove points from your driver’s license for the course.

Most importantly, you will learn safe driving tips to help you clean up your driving record.

Next, ask for any discounts that might be available for you. Although some discounts are based on your driving record, others are offered based on your policy, how you are as a customer, and even for the safety features on your car.

You can also consider changing your insurance to a usage-based policy. This type of insurance is generally cheaper since the majority of the rate is based on how far you drive.

Read more: Why are some car insurance companies cheaper than others?

The pros and cons of usage-based insurance are that you can save money but only if you drive very little.

Car Insurance Companies That Only Look Back Two Years: The Bottom Line

Most car insurance companies like to see at least three years of your driving record to determine your rates.

While you can find car insurance companies that only look at two years of your driving history, their rates may be higher than a traditional company.

Drivers can save money on car insurance even if they have a bad driving record by taking a defensive driving class, asking for discounts, and changing the type of insurance they have.

Shopping around can also save you money on car insurance since each company will look at your driving history differently.

Now that you know about car insurance companies that only look back two years, enter your ZIP code to compare quotes from companies near you for free to find your best rates.