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Nonstandard auto insurers: who they serve and what to watch
Nonstandard auto insurers cover drivers with violations, lapses, SR-22s or thin credit. The main companies, how policies differ and what to check.
Nonstandard auto insurers specialize in drivers that standard insurers price very high or decline: people with a DUI, several tickets or accidents, a lapse in coverage, an SR-22 requirement, a foreign or new license, or little credit history. Their policies are usually built around low down payments and basic coverage, and some save money with narrower terms. They are a legitimate, regulated market, but you should check limits, fine print and the insurer's financial strength more carefully than with a standard policy.
Who nonstandard insurers serve
A high-risk driver in insurance terms is anyone whose record or profile falls outside an insurer's standard underwriting rules. Common reasons drivers end up in the nonstandard auto insurance market:
- A DUI or other major violation, or several minor ones
- At-fault accidents in the past three to five years
- A required SR-22 or FR-44 filing
- A lapse in coverage or no prior insurance
- A new, foreign or suspended-then-reinstated license
- Limited credit history, or a preference for paying cash in person
Many nonstandard customers are simply budget shoppers who want the lowest legal policy. Being in this market is usually temporary; as violations age off your record, standard insurers become options again. See high-risk car insurance: options when insurers say no.
The main nonstandard insurers
Some of the biggest nonstandard brands belong to national groups; others are independent specialists.
Brands owned by larger groups
| Brand | Parent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dairyland and The General | Sentry Insurance | Sentry's whole personal auto business is nonstandard; it bought The General from American Family at the end of 2024. The group ranked 16th nationally with $3.07 billion of 2025 auto premium |
| Kemper Auto and Infinity Insurance | Kemper | Ranked 17th with $2.98 billion; sold through independent agents in 10 states, with Infinity using Spanish-bilingual agents |
| Bristol West | Farmers group | Sold nationally |
| National General and Direct Auto Insurance | Allstate | Direct Auto sells through contact centers and retail stores |
| GAINSCO | State Farm | Minimum-limits specialist bought in 2020 |
Progressive has written both standard and nonstandard policies since 1993.
Independent specialists
| Insurer | Where | How it sells |
|---|---|---|
| Fred Loya Insurance (Fred Loya) | About a dozen Sun Belt and Midwest states | 800-plus company storefronts, many inside Walmart Supercenters and grocery stores; same-day policies, no credit check |
| Aspire General Insurance | California, Arizona, Texas | Independent brokers; low down payments |
| AssuranceAmerica | 13 states | More than 9,500 independent agents; no credit check |
| GoAuto Insurance | Eight Southern and Western states | Direct only: online, phone and storefronts |
| Safeway Insurance | 12 states | Independent agents; family-owned since 1959 |
| United Automobile Insurance Company | Almost entirely Florida | Independent agents through an affiliated managing general agent |
| First Acceptance Insurance | 15 states | Independent agents |
Others profiled on this site include Mendota Insurance (Mendota Insurance), Warrior Insurance Network, Traders Insurance, Anchor General Insurance and Ocean Harbor Insurance.
Program and fronting carriers
Many nonstandard policies, especially in Texas, are designed and sold by a managing general agent and issued by a fronting carrier or county mutual insurance company such as Home State Insurance Group, Old American County Mutual (Old American County Mutual) or Incline P&C Group. The company on your declarations page may not be the brand you bought from. See texas county mutuals and fronting carriers: who really insures you.
How nonstandard policies differ
- Lower limits by default. Many quotes start at the state minimum.
- Low down payments and frequent installments, often with installment fees.
- Named driver terms. Some policies cover only listed drivers (named driver policy), and some ask you to list excluded drivers in your household.
- Stricter rules on business use, territory and unlisted drivers.
- More in-person and cash options, such as storefront offices.
- Fast SR-22 and FR-44 filings, often issued the same day.
What to watch
- Financial strength. Several smaller nonstandard insurers have no current AM Best rating or carry a rating below the A range. Check the AM Best rating of the issuing company, and its date.
- Regulatory history. Look up the company with your state insurance department. A 2025 Florida examination of United Automobile Insurance, for example, found its loss reserves were short, as noted in its profile.
- Claims experience. In the J.D. Power 2026 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, several nonstandard brands scored below their regional averages, including Fred Loya in Texas and Kemper in California. Some, such as Dairyland in the Southwest, scored near the middle.
- Total cost. Add the down payment, policy fees and installment fees for the full term (paying in full vs monthly: installment fees and discounts).
- Who is covered. Confirm that everyone who drives the car is covered, and what happens if an unlisted driver borrows it.
- Cancellation for nonpayment. Missing one installment can end coverage quickly and trigger an SR-22 cancellation notice to the state.
Getting out of the nonstandard market
- Keep coverage continuous, with no lapses.
- Complete any required course or filing period on time.
- Re-shop at each renewal, and especially when a violation reaches three or five years old, the lookback many insurers use (how long accidents and tickets affect your rates).
- Ask a standard insurer or an independent agent to quote you as your record improves.
- If no insurer will cover you, your state's assigned risk plan is the last resort (assigned risk plans: insurance of last resort).
Worked example
Say a driver with a DUI two years ago gets three quotes for 50/100/50 liability (hypothetical figures): $2,900 from a nonstandard brand with a $150 down payment, $3,300 from a standard insurer's high-risk tier, and $2,700 from a storefront insurer with named-driver terms and $8 installment fees. Adding $80 in fees makes the storefront policy $2,780, and its named-driver terms would leave a spouse who borrows the car uncovered. The cheapest headline price is not automatically the best fit.
Key takeaways
- Nonstandard insurers serve drivers with violations, lapses, SR-22 filings, new licenses or thin credit, plus budget shoppers.
- Big groups own several leading brands: Sentry (Dairyland, The General), Kemper (Infinity), Farmers (Bristol West) and Allstate (National General, Direct Auto).
- Expect low default limits, low down payments, installment fees and sometimes named-driver terms.
- Check the issuing company's rating, regulatory record and satisfaction scores, not just the brand.
- Treat nonstandard coverage as temporary: keep coverage continuous and re-shop as your record improves.