Do auto insurance companies check police records?
Insurance companies do run background checks on most people who apply for insurance. If you have a record and get a policy, expect to pay much higher premiums.
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Chris Abrams
Licensed Insurance Agent
Chris is the founder of Abrams Insurance Solutions and Marcan Insurance, which provide personal financial analysis and planning services for families and small businesses across the U.S. His companies represent nearly 100 of the top-rated insurance companies. Chris has been a licensed insurance agent since 2009 and has active insurance licenses in all 50 U.S. states and D.C. Chris works tireles...
Licensed Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Oct 20, 2024
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Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Oct 20, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
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When looking for car insurance, one question some people ask is “Do insurance companies check police reports?. There are many reasons people worry about insurance background checks.
Perhaps they had a DUI years ago, and they wonder whether this could influence their acceptance or rates with a car insurance company. They may have a record due to something they did in their past and wonder what they can do.
The short answer to this is, “yes.” Car insurance companies do check police reports because convicted felons tend to be at a much higher level of risk for accidents.
This risk is proven with various statistics regarding people with a criminal record, even when the person has rehabilitated or seems to have shaken off their former bad habits that got them into the situation in the first place.Compare car insurance rates today to find out how much you could save on the coverage you need.
- Insurance companies run background checks on most people who apply for insurance
- They have to protect their level of loss and criminal behavior is a big risk
- Prove yourself by showing documentation of improvement or rehabilitation if you are in this situation
- Look for insurers who are willing to take on the risk and give you a chance to prove yourself
High-Risk Factors for Car Insurance
The following are some of the riskiest factors that insurers consider when granting insurance policies and determining your rates.
- Dangerous or violent criminals – Dangerous or violent offenders are more dangerous on the road, and there is a possibility that they could use their vehicle for criminal behavior that endangers the welfare of others including both pedestrians and other drivers. Nevetheless, it’s still possible to get car insurance for ex-offenders.
- DUIs (more than one, especially) – DUIs (especially repeated offenses) are a red flag to insurance companies. They tend to prefer people who have never had a DUI, but one is different than two or more. Once a person gets a second DUI, the tendency is to believe that the person has developed a pattern for this offense.
- Serious crimes such as kidnapping or abduction charges – Some of the most concerning crimes from an insurer’s perspective are those which involve the endangerment of others.
- Reckless or unpredictable driving – A criminal record also indicates that you may be a risk for reckless driving or unpredictable driving patterns that may put yourself or others at higher risk. This may result in much higher premiums due to your past behavior.
As you can see, insurance companies do not like to provide car insurance for felons. You are a much higher risk to yourself and those around you when you have engaged in criminal behavior in the past.
Even if your crimes had nothing to do with vehicular crimes or kidnapping, insurance companies still view you as a higher risk.
The result of this view is that they may not insure you at all if they feel you are too high of a risk to take. If you get denied for coverage with the company you are applying for, apply for another company instead.
There are some car insurance companies that accept felons, but if they do accept you, you can expect to pay much higher premiums than someone who does not have a criminal record or who has had no DUIs.
Misdemeanors such as speeding tickets or other infractions do not count as a criminal offense in most cases.
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Applying for High-Risk Auto Insurance Coverage
One thing you can do if you are denied by the main company is to ask if there is a high-risk insurance department within your company of choice.
High-risk insurance (sometimes called an indemnity company) is willing to take on higher risk drivers than those who are on the normal insurance plans.
If no such situation is available within that company, shop around some more until you find one. There are companies who are willing to take on the risk of having a driver who has a criminal record as long as you are legal to drive and have legal proof of this.
If you do have a police record, you may be asked to provide some proof of your rehabilitation.
This proof may be in the form of court documents stating that you are legal to drive. It may be a court order for counseling services or rehabilitative services, showing that are seeking help for your behavior. A letter from your attorney or counselor may suffice to show what you are doing to improve yourself and your behaviors that got you into trouble before.
Any of these documents will go in your favor because they show that you are doing everything you can to improve yourself and to lower the risk to others due to your former violation of the law.
Why Background Checks From Insurance Companies Are Important
Insurance companies may conduct background checks to assess the policyholder’s risk profile and ensure fair premiums. By examining factors such as driving records, claims history, and creditworthiness, insurers can determine the likelihood of a policyholder filing a claim or engaging in risky behavior. Background checks help ensure that insurance premiums are accurate.
Allstate Insurance Background Check
Allstate, like many other insurance companies, check car insurance convictions in the last 5 years, as part of its underwriting process. Certain types of convictions such as felonies may result in a denial of coverage or higher premiums.
National General Insurance Background Check
Background checks from National General typically include a review of an applicant’s driving record, claims history, credit history, and any criminal convictions.
Liberty Mutual Background Check
When it comes to criminal background checks, Liberty Mutual evaluates each applicant’s situation on a case-by-case basis. The company considers various factors such as the type of offense, the severity of the offense, the time elapsed since the conviction, and any mitigating circumstances.
State Farm Background Check
As part of its hiring process, State Farm conducts background checks on potential employees to ensure a safe and trustworthy work environment. These background checks typically include a review of an applicant’s criminal history, driving record, and credit history.
What to Do When You Get Car Insurance for Convicted Criminals
The truth is that no one can do anything about their past. But you can do something about the future. If you can get car insurance (which is the law), be thankful and use this opportunity to vow to never get into the bad situation that you did before.
Promise yourself that you will do everything within the law from that day forward and that you will not even get a parking ticket. The more you can get away from racking up points on your insurance; the lower your premium will be.
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Getting Car insurance With Criminal Convictions
Over time, you will see your rates start to drop somewhat, once you have proven that you can be trusted again. Make sure that you have the minimum requirement state coverages and that you carefully consider some of the optional coverages such as comprehensive or collision to cover your car.
If you do not have a felony record, good for you! Maybe you just want to know what the insurance background check will reveal about you.
Remember that credit card debts or any other civil issues you may have had are not crimes and these will not show up on your record.
As long as you have no criminal offenses, you will come out clean. If you are in this situation, congratulations. You will likely get the best rates available for your class once your age, driving record, and other information is factored in.
You can search specifically for high-risk insurance online to compare policies and prices. You will most likely find multiple companies willing to insure you, giving you the opportunity to decide on your best option. Enter your zip code here to begin your search now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do auto insurance companies check police records?
Yes, auto insurance companies may check police records as part of their evaluation process.
Why do auto insurance companies check police records?
Auto insurance companies check police records to gather information about any past traffic violations, accidents, or citations that the applicant or policyholder may have been involved in. This helps insurers assess the level of risk associated with insuring an individual or a vehicle.
What information from police records is relevant to auto insurance companies?
Auto insurance companies primarily look for information related to traffic violations, such as speeding tickets, DUI (Driving Under the Influence) offenses, reckless driving, accidents, and any other citations or infractions issued by law enforcement agencies. They are interested in incidents that may suggest a higher risk of future claims.
Do car insurance companies have access to police reports?
So, how do insurance companies get police reports? Car insurance companies access police reports through various databases or third-party services that provide access to public records. These databases may include information on traffic citations, accidents, and other relevant details that help insurance companies evaluate an individual’s driving history.
Can auto insurance companies access all types of police records?
Auto insurance companies usually have access to specific types of police records related to traffic violations and accidents. However, the exact extent of their access may vary depending on local regulations, data sharing agreements, and the policies of individual law enforcement agencies.
Can an auto insurance company deny coverage based on police record information?
Yes, an auto insurance company can deny coverage or charge higher premiums based on the information obtained from police records. If an applicant or policyholder has a history of frequent traffic violations, accidents, or serious offenses like DUI, the insurer may consider them a higher risk and adjust the coverage terms accordingly.
Does a criminal record affect car insurance?
While a criminal record itself may not directly impact your car insurance rates, certain offenses, such as DUI or reckless driving convictions, can lead to higher premiums. Additionally, insurance companies may view individuals with criminal records as higher risk, which could result in increased rates.
Does a felony affect car insurance?
A felony conviction may affect your car insurance rates if it also impacts your driving record. For example, if you’ve committed an insurance fraud, you can expect to pay significantly more for car insurance.
Does a misdemeanor affect car insurance?
A misdemeanor conviction may not have as significant impact on car insurance rates as a felony conviction. However, it can still affect your premiums if it’s related to your driving record.
Do insurance companies know if your license is suspended?
Insurance companies typically have access to information about license suspension through various databases, including state motor vehicle departments and driving record reports.
Do insurance companies check your driving record?
Insurance companies often check your driving record when you apply for car insurance or renew your policy.
Do insurance companies check your employment?
Auto insurance companies may check your employment status when determining insurance rates or eligibility for coverage.
How do insurance companies find out about DUI?
Insurance companies regularly check your driving record through MVRs provided by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). A DUI conviction is a serious offense and will appear on your driving record.
Do insurance companies share information with the police?
Insurance companies do not share information of policyholders directly with law enforcement officers unless required to do so by law. Insurers may only provide information, such as policy details, claims history, and coverage status.
Can you get car insurance with a criminal record?
Getting car insurance with a criminal record can be difficult, but you may still be able to get coverage. However, criminal car insurance can cost more.
Can you get car insurance with a warrant?
While having an outstanding warrant may not necessarily prevent you from getting car insurance, it can impact your car insurance rates.
Which car insurance companies do not ask about criminal convictions?
Technically, there are no car insurance companies that don’t ask for criminal convictions related to your driving record. However, if your crime isn’t related to driving, then you can find affordable criminal record car insurance from insurers like State Farm, Nationwide, Geico, and Progressive.
Do police reports show up on background checks?
Police reports may show up on insurance record checks depending on the type of background check being conducted. If you weren’t charged or arrested, police reports may not appear on insurance agent background checks.
What does Instacart background check look for?
Instacart checks driving and criminal records during background checks and may include DUIs, traffic violations, and criminal records.
Do false insurance claims show up on background check?
False insurance claims may not directly show up on a standard background check in the insurance industry like criminal records or employment history. However, insurance companies maintain databases and records of fraudulent activity, including false claims.
Do auto insurance companies check police records online?
Some auto insurance companies may access databases from state departments of motor vehicles (DMV) online to review an individual’s driving history, which includes information about traffic violations, accidents, and citations issued by law enforcement.
Do auto insurance companies check police records in Florida?
Auto insurance companies may check police records in Florida through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV).
Do auto insurance companies check police records in Texas?
In Texas, insurers may access driving records through the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).
Does a police report say who was at fault?
The police report typically contains information about the accident, including the date, time, and location of the incident, as well as details about the vehicles involved and any injuries sustained. Usually, police reports do not include a determination of fault.
How do insurance companies find out about accidents?
Insurance companies may interview witnesses who observed the accident to obtain additional details on what occurred. In addition, drivers and other parties involved in an accident often take photographs of the scene, vehicle damage, and injuries.
Will filing a police report increase car insurance rates?
Filing a police report itself does not directly increase car insurance rates. However, the factors surrounding the incident that led to the police report — such as the severity of the accident, whether you were at fault, and the resulting damages or injuries can influence your premiums.
Does a police report automatically go to insurance?
Police reports are not automatically sent to insurance companies. However, if you’re involved in an accident, you may be advised to notify your insurance company promptly and provide relevant details, including the police report number, if one was filed.
Can insurance companies look up police reports?
If the insurance company wants a police report, they can request a copy of the police report to help them assess liability, determine coverage, and process your claim more efficiently.
Who do auto insurance companies see as the highest risk?
Certain groups of drivers are often perceived as higher risk than others. Some of these high-risk groups include:
- Drivers with a conviction for driving under the influence (DUI)
- Drivers with speeding tickets or other moving violations
- Drivers with multiple at-fault accidents
- Drivers with a reckless-driving conviction
Do you need a police report to file an insurance claim in PA?
In Pennsylvania, you typically do not need a police report to file an insurance claim for a car accident. However, having a police report can be helpful in providing documentation of the accident and determining fault.
How long do you have to file a police report after an incident in New Jersey?
In New Jersey, the law requires that you report a car accident to the police if it results in injury, death, or property damage exceeding $500. You should make this report immediately after the accident, or as soon as reasonably possible, typically within 10 days.
Free Auto Insurance Comparison
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Chris Abrams
Licensed Insurance Agent
Chris is the founder of Abrams Insurance Solutions and Marcan Insurance, which provide personal financial analysis and planning services for families and small businesses across the U.S. His companies represent nearly 100 of the top-rated insurance companies. Chris has been a licensed insurance agent since 2009 and has active insurance licenses in all 50 U.S. states and D.C. Chris works tireles...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.