Car insurance can be expensive with tickets or accidents on your record. Explore expert tips on how to save in our guide.
If you have caused a car crash, filed a claim, or been given a citation for a serious moving violation, you might be a candidate for high-risk car insurance. Car insurance for drivers with bad records is almost always expensive, but the price increases you face is dependent on your car insurance company, your driving record, and the location in which you live.
If you're deemed accountable for causing an auto collision, you should expect your car insurance costs to skyrocket. In Mississippi, the average insurance rate following an at-fault accident is $2,263 compared to the national average of $2,012. A major incident like an at-fault crash will remain on your insurance résumé for up to three years!
| Location | With At-Fault Accident — Annual Rate | No At-Fault Accident — Annual Rate | Yearly Rate Increase |
| Mississippi | $2,263 | $1,800 | $463 |
| National Average | $2,012 | $1,397 | $615 |
The most affordable auto insurance company after an at-fault crash in Mississippi is USAA. USAA’s typical rate increase after an accident is $1,264, resulting in a rate 56% less expensive than the average among all companies. If you've been found at fault in an accident in Mississippi, avoid Mississippi Farm Bureau and Nationwide, which penalize at-fault drivers more severely.
| Company | Annual Rate With an At-Fault Accident |
| USAA | $999 |
| ALFA | $1,333 |
| State Farm | $1,451 |
| Mississippi Farm Bureau | $1,499 |
| Nationwide | $1,678 |
One of the violations that most commonly earn drivers the "risky" designation is speeding. In Mississippi, car insurance premiums rise by $406 per year after a speeding ticket, to an average annual price of $2,206.
| State | With a Speeding Ticket — Annual Rate | No Speeding Ticket — Annual Rate | Annual Rate Increase |
| Mississippi | $2,206 | $1,800 | $406 |
| National Average | $1,727 | $1,397 | $330 |
The foolproof way to get affordable insurance after getting a speeding ticket is to shop around and compare the available options. The cheapest car insurance after a speeding citation in Mississippi is available through USAA. USAA’s average premium after a citation is $1,271 less than the state average. If you've been caught speeding in Mississippi, Mississippi Farm Bureau is worth avoiding.
| Insurance Company | Annual Rate After a Speeding Violation |
| USAA | $935 |
| ALFA | $1,269 |
| State Farm | $1,306 |
| Nationwide | $1,401 |
| Mississippi Farm Bureau | $1,598 |
If you're ticketed for distracted driving, your car insurance bill is going to get more expensive. In Mississippi, auto insurance costs typically increase by $264 each year. That's a 15% increase from the average annual rate in Mississippi and 53% more than the national average cost of auto insurance after a distracted driving offense.
| Location | With Distracted Driving — Annual Rate | No Distracted Driving — Annual Rate | Annual Rate Increase |
| Mississippi | $2,064 | $1,800 | $264 |
| National Average | $1,570 | $1,397 | $173 |
The best way to find affordable auto insurance in the wake of a distracted driving citation is to shop a variety of options. The cheapest car insurance company following distracted driving in Mississippi is USAA, with a typical rate of just $737 per year, 64% less than the average distracted driving insurance rate by all insurers.
| Insurance Company | Annual Rate With Distracted Driving |
| USAA | $737 |
| ALFA | $1,141 |
| State Farm | $1,210 |
| Nationwide | $1,321 |
| Mississippi Farm Bureau Insurance | $1,348 |
Racing is treated as an extraordinarily serious offense. Car insurance companies usually penalize racing citations severely — in fact, Mississippi auto insurance prices increase by $702 annually following a ticket for racing. That represents a 39% increase on the typical yearly car insurance rate in Mississippi!
| Location | With a Racing Citation — Annual Rate | No Racing Citation — Annual Rate | Per-Year Rate Increase |
| Mississippi | $2,502 | $1,800 | $702 |
| National Average | $2,397 | $1,397 | $1,000 |
If you have been pulled over for racing, do your due diligence and seek out the best rates. In Mississippi, start with State Farm, with premiums 48% cheaper than the state average after a racing citation.
| Insurance Company | Annual Rate With Racing |
| State Farm | $1,306 |
| USAA | $1,497 |
| Mississippi Farm Bureau | $1,598 |
| ALFA | $1,600 |
| Mountain Laurel Assurance Company | $1,917 |
One of the most serious driving violations, reckless driving is a certain way to pay more for car insurance. Insurers increase rates by $814 each year after a reckless driving citation. That comes out to 45% greater than the average insurance rate in Mississippi, and 37% more than the national average penalty for reckless driving.
| Location | With Reckless Driving — Annual Rate | No Reckless Driving — Annual Rate | Yearly Rate Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | $2,614 | $1,800 | $814 |
| National Average | $2,395 | $1,397 | $998 |
If you're found guilty of reckless driving, shop around to find the best rate. In Mississippi, the best underwriter with a reckless driving ticket is USAA.
| Insurance Company | Annual Rate With Reckless Driving |
| USAA | $1,063 |
| State Farm | $1,306 |
| ALFA | $1,600 |
| Mountain Laurel Assurance Company | $1,917 |
| Mississippi Farm Bureau | $2,098 |
If you're looking for auto insurance as a high-risk driver, the best course of action is to shop around and compare rates.
The state of Mississippi imposes a number of laws on its drivers in an effort to keep the roads safe. If you want to stay on the correct side of the law, check out this general guide to the driving laws in Mississippi.
Learn more about Mississippi's car insurance laws.
It can be easy to find yourself creeping over the speed limit, especially if you aren’t familiar with the general speed laws in your state. Mississippi has basic rules it implores drivers to follow, including slowing down around curves, on narrow roads, and when approaching crossings, intersections, and hill crests. So how can you keep from collecting speeding tickets? Have a look at the general guidelines below.
Maximum speed limits in Mississippi:
Cities and counties in Mississippi have the power to set speed laws for their areas, so it always pays to keep track of the posted limits.
First offenders who agree to attend four hours of a traffic violator’s course can have the offense wiped from their driving records.
Reckless driving in Mississippi can encompass a variety of poor driving behaviors. The state defines it asdriving a “vehicle in such a manner as to indicate either a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.”
There is also a distinction between reckless driving and careless driving, which Mississippi defines as driving in “an imprudent manner, without due regard for...the streets and highways and all other attendant circumstances.” This is generally considered a lesser offense than reckless driving.
Driving recklessly in Mississippi is considered a misdemeanor. If you are found guilty of reckless driving in Mississippi, you can expect to receive penalties that include a fine of up to $100 of a first offense which climbs to upwards of $500 for subsequent offenses.
Careless driving carries a lesser penalty between $5 and $50.
Mississippi distracted driving laws are in place to curb the many preventable car accidents that occur due to distracted driving each year. There are many things that can distract drivers, including speaking to a passenger, eating, or even stray thoughts. While it is hard to legislate against these activities, lawmakers have taken steps to combat preventable accidents by banning texting while driving in Mississippi.
If you are caught in violation of Mississippi texting and driving laws, you can expect the following penalties to apply:
Mississippi defines racing as two or more vehicles moving “at accelerating speeds in a competitive attempt to outdistance each other.”
Racing in Mississippi is considered a misdemeanor, you can expect the following penalties if you are caught in a speed contest in the state.
Mississippi is considered an “at-fault” state, which means that the insurance policy of the driver found at fault is expected to pay for damages. The state requires every driver to carry at least certain minimums of liability insurance. This insurance pays for damages that you cause but does not cover your own injuries or property damage.
If you are pulled over, you will be expected to provide proof of the following minimum amounts in liability coverage:
Should damage from an accident that you caused exceed these amounts, you are expected to cover the remainder out of pocket.
If you have the proper car insurance coverage in Mississippi, including collision coverage, you can expect it to work on your behalf should you be found at fault in an accident. Assuming damage doesn’t exceed your limits, the only monetary impact you may face is likely to be a rise in your car insurance premiums. Depending on the circumstances, it is possible for your insurance company to not renew your policy, though this isn’t common after one accident and you will always receive notice ahead of time.
However, driving without insurance in Mississippi is simply not an option. If you are caught in violation of Mississippi car insurance requirements, you can face penalties that include:
It should be noted, however, that the above penalties pale in comparison to what you will face if you are at fault in an accident and have no insurance. In that case, you are personally liable for all damages.
Mississippi DUI laws are clear. Any non-commercial driver aged 21 or over driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above .08 is considered legally drunk. The level is even lower for commercial drivers — .04 — and for drivers under 21, at .02 or higher.
The penalties for driving under the influence in Mississippi are quite steep. The consequences of driving under the influence are as follows.
First offense:
Second offense (within five years):
Third offense (within five years):
Fourth offense
Of course, there are situations where these penalties can be even more severe, including child endangerment (transporting a child while impaired) and aggravated DUI, which is when the impaired is in an accident that caused injury or death to another person. Child endangerment is a further misdemeanor charge while an aggravated DUI can carry between five and 25 years in prison for every injury or death.
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