If you're saddled with a poor driving record, read on to learn more about how you can save on your next car insurance policy.
If you have caused a car crash, filed an insurance claim, or been handed a ticket for a serious violation, you could be a candidate for high-risk auto insurance. Car insurance for risky drivers is commonly costly, but the level of rate increase you face may depend on your company, your driving history, and the state in which you live.
If you're deemed responsible for an auto collision, expect your auto insurance costs to rise. In Wyoming, the average insurance rate after an at-fault accident is $1,628, compared to the U.S. mean of $2,012. A serious incident like an at-fault collision will stay on your insurance record for up to three years.
| Location | With At-Fault Accident — Annual Rate | No At-Fault Accident — Annual Rate | Annual Rate Increase |
| Wyoming | $1,628 | $1,338 | $290 |
| National Average | $2,012 | $1,397 | $615 |
The best car insurance company after an at-fault collision in Wyoming is State Farm. State Farm’s typical rate increase after an accident is $478, leading to a premium 29 percent less expensive than the average from all insurance companies. If you've been found at fault in a collision in Wyoming, avoid Mid-Century and Allstate, which typically charge more.
| Company | Annual Premium After an At-Fault Collision |
| State Farm | $1,150 |
| GEICO | $1,773 |
| SAFECO | $1,847 |
| Mid-Century | $1,984 |
| Allstate | $2,167 |
One of the ways drivers earn the "high-risk" designation is speeding. In Wyoming, average car insurance rates rise by $428 per year following a speeding ticket, up to an average annual rate of $1,767.
| Location | With a Speeding Ticket — Annual Rate | No Speeding Ticket — Annual Rate | Annual Rate Increase |
| Wyoming | $1,767 | $1,338 | $428 |
| National Average | $1,727 | $1,397 | $330 |
The foolproof way to find affordable car insurance after getting a ticket for speeding is to shop thoroughly and compare the options. The cheapest car insurance with a speeding citation in Wyoming is available via USAA. USAA’s average premium after a violation is $995 less than the state typical. If you're caught speeding in Wyoming, Allstate probably won't be your cheapest option.
| Insurance Company | Annual Premium After a Speeding Citation |
| USAA | $772 |
| State Farm | $1,069 |
| SAFECO | $1,613 |
| Mid-Century | $1,784 |
| Allstate | $1,816 |
If you receive a citation for distracted driving, your car insurance won't be cheap. In Wyoming, auto insurance rates typically go up by $146 per year. That comes out to an 11% increase from the typical yearly premium in Wyoming.
| Location | With Distracted Driving — Annual Rate | No Distracted Driving — Annual Rate | Annual Rate Increase |
| Wyoming | $1,192 | $1,338 | $146 |
| National Average | $1,570 | $1,397 | $173 |
The best way to find inexpensive car insurance in the wake of a distracted driving citation is to compare carriers. The most affordable company after distracted driving in Wyoming is State Farm, with a typical rate of just $988 per year, 17% less than the average distracted driving insurance rate by all insurers.
| Insurance Company | Annual Rate After Distracted Driving |
| State Farm | $988 |
| SAFECO | $990 |
| GEICO | $1,181 |
| Allstate | $1,626 |
| Mid-Century | $1,683 |
Racing is considered a very serious infraction. Auto insurance providers usually penalize racing citations severely — in fact, Wyoming auto insurance prices increase by an average of $455 per year following a ticket for racing. That represents a 34% increase on the average yearly auto insurance rate in Wyoming!
| Location | With a Racing Citation — Annual Rate | No Racing Citation — Annual Rate | Per-Year Rate Increase |
| Wyoming | $1,793 | $1,338 | $455 |
| National Average | $2,397 | $1,397 | $1,000 |
If you have been ticketed for racing, do your homework and seek out the most affordable rates. In Wyoming, start with State Farm, offering prices 40 percent cheaper than the state average after a racing citation.
| Insurance Company | Annual Rate After Racing |
| State Farm | $1,069 |
| GEICO | $1,181 |
| USAA | $1,237 |
| SAFECO | $1,931 |
| Allstate | $1,953 |
One of the most serious moving violations, reckless driving is a surefire way to raise your insurance rates. Insurers increase rates by an average of $846 annually after reckless driving. That's 63% more than than the typical insurance rate in Wyoming, and 12% less than the national average price increase for reckless driving.
| Location | With Reckless Driving — Annual Rate | No Reckless Driving — Annual Rate | Annual Rate Increase |
| Wyoming | $2,184 | $1,338 | $846 |
| National Average | $2,395 | $1,397 | $998 |
If you have a reckless driving offense on your record, compare a variety of companies to get the most affordable rate. In Wyoming, the cheapest carrier with a reckless driving ticket is USAA.
| Insurer | Annual Rate With Reckless Driving |
| USAA | $1,020 |
| State Farm | $1,069 |
| SAFECO | $1,931 |
| Allstate | $1,953 |
| GEICO | $2,342 |
If you're looking for car insurance as a high-risk driver, the best thing to do is to do your research and find the policy that fits.
Traffic laws in Wyoming are intended to prevent and penalize speeding, reckless and distracted driving, and racing. At-fault accidents in Wyoming are also subject to investigation, follow-up, and citations, particularly in the event an at-fault party does not carry insurance.
In Wyoming, drivers are required to adjust their speed based on the conditions of the road. Drivers are deemed speeding in Wyoming if their speed exceeds the posted limits, or:
Drivers in Wyoming must also maintain a reasonable minimum speed so as not to impede the normal flow of traffic.
Your speed must be reduced when approaching crossing, curves, hillcrests, or when driving in poor conditions.
Wyoming does not use a points system to suspend or revoke driving licenses. Instead, two speeding offenses within one year in Wyoming will require the offender to attend a driving course.
More than three moving violations within one year will result in a license suspension for 90 days, plus 90 days for each subsequent conviction.
Speeding in Wyoming is a misdemeanor. A driver’s first conviction leads to:
A second conviction for speeding in Wyoming within one year of a prior conviction results in:
A third or subsequent conviction for speeding in Wyoming within a year of a prior offense leads to:
Driving a vehicle with a “willful and wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property” is considered reckless driving in Wyoming. In other words, a person whochoosesto disobey safe driving habits and the rules of the road is likely to be charged with reckless driving.
You may also be found guilty of careless driving in Wyoming. Careless driving is defined as driving without exercising “due and diligent care normally exercised by a reasonably prudent person under similar circumstances.”
Reckless driving in Wyoming is a misdemeanor. Penalties for reckless driving in Wyoming are:
In addition, a conviction for reckless driving in Wyoming results in a license suspension of:
A third reckless driving conviction within five years of a previous conviction results in license revocation.
Careless driving in Wyoming is also a misdemeanor. A driver’s first careless driving offense results in:
A second conviction of careless driving in Wyoming leads to:
A third or subsequent conviction of careless driving results in:
Any activity that causes a driver to move his or her hands from the steering wheel or fail to pay attention to the road is considered distracted driving in Wyoming.
In 2017, 180 accidents in Wyoming were a result ofcell phone use while driving. 377 accidents occurred because of in-vehicle distractions, 304 crashes because of outside distractions, and 51 because of distractions caused by other electronic devices.
Visual, manual, and cognitive distractions all contribute to distracted driving in Wyoming.
There is no outright ban against using wireless devices to make or receive calls while driving in Wyoming, however, some cities restrict or forbid usage. Texting while driving is not allowed unless a driver is using a hands-free function or selecting or entering a number to call.
Novice drivers are not allowed to use wireless devices in any capacity while driving in Wyoming.
Read here for more on texting and driving statistics.
Distracted driving in Wyoming can lead to fines that cost upwards of hundreds of dollars. Offenders may even be charged with a misdemeanor and/or a charge of reckless or careless driving.
The maximum fine for texting while driving in Wyoming is $75.
It is illegal to engage in, aid, or abet in any speed or acceleration contest, exhibition, or racing in Wyoming. Racing in Wyoming is only permitted after approval from the governing body of whichever highway is planned to be the course for a race.
A conviction for racing in Wyoming is a misdemeanor and results in:
Wyoming is a fault-based state. After an accident, the fault is assigned to one or more involved parties to determine their liability for an accident. Any party with 51 percent or more fault for an accident is “barred” from recovering damages.
If you are deemed able to be awarded damages, your compensation is reduced by your fault for the accident. For example, if you are 30 percent at-fault for an accident, you would only recover 70 percent of your damages.
Following an accident, drivers must immediately alert law enforcement if there is an injury, death, or property damage amounting to $1,000 or more.
Wyoming drivers must always maintain liability insurance that covers at least:
Failing to maintain proper insurance coverage (whether or not it leads to an at-fault accident) is a misdemeanor. A first conviction results in:
A second or subsequent conviction for failing to maintain insurance in Wyoming will result in the defendant’s surrender of registration and license plates to the county treasurer until a judge rules that the defendant has satisfied all legal obligations.
A driver’s license may also be suspended for being found guilty of driving without insurance.
Before your license is reinstated after an accident in which you are uninsured, you must do one of the following:
Leaving the scene of an accident that results in injury or death is a felony. On top of any fines and jail time, an offender’s license will be revoked for one year.
Sources and references:
