Glossary term
Surcharge
Surcharge: A percentage added to the premium for a specific incident, typically for three years.
Where this term matters
Guides and entries on this site that use the term.
Guide
What Makes a Driver High-Risk to Insurers
The events and characteristics that move a driver into the high-risk category—DUI, at-fault accidents, multiple tickets, lapses, inexperience, certain vehicles—and how insurers decide.
Guide
How Much High-Risk Car Insurance Costs
Typical premiums for high-risk drivers by trigger, how surcharges and tier changes combine, and why the quote spread is wider than for any other group.
Guide
High-Risk Insurance After Accidents
How one, two or more at-fault accidents change your premium and insurer options, how long they count, and how to shop after a nonrenewal.
Guide
High-Risk Insurance After Tickets
How speeding and other moving violations accumulate into high-risk status, what major violations do, how points systems interact with insurance, and recovery.
Guide
How to Lower High-Risk Car Insurance Rates
The actions that lower a high-risk premium most: comparing non-standard and standard insurers, deductibles, coverage structure, telematics, defensive driving, and timing renewals to lookback windows.
Entry
Adjusting Deductibles and Coverages to Lower High-Risk Auto Rates
Learn how raising deductibles and dropping optional physical damage coverage can reduce high-risk car insurance premiums while maintaining legal compliance.
Entry
High-Risk Auto Insurance After Multiple Speeding Tickets
Understand how multiple speeding violations impact your car insurance rates, how insurer lookback periods work, and proven ways to lower your premium.