Updated June 2026
What Is Non-Standard Auto Insurance?
Non-standard auto insurance covers the same liabilities and damages as standard policies—bodily injury, property damage, collision, comprehensive—but it's sold by carriers who specialize in high-risk drivers. Standard carriers like State Farm or GEICO typically decline or non-renew drivers with DUI convictions, suspended licenses, multiple at-fault accidents, or SR-22 filing requirements. Non-standard carriers like The General, Direct Auto, Acceptance Insurance, and Bristol West fill this gap. The coverage functions identically; the difference is underwriting willingness and price.
- You lost your license after a DUI conviction in Louisiana. The Office of Motor Vehicles requires SR-22 filing for three years to reinstate. You contact a standard carrier and they decline. You apply with a non-standard carrier, receive a liability-only policy for $320/month, and the carrier files your SR-22 electronically within two business days. Your reinstatement fee is $200. You maintain the policy for the full three-year period to avoid restarting the SR-22 clock.
- You accumulated three at-fault accidents and two speeding tickets in 24 months. Your current carrier non-renews your policy at expiration. Standard carriers quote $450/month or decline entirely. A non-standard carrier offers full coverage—liability, collision, comprehensive—for $380/month. The policy covers a collision six months later: $8,400 in repairs to your vehicle and $14,000 in damage to the other car. After your $1,000 deductible, the carrier pays the full claim.
- Your license was suspended for unpaid fines. You don't own a car but need to maintain continuous insurance to avoid a coverage gap that will increase future rates. You purchase a non-standard non-owner SR-22 policy for $85/month. The policy provides liability coverage when you borrow a friend's car and rear-end someone at a stoplight, causing $6,200 in vehicle damage and $3,400 in medical bills. The policy pays both, minus no deductible on liability claims.
Who Needs Non-Standard Auto Insurance?
You need non-standard auto insurance if a standard carrier has declined or non-renewed you due to a DUI, suspended license, SR-22 requirement, multiple violations, or major at-fault accidents. If your license is currently suspended and Louisiana requires continuous insurance or SR-22 filing as a reinstatement condition, a non-standard policy is often the only way to satisfy that requirement. If you don't own a vehicle but need to maintain coverage during suspension, a non-standard non-owner policy meets the state's proof-of-insurance mandate without insuring a car you don't drive.
Check your reinstatement letter or contact Louisiana OMV directly to confirm whether SR-22 filing is required. If it is, you must carry a policy from a carrier willing to file SR-22, which typically means the non-standard market. If SR-22 is not required and you own a vehicle, compare standard and non-standard quotes—some standard carriers will insure suspended drivers without SR-22 mandates at rates lower than non-standard options. If you don't own a car, a non-owner policy prevents a coverage gap and costs 40–60% less than insuring a vehicle you don't have.
How Much Does Non-Standard Auto Insurance Cost?
Non-standard auto insurance in Louisiana typically costs $250–$450/month ($3,000–$5,400/year) for liability-only coverage with SR-22 filing, and $350–$600/month for full coverage with collision and comprehensive.
- Violation type and recency—a DUI from six months ago costs significantly more than one from three years ago, even within the non-standard market.
- SR-22 filing requirement—policies with state-mandated SR-22 or FR-44 filing add $15–$50/month in filing and administrative fees on top of elevated base rates.
- Coverage selection—liability-only policies cost 30–50% less than full coverage, but if you finance a vehicle, the lender requires collision and comprehensive.
- Payment method—monthly installments often carry $8–$15 processing fees per payment; paying in full or semi-annually reduces total annual cost by $100–$180.
- Prior insurance lapse—gaps longer than 30 days signal higher risk and increase non-standard quotes by 15–40%, even if the lapse occurred during a suspension period.
- Zip code and garaging location—urban parishes like Orleans and East Baton Rouge add $40–$90/month compared to rural areas due to higher theft and accident frequency.