There may be several reasons why you can’t get insurance through traditional private insurance companies:

• You have a poor driving record
• You own a special, high performance car
• You have not driven long enough
• You have not owned your car very long and therefore have no insurance record
• You live in an area where theft and vandalism losses are high.

In this case, you have two options:

• Join a state assigned risk pool
  State assigned risk pools operate under a system in which every auto insurer participates in proportion to the amount of business they do in that state on a voluntary basis. Each insurer must accept the motorists assigned to it, retaining the profit or absorbing the loss that comes with that customer. The premiums you will pay will be substantially higher under assigned risk pools than directly with a private insurance company, but at least you will be able to obtain coverage. To find the assigned risk pool or the equivalent in your state, ask your insurance agent or the state insurance department.

• Get a policy from a private insurance company that specializes in “high-risk” drivers
  You may find a better deal by checking with a private insurance company specializing in “non-standard” auto policies. These companies write policies for people with bad accident records, high-performance cars, or who live in “high-risk” neighborhoods. These companies also may be able to sell you more comprehensive coverage than is available through assigned risk pools. To get a list of companies selling non-standard insurance, contact your insurance agent, state insurance department or Roughnotes ( www.roughnotes.com ). They will refer you to insurance brokers selling this kind of insurance.