What is usually a characteristic of a high-risk driver that may affect their insurance?

A high-risk driver typically exhibits behaviors or conditions that indicate a greater likelihood of being involved in an accident or causing an insurance claim. Receiving multiple traffic violations or claims is a direct indicator of such behaviors, as it reflects a pattern of unsafe driving. Insurance companies assess risk based on these factors, and a history of traffic violations or claims demonstrates a potential risk to the insurer because it suggests the driver may not adhere to traffic laws or may be prone to accidents.

Conversely, having a clean driving history would generally be associated with lower risk rather than high risk, as it indicates responsible driving behavior. Driving a new vehicle may not contribute to high-risk status on its own; it depends on other factors such as the driver's history. Additionally, having additional named drivers on the policy can either increase or decrease risk depending on the driving records of those individuals, but this is not inherently characteristic of a high-risk driver by itself. Therefore, the presence of multiple traffic violations or claims is the clear characteristic linked to high-risk driver status that significantly impacts insurance premiums and availability.