{"id":9883,"date":"2022-08-11T14:35:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-11T19:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.guaranteedrateinsurance.com\/?p=9883"},"modified":"2025-08-08T08:22:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T13:22:09","slug":"road-rage-and-auto-insurance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rate.com\/insurance\/resources\/road-rage-and-auto-insurance\/","title":{"rendered":"Road Rage and Auto Insurance: What You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Who among us hasn\u2019t gotten frustrated behind the wheel? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unless you\u2019ve mastered the art of zen, it\u2019s hard not to get a little annoyed when someone cuts you off, doesn\u2019t know how to merge, runs a red light, or doesn\u2019t use their turn signal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s no wonder that road rage incidents and aggressive driving are rising \u2014 but it\u2019s also the responsibility of each one of us to turn the temperature down and drive safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve ever considered retaliating in some form to the bad driving of others, consider this: Aggressive driving and road rage impact how much you pay for car insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\t

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Start saving on car insurance<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Defining the Terms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a difference between aggressive driving and what is commonly known as \u201croad rage.\u201d While different jurisdictions have precise definitions they use when prosecuting cases,  aggressive driving is a traffic offense, while road rage is criminal assault.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simply put: Aggressive driving can lead<\/em> to road rage, but road rage is not present in every case of aggressive driving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a nuanced, but important distinction. Aggressive driving is reckless and doesn\u2019t take the safety of others into consideration. Road rage is acting with the intent to cause harm to others. One is careless, the other is violent. One is a misdemeanor driving violation, the other is considered criminal behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aggressive Driving and Insurance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Insurance companies base their rates on a complex combination of aspects, but a safe driving record is always a predominant and prevailing factor. Aggressive driving can lead to accidents. Because of this, a number of insurance companies exclude road rage and aggressive driving<\/a> from coverage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other words, if you are driving in an unsafe manner and that results in a collision, an insurer will conclude that the crash was the result of risky behavior\u2014not an accident. Since it\u2019s considered an \u201cintentional act,\u201d the insurer won\u2019t cover the costs of the collision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If being financially responsible for the repairs resulting from an aggressive driving incident isn\u2019t enough to deter reckless drivers, they should bear in mind that other penalties may be in play, too. Aggressive drivers may have points added to their driver\u2019s licenses\u2014or their licenses may be revoked altogether. At the very least, if you\u2019re found to be at fault, your rates will go up. Or your insurer might drop you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The increased use of telematics and driving apps means that much of the information an insurer needs to determine if you are driving safely is readily available. These devices record and transmit data like speed, hard braking, and more. Speeding is considered a form of aggressive driving<\/a>, and it can have a significant impact on the rates you pay for insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Bad Is the Problem of Aggressive Driving and Road Rage?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Road rage is a dangerous issue that has become all too common. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the American Automobile Association<\/a> (AAA) have issued reports that offer the following data points:<\/p>\n\n\n\n