What type of license must producers hold to issue policies through the Alabama automobile insurance plan AAIP )?

Alabama, also known as the “Cotton State,” is a beautiful state to live in. Home to over four million people, Alabama hosts many historical landmarks and figures that are important to the Civil Rights Movement. If you live in Alabama or are planning on moving here, auto insurance is a necessity.

We know researching for the best auto insurance company that fits your needs is hard work. Noone’s idea of a good time is spending hours pouring over different resources to determine the best rates and coverages. Imagine having a clear, comprehensive guide that lays out all the information for you, so you can spend less time researching auto insurance and more time doing the things you enjoy.

More: Best Cheap Auto Insurance in Madison, AL (2022)

This might sound too good to be true, but we have spent considerable time compiling the data and research so you don’t have to! We cover all the questions you might have, such as who the best providers are, state regulations, and much more.

Do you want to start comparing rates today? Enter your ZIP code above in our FREE online tool!

Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about driving a vehicle in the state of Alabama.

Alabama Auto Insurance Coverage and Rates

You might be wondering what are the recommended auto insurance coverage levels in Alabama. Driving around the state of Alabama requires insurance, but don’t fear! We know you don’t want to pay more than you have to.

To help you decide what insurance best suits you and your budget, we’ve broken down the coverage options and rates in Alabama.
Below, we have provided information and helpful advice so you can get the best coverage options for your needs.

Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements in Alabama

You might be wondering what liability insurance means. Liability insurance pays all individuals — drivers, passengers, pedestrians, etc. — who are owed compensation for property damage and/or injuries resulting from a car accident that you or anyone under your policy causes. If you cause a wreck, liability insurance pays everyone affected by the accident.

Alabama is an “at-fault” state. This means that if you are the at-fault driver, you are liable for personal injury or property claims.

In addition to Alabama being an “at-fault” state, in case of an accident, state law requires drivers to have the following minimum coverage for auto insurance in Alabama:

• $25,000 to cover death or bodily injury per person
• $50,000 to cover death or bodily injury per accident (also called total bodily injury)
• $25,000 to cover property damage per accident

These required liability insurances only cover the minimum amount. This means that in the event of an accident, having only the minimum amount may result in your amount running out quickly. It is best to have more than the required minimum insurance, as you never know when an accident will happen.

The cost for minimum coverage varies from state to state.

Further below, we will show you additional coverage options to help you make the best decision.

Required Forms of Financial Responsibility in Alabama

What is financial responsibility? Basically, financial responsibility is proof that you have Alabama’s minimum liability coverage. Alabama law requires every driver and owner of a vehicle to have proof of financial security at all times.

Here are a few acceptable forms of proof of financial security in Alabama:

1. Valid liability insurance ID cards
2. Copy of your current car’s insurance policy
3. Valid insurance binder (a temporary form of auto insurance)
4. Picture of proof of insurance on your smartphone

Important: Alabama law requires drivers to have at least one form of proof of financial security on their person when operating a vehicle. Fortunately, for those who are constantly misplacing papers, Alabama now accepts a smartphone picture as proof of financial responsibility.

You may face fines and/or jail time if you don’t have Alabama’s required financial security.

Driving without insurance in Alabama may result in the following:

• A fine of $500 for your first violation
• A fine of $1,000 for your second or subsequent violation
• Suspension of your driver’s license
• Suspension of your car registration

If Alabama law enforcement suspends your car registration, you will have to pay $200 to have it reinstated for the first offense. For second or subsequent offenses, you will have to pay $400.

Since auto insurance can cost less than a thousand dollars a year, driving without insurance may end up costing you more. Don’t risk it! The consequences when caught may quickly add up into a large bill.

Premiums as Percentage of Income in Alabama

Alabama’s annual per capita disposable income is $33,535.

Disposable personal income (DPI) is the total amount of money individuals have available to spend or save after their taxes have been paid. This means residents of Alabama have only $2,794 to spend a month! This money can quickly be eaten up when you are paying for groceries, rent and/or a mortgage, and other household costs.

When you add in auto insurance, which residents in Alabama pay on average $837 for annually, the monthly budget shrinks to even less!

Monthly, $67 dollars goes to minimum auto insurance. Add in additional coverage, and that monthly amount grows even higher.

We know you want to save money each month, so make sure you are getting the best deal on auto insurance by calculating your insurance premium!
Coming up, an overview of Alabama’s different coverages.

Average Monthly Car Insurance Rates in AL (Liability, Collision, Comprehensive)

The above table shows the most recent data provided by the leading source on the matter, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Expect auto insurance rates in Alabama to be significantly higher for 2019 and on.
The countrywide average for auto insurance is $954.99, so Alabama falls slightly below the national average of insurance costs.

Don’t forget! While Alabama’s minimum coverage requirements are important, experts suggest purchasing more than what Alabama’s state law requires. In case of an accident, you will be glad for extra coverage.

Next, we have covered the different types of auto insurance coverage that you can add to a basic insurance plan.

Read also about Alabama Windshield Replacement Insurance.

Additional Liability Coverage in Alabama

MedPay, Uninsured, and Underinsured Motorist coverages are optional in Alabama. It may be tempting to skip out on these coverages because they aren’t required, but you should still have them.

Why?

Because they are some of the most important coverages in case of an accident. Uninsured drivers will likely go bankrupt before being able to pay the costs racked up in an accident. That means that if they are the at-fault driver, they will be unable to pay for property damage and medical bills.

In Alabama, 18.40 percent of motorists are uninsured. This places Alabama as 6th in the U.S. for uninsured drivers!

If you look at the table for Alabama’s loss ratios, you will see that MedPay and Uninsured/Underinsured’s loss ratios have increased slightly. What does this mean?

It’s good news. In 2015, the top insurance companies in the U.S. had loss ratios that ranged from 94 to 112 percent. While Alabama is below these numbers, companies with high loss ratios (over 100 percent) are losing money. By paying out a high number of claims, these companies run the risk of going bankrupt.

Alabama also avoids having a low loss ratio — companies with low loss ratios are not paying out claims.

What to remember — avoid companies with high or low loss ratios.

Add-ons, Endorsements, and Riders in Alabama

You might be wondering what extra coverages to add to your policy. Choosing from a list of options can be daunting, and we know you want the best coverage for the most affordable auto insurance rates. Learn more here: where can I compare several affordable auto insurance rates.

To help you decide, we’ve made a list of effective extras to add to your policy. Check out the below options.

• Guaranteed Auto Protection (GAP)
• Personal Umbrella Policy (PUP)
• Rental Reimbursement
• Emergency Roadside Assistance
• Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
• Non-Owner Auto Insurance
• Modified Auto Insurance Coverage
• Classic Auto Insurance
• Low-mileage Discount

Any of the above coverages would be great to add to your auto insurance policy. After all, the more coverage the better!

Average Car Insurance Rates by Age & Gender in AL

The above data from our researchers shows that females and males’ rates vary from provider to provider. It is a common misconception that females always pay more than males for auto insurance. In general, males pay more than females.

Hopefully, Alabama providers will continue to work on eliminating auto insurance rates on the basis of gender. It is clear in Alabama, though, that the scale tips from age to age. With providers like State Farm Mutual, young teenage drivers pay more than older drivers for insurance. This makes sense when you consider that younger drivers are usually less experienced on the road.

Important: Your driving record and coverage plan will play a larger part than gender in determining your insurance costs.

Highest and Lowest Alabama Car Insurance Rates by ZIP Code

Curious if the area you live in has expensive auto insurance rates? Take a look at the tables below to see if your ZIP code makes either table.

According to our researchers’ data, Birmingham ZIP codes are the most expensive places to purchase auto insurance. Clearly, where you live does matter in relation to auto insurance costs.

Highest and Lowest Alabama Car Insurance Rates by Cities

We have also collected data on the most and least expensive cities in Alabama. Look at the tables below to discover if your city is on it.

The biggest city in Alabama, Birmingham, made it onto the list of most expensive cities.

Now that we’ve covered area rates, let’s start looking at the best and worst insurance companies in Alabama.

Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.

 Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

Alabama Auto Insurance Companies

It can be overwhelming to look at the hundreds of providers in the state of Alabama. Knowing which provider to choose is even harder. No one wants to spend time searching through dozens of insurance sites to find the best coverage and rates.

Lucky for you, we’ve already done the hard work. We’ve researched the best providers in Alabama, so you can feel comfortable with your decision. We’ve looked at companies’ financial ratings, AM’s best ratings, and which companies have the most complaints.

A good place to start is by taking a look at the largest companies in the region.

Keep reading to learn about Alabama’s insurance providers.

Ratings of the Largest Auto Insurance Companies in Alabama

The above companies are among the top-rated in Alabama. The table shows the companies’ AM ratings, which judges the companies’ financial strength.

As we discussed before, a company shouldn’t have a high (over 100 percent) or a low loss ratio. As you can see, some companies are a little low on their loss ratio, but a few, like Geico, have a good loss ratio. As well, none of the companies are in danger of bankruptcy because of a high loss ratio.

Alabama’s Auto Insurance Companies with the BEST Ratings

Customer service is an important part of any company, from restaurants to auto insurance providers. That’s why we have looked at companies with the best customer satisfaction ratings.

Geico ranks near the top of the list — showing that Geico is great at customer satisfaction. Remember, cost shouldn’t be your only concern when shopping for auto insurance. You should also be looking at how the company treats its customers and resolves claims and complaints.

Companies with the MOST Complaints in Alabama

Below, you will see the number of complaints collected by the NAIC for the biggest insurance providers in Alabama.

While some of these numbers may seem discouraging, complaints don’t necessarily mean you should avoid a company.

How the company resolves complaints and overall customer satisfaction are also important.

For example, Geico made it onto the list for best customer ratings and the list for most complaints. Clearly, Geico is good at resolving customers’ issues, showing that complaints don’t necessarily mean a company is bad.

Alabama Auto Insurance Rates by Company

From the above data, you can see a few major companies like Geico and USAA have rates lower than the national average. Companies like SAFECO, though, have rates higher than the national average. These higher rates could contribute to why SAFECO and other companies are not on the list of popular Alabama insurance providers.

Cost of Different Annual Commutes by Alabama Companies

As you can see, most of the companies’ rates don’t vary based on commute and mileage. But Geico and USAA both drop over $100 when changed from a 25-mile commute to a 10-mile commute!

Commute times don’t have as much of an effect on your rates as some other factors.

Coming up, a breakdown of coverage level rates in Alabama.

Coverage Level Rates in Alabama

Liberty Mutual, State Farm, and Progressive have the highest annual rates for all three types of coverage. Remember, while it’s tempting to go with a low coverage based on price, high or medium coverage will provide the best coverage in case of an accident. As well, the table above shows that sometimes there is only a hundred dollar difference between coverage levels.

Alabama Credit History Rates

In the state of Alabama, the average credit score is 654. Unfortunately, this score places Alabama on the list of the top ten states with the lowest credit scores.

Auto insurance companies usually determine rates by looking at your past credit score and taking it into account. The better your credit score, the better rates you receive.

As you can see from the table above, poor credit scores can add thousands to your annual cost. A bad credit score at State Farm changes your annual average from $2,663 to $7,745! That’s an extra $5,082 a year! The factor that into your monthly budget, and you have to pay an extra $423 a month.

Clearly, your credit score plays an important role in determining your auto insurance rates. Below, we’ve covered the other huge factor in determining rates — your driving record.

Alabama Driving Record Rates

At companies like Liberty Mutual, one DUI or accident can increase your rate by over a thousand dollars per year. A clean driving record clearly lowers your costs.

Number of Insurers in Alabama

There are obviously more foreign insurers than domestic ones. You might be wondering what the difference is between domestic versus foreign insurance.

Essentially, domestic insurance is formed under the laws of Alabama, whereas foreign insurance is formed under the laws of any state in the U.S.

Alabama State Laws

With so many laws in Alabama, it can be confusing to know all of them. Well, we can tell you that you don’t need to know the crazy, outdated laws that are long forgotten, such as the illegal nature of putting ice cream in your back pocket. But you do need to know your state driving laws.

To help you stay safe on the road and avoid fines, we have covered important driving laws in the state of Alabama. You will learn everything you need to about insurance coverage, seatbelt laws, and much more.

To keep your rates low and your checkbook happy, scroll down to read our summary of Alabama’s state driving laws.

Auto Insurance Laws in Alabama

As in every state, Alabama law requires drivers to have auto insurance. According to the NAIC, in Alabama, you have to file insurance forms before using the insurance. As well, you must also have the minimum liability coverage mandated by the state of Alabama.

The Mandatory Liability Insurance Law of 2013 requires Alabama drivers to have auto insurance for all registered vehicles.

If you are a high-risk driver, auto insurance companies may refuse to give you auto insurance (even though insurance is required by law). If this happens to you, the DMV tells high-risk drivers to turn to Alabama’s Auto Insurance Plan (AAIP). Talk to your auto insurance agent about applying.

To avoid the headache of being a high-risk driver, though, makes sure you follow state laws and safe driving practices.

High-risk Insurance Alabama

We get it. Accidents happen sometimes despite our best efforts. That’s why they are called accidents. If an accident happens to you and affects your driving record, you are required to fill out an SR-22 form for high-risk insurance.

Reasons why you may need to fill out an SR-22 form:

• Conviction of DUI/DWI
• Driving while uninsured
• A traffic violation that results in a fatality or serious injury
• A high number of points on your driving record
• A high-risk car (sports cars, etc.)
• Being over 70 years old

Don’t forget — insurance providers may refuse to cover you. If this happens, apply to AAIP.

Low-cost Insurance in Alabama

Alabama does not have a government-sponsored auto insurance program for low-income drivers. Don’t be discouraged, though! By shopping around for low rates in Alabama, you can still find a cost-effective way to drive safely.

There are also insurance discounts that you may be eligible for, so make sure to ask your provider about a cheap auto insurance policy:

• Good driver discount
• Good student discount
• Multi-car discount
• Homeowner’s discount

Windshield Coverage in Alabama

There’s nothing worse than seeing that tell-tale spiderweb crack slowly spreading in your car windshield. Or worse, a completely shattered windshield.

In the state of Alabama, insurance providers are NOT required by law to replace windshields.

Don’t fear. While Alabama law doesn’t require insurers to replace windshields, some insurance companies may offer windshield replacement or repair with a comprehensive insurance plan.

Insurers who offer replacement or repair must use replacement parts that are similar quality so that your car is as good as it was before. If you decline the insurer’s replacement offer, however, you will have to pay the cost of windshield repairs yourself.

Automobile Insurance Fraud in Alabama

Alabama has four insurance fraud bureaus in the U.S. working to catch criminals. That’s right, insurance fraud is a crime in the state of Alabama. Breaking the law by committing insurance fraud will result in fines and/or jail time.

Here are the two main ways to commit fraud, according to the IIHS:

1. Intentionally faking an accident or making a false claim
2. Adding “extra” onto a legitimate claim

The IIHS also says that the Insurance Research Council reported that “Auto insurance fraud and claim buildup added between $4.9 billion and $6.8 billion to closed auto injury claim payments in 2007.”

That’s a lot of fraudulent money! In 2017, the Alabama Department of Insurance investigated 223 cases of possible fraud.

The simplest way to avoid being investigated? Don’t commit fraud on your claims. Even a small “padding” of a claim could place you under suspicion.

The Statute of Limitations in Alabama

There is one small catch when filing for claims. You only have a certain amount of time to file a claim to receive the money you are owed. This statute of limitations is so legal proceedings don’t drag on long past the claim date. Luckily, there is quite a big window of time in Alabama to file claims.

Amount of time to file claims in Alabama:

• Personal Injury – Two years
• Property Damage – Two years

This ticking time clock starts on the day you are injured or your property is damaged. Just make sure you don’t put off filing a claim for too long!

Alabama State Specific Laws

Unfortunately, the state of Alabama does not have an unfair claims settlement act. This act requires insurers to disclose exactly what a policy covers to their clients. This is to prevent insurers from “forgetting” benefits when you file a claim.

This is why it’s important for you to know your policy inside and out, so that you aren’t deprived of benefits in case of an accident.

In the state of Alabama, all motorcyclists MUST wear helmets. While some may miss the breeze in their hair, rest assured that this law has motorcyclists’ safety first and foremost in mind.

Bear with us, because we are going to show Alabama’s driving laws next.

Alabama’s Vehicle Licensing Laws

We know the feeling — paying for auto insurance is expensive and leaves your wallet feeling a little empty. It can be tempting to skip out on auto insurance, but the penalties for driving without insurance are steep.

Authorities may suspend your license if you are caught driving without insurance.

Let’s rewind for a moment and look again at the types of insurance accepted in Alabama. Remember, Alabama now accepts pictures of proof of financial security on your smartphone.

Acceptable proof of insurance forms in Alabama:

1. Valid liability insurance ID cards
2. Copy of your current car’s insurance policy
3. Valid insurance binder (a temporary form of auto insurance)
4. Picture of proof of insurance on your smartphone

Anytime you are pulled over by the police, you must provide proof of registration, insurance, and a driver’s license.

Since 2013, the State of Alabama Online Insurance Verification System has been in place. Basically, the system helps law enforcement immediately check the insurance status on your vehicle.

If you violate auto insurance laws, Alabama has the right to suspend your vehicle registration. You will be notified if authorities are suspending your registration. Below are reasons authorities may suspend your vehicle registration according to the Alabama Department of Revenue.

• “The Department did not receive a timely response to a questionnaire that was sent to verify the MLI coverage on the vehicle.”
• “The insurer identified in the response to the questionnaire has failed to confirm or has denied coverage on the vehicle for the insurance verification date as requested.”

Our point of showing you this information is this — purchase auto insurance so you NEVER need to know the penalties firsthand for driving without insurance.

Teen Driver Laws in Alabama

We have good news for teen drivers. In Alabama, teens can get a learner’s permit as young as 15 years old. While teens still have to wait until they are 16 years old to apply for a restricted license, they can get a year of driving experience before they drive solo. Teens must also fulfill the requirements listed below before receiving a license or restricted license.

There are also rules in place for young drivers with restricted licenses.

Older Driver License Renewal Procedures in Alabama

Alabama law requires older drivers to renew their licenses every four years, the same as the general population. While four years passes sooner than one would suspect, there are perks for older drivers renewing their licenses.

Proof of adequate vision is NOT required at the time of renewal, and older drivers (and general population) are allowed to renew their licenses online every other renewal.

The alternating, online renewal system means you can go up to eight years without having to make a trip to the DMV!

New Residents in Alabama

You need auto insurance if you are moving to the state of Alabama and own a vehicle. Because Alabama ranks sixth in the nation for its number of uninsured motorists, there is now an Alabama Mandatory Liability Insurance Act that requires everyone to have liability insurance. You may remember that Alabama requires vehicle owners to have the following liability insurance:

• $25,000 to cover death or bodily injury per person
• $50,000 to cover death or bodily injury per accident (also called total bodily injury)
• $25,000 to cover property damage per accident

You will also need to contact your current provider, as your provider may need to change rates and coverages to meet Alabama’s requirements of minimum liability coverage. Additionally, you will need to notify your provider to make sure your provider has your new address and can give you updated insurance ID cards.

Alabama Rules of the Road

Be warned: not knowing the rules of the road may result in violations that will quickly add points to your driving record. To help you avoid points on your record, we’ve collected some must-know laws for the state of Alabama.

Fault Versus No-fault

As we mentioned before, Alabama is an at-fault state. This means that if you are at-fault in an accident, you may be held liable for injury and property damage costs.

The at-fault driver will have to pay all medical expenses, damages, and other costs that occurred from the accident.

This means that if you don’t have insurance OR the right coverage, your resources will quickly be drained. The last thing you want is to go bankrupt due to an accident.

Keep Right and Move Over Laws

Here’s how to keep right in the state of Alabama. If you are driving slower than the average speed of traffic around you, you must keep to the right lane. Seems simple, right? But hang on a second, because there are certain circumstances where you are allowed to pass on the right.

JUSTIA U.S. Law explains these circumstances as the following:

• If the vehicle you are passing is making or about to make a left turn
• If the roadway is wide enough for two or more lines of vehicles moving in the same direction as the vehicle you are passing.

Take note, though, that you may only pass on the right if you can do so safely and without driving off the roadway. As well, a new anti-road rage act prohibits drivers from driving on the left side of the road unless they are passing another vehicle.

Officers are now allowed to ticket drivers who stay in the left lane for more than a mile and a half without passing other vehicles.

Alabama residents are also required to move over one or more lanes for stopped vehicles.

These vehicles include:

• Police and emergency vehicles
• Car crashes with flashing lights
• Utility service vehicle with rotating or flashing lights
• Garbage vehicles when actively on duty

The last thing you want is to hit a parked car, so make sure to move over.

Alabama Speed Limits

Below are the speed limits across the state of Alabama. Make sure to also pay attention to speed limit signs while driving, as the speed limits posted below are the maximum speeds in Alabama (speed limits vary on roadways).

Alabama Seat Belt and Car Seat Laws

Do you know Alabama’s seat belt laws? Different states have different laws, and knowing Alabama’s laws will help you avoid a fine.

Alabama passed a new seat belt law (effective September 1, 2019) that requires back-seat passengers to also buckle up.

Alabama is one of the best states at buckling up. Help Alabama’s high ratings stay by buckling your seat belt every time you are in a vehicle.

In addition to keeping you safe, check out the car seat laws in Alabama protecting children in the car. Being familiar with child safety seat laws in Alabama will help you keep your little ones safe in the car.

The fine for breaking car seat laws is the same as seat belt laws — $25 plus fees.

As for riding in cargo areas (such as pickup trucks), there are no laws in Alabama restricting this. Make sure to use common sense when riding in a cargo area to ensure your own and other’s safety.

Ridesharing in Alabama

You may be familiar with ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft. If you want to rideshare, you must purchase ridesharing insurance from one of the following providers in Alabama:

• Farmers
• Geico
• State Farm
• USAA

These insurers offer ridesharing insurance, but each one has different coverages and requirements, so make sure to choose one that best fits your needs. Most ridesharing companies will also require you to undergo vehicle safety checks to make sure your car is safe for passengers.

Automation on the Road in Alabama

What is automation? IIHS defines it as the following:

“Automation is the use of a machine or technology to perform a task or function that was previously carried out by a human. One example is adaptive cruise control, which maintains a set speed.”

In Alabama, automated vehicle drivers have to follow the laws listed below.

DUI Laws in Alabama

28.3 percent of all driving fatalities are alcohol-related in Alabama. Drunk driving often has tragic endings, which is why Alabama has strict penalties for a DUI conviction to discourage drivers from driving while drunk. Death is too high a cost for just one more drink.

There are varying degrees of charges based on the number of offenses. Below, you will see the penalties for first time and consecutive offenses.

A 5th offense is treated the same as the 4th offense in Alabama. These laws may seem harsh, but in 2017, 268 people died in Alabama from alcohol-related accidents. Alabama intends for these penalties to keep people from having one too many drinks before driving.

As for marijuana-impaired driving in the state of Alabama, there are no specific laws in place. This does NOT mean you can get away with using marijuana and driving.

Law enforcement can still charge you with impaired driving, even though there isn’t a specific law in Alabama against marijuana-impaired driving.

So what is the point of showing you all these laws about impaired driving? Hopefully, it will make you think twice about the costs of driving impaired and encourage others to do the same.

Distracted Driving Laws in Alabama

All it takes is a few seconds with your eyes off the road for an accident to happen. Driving distracted is JUST as dangerous as driving while impaired. Below are Alabama’s laws about cellphone use while driving.

That text can wait! Alabama prohibits texting for ALL drivers.

Alabama Can’t-miss Facts

Now that you have a good understanding of the laws in Alabama, let’s dive into Alabama’s can’t-miss facts.

You now know the rules of the road, but do you know the risks of owning and operating a vehicle in Alabama?

It can be difficult to know all the risks associated while driving vehicles. While insurance is important, it is also important to know what to keep your eyes out for on the road. The last thing you want is to be in an accident.

We have laid out all the facts you need to know about risk factors in Alabama, from vehicle theft to crash reports, so that you can be aware of what’s happening on your home road.

Vehicle Theft in Alabama

The table below will let you know if your vehicle is on Alabama’s top-10 most-stolen list. If your car is stolen, a comprehensive coverage plan will usually cover your costs.

Clearly, Chevrolet and Ford Pickups are the most popular stolen vehicles. Where you live is also important. Below, the FBI’s data on the 10 worst cities for vehicle theft.

If you live in Birmingham, you might want to keep a closer eye on your vehicle. Is your city not on the list above? Keep reading to see if it makes the list for best cities with a lack of vehicle theft.

That’s right! The numbers are not typos — the average number of thefts in these cities is ZERO.

Alabama’s Crash Report

Let’s move on from vehicle thefts to a more alarming subject — risky and harmful behavior in Alabama. In 2017, there were 948 traffic fatalities in the state of Alabama.

According to data collected by the NHTSA, three of Alabama’s cities made it onto the list of traffic fatalities by cities.

Believe it or not, more fatal accidents happen on rural roads than on urban roads. While plenty of accidents happen in the city, the speeds reached in a city are usually less than on a rural road. So make sure to keep a wary eye out when driving in ALL areas.

While road type plays a significant role in accidents, vehicle type is also important.

Vehicle occupants are not the only fatalities in Alabama.

Pedestrians and cyclists are also victims of vehicle fatalities. If you are near a roadway, keep a cautious eye out!

We have covered the where and who that are involved in fatal accidents. But what type of accidents cause fatalities?

Speeding is a major cause of accidents in Alabama, especially when you consider that speeding and taking turns too fast can cause rollovers. Stay with us, because we are going to look next at the top-10 counties in Alabama with the most traffic fatalities.

Speeding-related Fatalities in Alabama

Because speeding is one of the major culprits of fatal accidents, the NHTSA reported on fatalities involving speeding by county.

Drunk Driving Fatalities in Alabama

What is the other major culprit in fatal accidents? Drunk driving. Below are the number of fatal crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers by county.

Jefferson and Mobile counties once again ranked in the top number of fatalities for both speeding and drunk driving fatalities. Another sobering side of drunk driving is alcohol-impaired deaths among teenage drivers.

Teenage drivers often lack experience, and adding alcohol into the mix often makes for a deadly concoction.

Drunk driving at any age is dangerous, but we want to draw focus onto the lives that are too often cut tragically short. The national average for underage drunk driving deaths is 1.2 per 100,000 population.

Alabama’s fatality rate for underage drunk driving is 2.7 deaths per 100,000, which is well above the national average!

This discouraging number is among the HIGHEST in the U.S. Let’s look closer at underage drunk driving in Alabama.

The good thing about these numbers is that Alabama ranks 48th in the U.S. This means Alabama has a LOW number of arrests compared to other states — meaning Alabama doesn’t have as many underage drunk drivers on its streets. Unfortunately, the underage drunk drivers who do drive contribute to one of the highest fatality rates in the U.S.

After covering all these accidents, we want to move on to a less depressing topic. Next up, we look at how long it takes for help to arrive after a crash.

EMS Response Time in Alabama

If you or someone you know is in an accident, you want help to arrive as FAST as possible.

As you can see from the table, help arrives faster if you live in an urban area. Don’t let this discourage you from living rurally, though, as you will still arrive at the hospital in under an hour in a rural area!

Transportation in Alabama

When you drive down your neighborhood, do you ever take note of how many cars are sitting in your neighbors’ driveways? Usually, we can tell if someone is visiting by that extra car parked outside the house.

In Alabama, the average amount of cars owned is two.

Ever wondered what others’ commute times in Alabama are compared to yours? In Alabama, the average commute time is 23.9 minutes, which is less than the national average.

Next up, the most common methods of commuting in Alabama.

Driving alone is by far the most common method of commuting in Alabama.

Top Alabama Cities for Traffic Congestion

Great news! NONE of Alabama’s cities made it onto INRIX’s list of worst cities for traffic. While this doesn’t mean you won’t sit in traffic, at least you can feel better about the fact that other states have it way worse than Alabama.

According to the Business Council of Alabama, drivers in Birmingham spend 34 hours yearly in traffic, and drivers in Huntsville spend 23 hours yearly.

Now that you have read through this comprehensive guide, you are ready to hit the roads in Alabama! Start comparing auto insurance today by entering your ZIP code below in our FREE online tool!

Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.