There’s no way around it, a DUI will drastically affect your car insurance. At best, your provider will immediately classify you as a high-risk driver and increase your premium. At worst, your insurer could even cancel your policy altogether.
Though you’ll pay more for insurance coverage going forward, you have some options. The first thing you can try to do is look for a company that offers the best rates for drivers with DUIs. In this article, we’ll help you understand what’s next after a drunk driving conviction.
Driving Under The Influence (DUI) Basics
Getting a DUI means being arrested for driving under the influence. You may also see it as driving while intoxicated (DWI), operating while intoxicated (OWI), and other state-specific names such as DUII in Oregon and DWAI in Colorado.
You can get a DUI violation if you use drugs or alcohol that harm your ability to safely drive a vehicle. Driving while under the influence can result in serious injury to yourself and others, damage to your car and property, and other avoidable costs.
In most states, you’ll receive a drunk driving conviction if you drive with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08. Sometimes, you could even face charges for a lower BAC. In that case, the prosecution must prove with other evidence that you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Expect the following if you get a DUI:
- It’s going to be expensive. DUIs make you a high risk and raise your rates. Many factors go into your auto rates, but a drunken driving conviction is almost certain to inflate them.
- It might be hard to find coverage. Aside from expensive rates, some companies might refuse to offer you a policy after a DUI.
- You could lose your license. A conviction could lead to a possible license suspension or revocation, depending on the severity of the offense. Suspension length will vary by state.
- You could go to jail. You’re likely to see some jail time in most states if you’re caught driving under the influence.
How a DUI Affects Car Insurance
Your auto insurance rates will skyrocket after a DUI conviction. Many insurers are likely to cancel your policy after a drunk driving offense, forcing you to go out and search for a new policy. Beyond that, you could have trouble finding a company willing to offer you coverage. And if you do find a company that’ll insure you, it’ll be expensive.
Though lots of things decide your rates, such as your ZIP code and yearly mileage, your driving record is one of the most important. The Insurance Information Institute (III) cites a bad driving record as one of the top reasons some drivers can’t find auto coverage.
Most companies don’t like to insure drivers with DUIs because they appear to be at a high risk to cause an accident. Since a DUI is one of the most severe offenses you can get on your record, just one will make it hard to get any standard insurance. Below are some options to maintain coverage after a drunk driving conviction:
High-Risk Insurers
One of your best bets if you can’t get traditional coverage is to try to get a high-risk policy. Also known as non-standard insurance, some providers offer policies only for high-risk drivers. Prices can vary, but you’ll likely still face increased prices after a severe offense such as a drunk driving DUI or DWI conviction.
Below is a list of companies that offer high-risk insurance for people with DUIs:
- Allstate
- Progressive
- Direct Auto
- Farmers
- GEICO
- The General
- Safe Auto
- Dairyland
- Nationwide
- Infinity
- Bristol West
- State Farm
- 21st Century
- Kemper
- Gainsco
- Vern Fonk
These are just some companies that offer coverage for high-risk drivers, including those with a DUI conviction on their record. If you’d like to know which of these high-risk insurers is best, check out our article on the best car insurance for a bad driving record. In it, we look at the largest well-known providers that cater to high-risk drivers with a DUI on their record.
State-Assigned Risk Pools
Another option for keeping coverage after you’re caught driving intoxicated is to enter a state-assigned risk pool. This exists to allow drivers with serious offenses (DUI/DWIs, reckless driving, and more) to remain covered. Upon entering the pool, your state would assign you to an insurer that takes part in the pool. Even if your driving record is bad, one of these companies must still offer you a policy. Be aware that you can expect to see much higher prices in the pool because of your overall risk.
Contact your agent to find out more about your state’s assigned risk pool. They’ll be able to tell you your next steps if you want to enter a high-risk driver pool. Remember that this is often a last-ditch effort if you’ve been denied coverage because of your high-risk status.
You May Need an SR-22
You might need to file a court-ordered SR-22 form with your state following a drunk driving conviction or DUI. Some people mistake these documents as a type of insurance, but it’s really something your insurer gives you to send to your state that certifies you have the minimum amount of liability coverage.
Sometimes your state may require you to have an SR-22 for up to five years following a DUI or other severe driving violation. Your provider will also often help you through the filing process if your court or state requires an SR-22.
Total Cost of a DUI Conviction
Mistakes are common when driving, but a drunk driving conviction is an especially costly one. The impact on your premium is huge, but that’s not all. While the total cost of a DUI largely depends on your situation, you’ll also likely face expensive legal fees, repair costs, lost time at work, and more.
Here are some of the most common costs associated with a DUI:
- Sky-high insurance prices
- Fines
- Legal fees from hiring a lawyer
- Time lost at work from going to jail, appearing in court, or injury
- Bail
- Towing and impound costs
How Long a DUI Stays on Your Record
A DUI will stay on your driving record for about three to five years, and sometimes even longer depending on your state. For example, California keeps these violations on your record for 10 years. Keep in mind that your driving record is not the same thing as your criminal record. Though a drunk driving conviction can go off your driving record after roughly three years, it could be a permanent blemish on your criminal record.
How Much Car Insurance Costs After a DUI
How much your auto insurance premium increases will depend on several factors. This can include, but isn’t limited to:
- Your age. Younger drivers under 25 and older drivers above 60 are often seen as higher risk.
- Your past driving record. Your rates could go up more if you have a driving history full of tickets, accidents, and more DUIs.
- Where you live. Your rates could increase if lots of accidents occur in your city/state.
- Your credit rating. A bad credit score will increase your premium.
- Your insurance record. A troubled record with a history of not paying on time or not following your insurer’s terms will lead to higher prices.
It’s also important to note that not every insurer will increase your prices at the same rate after a DUI. Some companies will give you better prices than others. It might be worth your while to start fresh with a new provider if you’re not getting the deal you want.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long after a DUI do insurance rates go back down?
A drunk driving conviction can stay on your DMV record for three or more years. You can expect your rates to decrease once it’s off your record. Remember that many things affect your rates. A DUI is a big part, but other things such as your ZIP code, the type of car you drive, and more can affect your auto insurance rates.
Will my policy be cancelled after a DUI?
Your insurer is very likely to cancel your policy if you’re found guilty of drunk driving. Some, like Progressive, won’t. But expect the worst to happen if you get a DUI.
How much does auto coverage cost after a DUI?
The short answer is that your auto insurance will be very expensive. After getting a DUI, insurers will label you a high-risk driver and will increase your prices. You could see even higher prices than most if you already have a bad driving record, too.
Will my insurer cancel my auto insurance if my spouse got a DUI?
If your wife, husband, or partner is convicted of a DUI or DWI, then it’s quite possible that your provider will cancel your policy. The reason is that if your spouse is a named driver on the policy, your carrier will see them as substantially riskier than when you first signed your insurance documents.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t be able to get a new coverage. Most married couples have joint insurance policies, which makes good economic sense most of the time. After DUI conviction, however, that math no longer applies and it’s better off for the spouse doesn’t drive. Just exclude the person with the DUI from your auto insurance policy.
