The High Costs of DUI Auto Insurance Rates (2024)
Do DUIs raise insurance rates? One conviction can double, or even triple your existing rates, and affect your rates for years. In worst-case scenarios, your insurance provider may even cancel your existing policy. You could be stuck paying $1500 or more extra on your car insurance premium each year that the offense stays on your record.
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Jeffrey Manola
Licensed Insurance Agent
Jeffrey Manola is an experienced insurance agent who founded TopQuoteLifeInsurance.com and NoMedicalExamQuotes.com. His mission when creating these sites was to provide online consumers searching for insurance with the most affordable rates available. Not only does he strive to provide consumers with the best prices for insurance coverage, but he also wants those on the market for insurance to ...
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UPDATED: Dec 31, 2023
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Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
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.
UPDATED: Dec 31, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
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If you’re trying to save money on car insurance, a DUI conviction is the absolute worst thing that could possibly happen to you. One conviction can double, or even triple your existing rates, and leave you in the dog house for years to come. In worst case scenarios, your insurance provider may even cancel your existing policy, thereby adding another harmful blemish to your record.
When most people talk about the consequences of a DUI conviction, they rarely mention its impact on your car insurance policy. Rather, they focus on the legal fees and their possible loss of driving privileges. Without a doubt, the legal fees and pending fine and jail time can be expensive and even a bit scary. Losing driving privileges can be even worse. After all, who wants to rely on a friend, family member, or cab driver to go anywhere?
Now is the time to start comparing insurers to be on the safe side. Recently, AutoInsureSavings.org reviewed some comparison sites and insurers to help drivers save. Any of the sites, including this one, will do fine to help you save.
Legal Fees and Fines are Pocket Change Compared to What You’ll Pay for Car Insurance with DUI Rates
As bad as the legal fees and loss of driving privileges are, they pale in comparison to the high costs of car insurance following a DUI. With just one DUI conviction, you’ll be subjected to the much higher DUI rates for car insurance. You could be stuck paying $1500 or more extra on your car insurance premium each year that the offense stays on your record. And that’s if you’re lucky.
If your driving record prior to the DUI wasn’t squeaky clean, you may find yourself being cut off and left to dry by your current auto insurance provider. That’s right – a few accidents, driving infractions, and a DUI will put you in the category of being way too risky to insure. Your car insurance provider will want nothing to do with you, and they’ll cancel your policy.
Other auto insurance providers will see both the DUI conviction, and the car insurance cancellation, and then either decline to offer you a policy, or make you pay ridiculously high rates. And you thought $1500 more per year was bad!
The good news is that it typically takes insurance companies as long as 12 months after your DUI conviction to review your records and either bump your rates or cancel your insurance policy. The bad news is that the DUI charge will stay on your record for up to 5 to 10 years depending on the state.
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Is there any way to reduce the amount my car insurance will increase after a DUI conviction?
Now that you know that your car insurance rates will soar after a DUI conviction, you’re probably asking yourself one question: “what can I do to bring my car insurance rates back down?”
If you’re a repeat offender, then there’s not much you can do about it. You’ve slipped up one too many times, and now you have to pay for it. However, if this is your first DUI conviction, then you may be in luck.
Believe it or not, there have been many instances where a person convicted of a DUI experienced only the slightest of increases in their auto insurance rates. So, what can you do to keep your car insurance rates down following a DUI?
Read more: Affordable Auto Insurance Companies After a DUI
Your Prior Driving Record Matters
Well, for starters, it’s important that you have a clean accident and infraction record. The cleaner your record, the greater leniency an insurance company is likely to offer when it comes to hitting you with their costlier DUI rates. Your squeaky clean record is a strong indicator that you DUI conviction may have been the exception rather than the norm. You’ll still pay a higher auto insurance rate, but the increase won’t be nearly as bad as it could be.
The More Policies the Merrier
If you have more than one policy with your auto insurance provider, you’re likely receiving a discount. That discount will help offset any rate increase you may experience following the DUI conviction. Other possible policies that you may hold include home insurance, rental insurance or even motorcycle insurance.
If you have another insurance policy besides auto insurance, contact your insurance provider to see about merging the two to get a discounted rate.
Increase Your Deductible
One of the easiest ways to reduce your insurance rates, whether you have a DUI conviction or not, is to increase your deductible. By making that change and adjusting other limits on your car insurance policy, you’ll be able to significantly reduce the increase in your rates after being convicted on a DUI charge.
Be careful not to increase your deductible to an amount that you wouldn’t be able to afford should you get into an accident, as they could wind up setting you back even further. If you are considering increasing the deductible amount, you should calculate how much you could realistically pay, and make that your limit.
Be Proactive
The very best way to limit the increase in your auto insurance rates after a DUI is to be proactive in seeking out methods to save.
Most insurance providers will offer you discounts if you take classes that promote safe driving. An example of one of these classes is Defensive Driving. Although the class may ruin your Saturday, it is one of the easiest and most effective ways to keep your car insurance rates low after a DUI charge.
A Defensive Driving class isn’t the only way to save on your auto insurance rates following a DUI. You should be comparing auto insurance quotes at least once each year to find out if you can get a cheaper rate with a different provider. Some insurance policies may be more forgiving than others, particularly with respect to one’s first DUI offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can DUI convictions raise insurance rates?
DUI convictions can double or even triple your existing rates, resulting in an additional $1500 or more on your car insurance premium each year. These increased rates can last for several years, depending on the state.
Can a DUI conviction lead to policy cancellation?
Yes, in some cases, insurance providers may cancel your existing policy after a DUI conviction. This can make it even more challenging to find affordable coverage with other providers due to the combination of the DUI and policy cancellation on your record.
Is there any way to reduce the increase in insurance rates after a DUI?
While it may be challenging, there are a few strategies to help minimize the increase in insurance rates. Having a clean driving record prior to the DUI, holding multiple policies with the same provider, increasing your deductible, and being proactive in seeking out methods to save, such as defensive driving classes, can all help mitigate the impact.
How long does a DUI conviction stay on your record?
The duration of a DUI conviction on your record varies by state but typically ranges from 5 to 10 years. During this period, insurance companies will consider the DUI when determining your rates.
Should I compare quotes from different insurance companies?
Yes, comparing quotes from multiple insurance companies is highly recommended, especially after a DUI conviction. Different providers have varying approaches to underwriting and may offer more competitive rates or be more forgiving of a first-time DUI offense. Comparing quotes allows you to explore your options and potentially find more affordable coverage.
Compare over 200 auto insurance companies at once!
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Jeffrey Manola
Licensed Insurance Agent
Jeffrey Manola is an experienced insurance agent who founded TopQuoteLifeInsurance.com and NoMedicalExamQuotes.com. His mission when creating these sites was to provide online consumers searching for insurance with the most affordable rates available. Not only does he strive to provide consumers with the best prices for insurance coverage, but he also wants those on the market for insurance to ...
Licensed Insurance Agent
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.