How Does DUI Conviction Affect Car Insurance Rate?

Reader’s Question:

How does a DUI conviction  affect your car insurance?

Michelle

Denver CO
If you are convicted of a DUI or driving under the influence, DWI or Driving while intoxicated, OUI or Operating under the influence or maybe OWI or operating while impaired, your car insurance rates will go up. Some insurance laws will actually triple your typical car insurance rates after DUI conviction.

Generally, drunk driving conviction will affect your car insurance rate for at least three years. If the state you live in permit car insurance providers to check your insurance record for longer period, it may affect your dui insurance rate for more than five years.

If you have a dui conviction in your driving record, you are now considered as a high risk to an insurance provider. According to statistics, driving under the influence causes more serious accidnets that is why car insurance companies increases your rates to cover your risk as a driver.

If your insurer will still continue to isnure you after DUI conviction, the increase on your car insurance rate will occur at your next renewal period when your insurer checks on your driving record and see the DUI offense. Your car insurance company and state laws will determine the amount of time for the increased of your dui insurance rate.

For example, in Colorado, car insurance rate may increase up to 30% after DUI conviction. Again, the car insurance increase will depend on the rating system of your car insurance company.

Having DUI conviction in your driving record can negatively affect your car insurance rate because you are being put to the high risk category by car insurance companies. It would be best to shop around for car insurance companies that may provide you a more affordable dui insurance that you can afford.

How to Get Cheap Auto Insurance Rate After DUI Conviction

Reader’s Question:

Is there anything I can do to get a cheaper insurance if I have a DUI on my drivers record?

Mitch

Jackson, MS

Having a major violation such as a DUI on your driving record can affect your car insurance rates since as a motorist you are seen as more of a risk to an insurance company. In most states if you have been convicted of DUI your license will be suspended for a certain period of time and then when you try to reinstate your driver’s license you will have to have your insurance carrier to file a SR-22, certificate of financial responsibility, on your behalf.

The best way to get the cheapest insurance rates after you have been convicted of a drunk driving is to shop around. Comparison shop online Make sure to ask for any discounts that may be available to you. This can be for safety features on your vehicle such as , anti-theft devices, traffic courses, driver improvement etc. Discounts vary from one insurance carrier to another so ask what ones are available to check if you can lower your insurance rates by applying the most discounts to your insurance policy.

Cheap Car Insurance After DUI

Reader’s Question:

I have a DUI on my driving record and I just want to find out if there is anything I can do to get a cheaper car insurance?

Jason

Chicago, Illinois (IL)

Having a major conviction like DUI on your driving record can seriously affect your car insurance rates since as a motorist you are seen as more of a risk to an insurance company. In most states if you have been convicted of drunk driving (DUI) your license will be suspended for a certain period of time and then when you go to restore your driver’s license you will have to get an insurance company to file a SR-22, certificate of financial responsibility, on your behalf.

With a major offense like this on your driving record and the needing to file an SR-22 you may not be able to find car insurance with a standard insurance company. A standard insurance company will generally give better rates for those with clean driving records and may not offer competitive insurance rates for those with DUI and other serious related infractions or bad driving records.

The best way to get the cheapest rates after you have been convicted of a DUI is to shop around. Make sure to ask for any discounts that may be available to you. This can be for driver improvement or traffic courses, safety features on your car, anti-theft devices, etc. Discounts differ from one insurance providers to another so ask what ones are available to check if you can get cheaper rates by applying the most discounts to your insurance policy.

Holy crap Batman, these DUI insurance rates rock

DUI Effect on Auto Insurance Rate

Reader’s Question:

If I receive a DUI but the insurance policy is not under my name, do the insurance rates go up for the policy holder?

Anne

Buffalo, NY

 

Yes, your DUI may affect the insurance rates for the policyholder if you are a motorist listed under their insurance policy. The driving record of any licensed motorist on an insurance policy or in a household can have an impact on the insurance rate as well as the insurance provider’s decision to insure the car. Some violations may cause an insurance company to turn you or the policyholder down for insurance coverage or to pay high-risk rates.

An individual with a bad driving record is more of a risk for an insurance carrier than an individual with a clean driving record and thus their rates are normally higher. The whole insurance policy thus can be affected by one motorist’s DUI or serious driving violation.

If the policyholder’s car insurance rates go up due to your DUI, they may want to comparison shop for car insurance to see if they can find a better rate. It may be more cost effective for you and the policy holder to maintain separate coverage since you may lose the cost benefits of the multi-driver policy.

How Long Does DUI Affect Car Insurance Rates

Reader’s Question:

I got a DUI three years ago. How long does my DUI affect car insurance rates? My insurance rate is still high!

Ben

Brooklyn, NY

 

The amount of time your DUI will affect your insurance rates depends on both your insurance company guidelines and your state’s regulations. States differ on how long a DUI or DWI stay on your driving record. It may stay on your MVR for as little as a few years or remain there permanently depending on the state and the situations regarding your DUI. As long as the infraction is on your DMV record, it is likely to affect your car insurance rates.

Each insurance provider has its own method of rating and evaluating people. To find out how long your DUI will remain on your record, contact the DMV in your state. To find out how long your insurance company is going to charge a higher rate, contact your insurance broker. Even after the offense is dropped from your record, your current insurance provider will have it on their records and may still charge your accordingly. It may be advisable to shop around for quotes from other insurance providers after your record is cleared.

How Drivers with DUI Can Affect Car Insurance Rate

Reader’s Question:

My friend drove my car and he got convicted of a DUI. How will this affect my insurance rates?

Jairus

Thank you for asking Jairus.

If an offense is written to a motorist only and not against the motor vehicle, typically, it is the driver’s record that will be affected. If this is the case and your friend got convicted of a DUI in his or her name only then it would usually be their driving license and insurance rates that would be affected by this citation.

Most states have tough laws against driving under the influence of either alcohol or drugs. A court conviction of an individual operating while intoxicated, OWI, includes penalties such as a 48 hour jail sentence for a first offense, course or seminars for drinking drivers and substance abuse evaluation and or treatment. This is conviction may also come with a fine of up of to $1000.

Goodluck!

MariCAR