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.

Caught With Marijuana in My Car

Reader’s Question:

If marijuana is found in someone’s vehicle by a law enforcement officer and they get a ticket for that, does their car insurance rate go up?

Jim

Denver, CO

It would likely depend upon the type of violation that the motorist was cited for. If it was a DWI or DUI, ticket that the individual received and they are convicted of this offense then it would go on their driving record where their insurance carrier could see it.

A DWI or DUI is considered a major violation and therefore insurance rates could be affected greatly. If the ticket was a different violation but still listed as a drug offense on your motor vehicle record (MVR) then it still would likely affect your auto insurance rates.

Insurance rating systems differ from one insurance carrier to another so if you were cited for an officer finding marijuana in your car you would need to verify from your insurance agent how your insurance carrier rates this type of violation.

Teen DUI Auto Insurance

Reader’s Question:

My cousin got a DUI, and he’s only 17. When he turns 18 will it go off his driving record? How will this affect his insurance rate?

June

Fresno, CA

 

In most states a DUI or DWI will stay on a driving record for a number of years, regardless if the person was a minor when they made the violation or not. For instance, in California it is typically 7 years.

The state in which your cousin lives might have different laws than the state you are in so check with the department of motor vehicles to see how many years it will stay on your cousin’s record and to see if they have different rules for this if the DWI was received as a minor.

If the DUI continues to be on his driving record, then it will likely affect his auto insurance rates by putting him in a higher risk category.

How Long Will A DUI Be On My Record in Texas?

Reader’s Question:

I am wondering how long a DUI will still show up on my driving records. Will my DUI still be in my Texas record after 20 years?

Frances

Thank you for asking Frances.

The answer is yes.

This driving under the influence (DUI) or Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) will still be on your Texas driving record because these types of serious convictions stay on your TX driving record indefinitely. Some states have provisions that can drop these convictions from your driving record in as little as seven years, but it varies considerably from state to state.

The Texas Department of Public Safety states that moving infractions appear on a driving record for a period of 5 years with the exception of major offenses. Some examples of serious violations are DWI, DUI,  and driving without insurance which will remain on a Texas driving record for life.

Goodluck!

MariCAR