Average Auto Insurance Rate Increase by State After A DUI
The average insurance premium differs for different states after a DUI, with each state having different insurance laws.
Car insurance after a DUI charge can be stressful. It is costly and takes some time to get over it. You may find it difficult to get insured. A DUI is the driving of an automobile while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and this has a consequence on your car insurance.
Can You Still Get A Car Insurance After A DUI?
The good news is that, yes, you can. There are still options for car insurance coverage with a DUI charge, even if your current provider has terminated your policy.
Your insurer determines what happens to your auto insurance coverage after you’ve been charged with a DUI. Usually, you may be slammed with a premium increase, which is significant, and your insurer may even drop you.
In the event of an accident occurring, you may not be covered. If you do not inform your insurance company of your charge, your insurance will likely be terminated, and you will have difficulty getting another.
Even if you didn’t cause an accident while driving under the influence, you’ll see a rate increase when you renew your policy or buy a new one once the DUI shows up on your motor vehicle record.
How Much Does Your Car Insurance Go Up After A DUI?
Your premium will rise above the standard rate following a DUI charge. The new cost will depend on the insurance company providing you with coverage, the gravity of the charge, your driving violation history, insurance coverage lag, and other factors.
Insurance companies consider a driver with a bad driving history more likely to be involved in an accident, and therefore, they raise the premium accordingly.
If you are involved in an accident, your insurers may be held responsible for covering the cost. This costs insurers more on average.
The rise in your insurance cost after a DUI may be as much as two to seven times more than the rates for a driver without a DUI record. Forbes Advisor estimates the national average auto insurance rate increase to be about 74%.
How Long Does A DUI Affect Your Vehicle Insurance Rate?
Depending on the insurer and your state laws, it may take 3 – 6 years to remove your DUI charge from your history.
Before your renewal time and when you apply for an insurance policy, insurers review your driving history. Once a DUI is spotted in your record, it raises a red flag for the insurer. The company, in turn, increases your premium and keeps it high for upwards of three to six years depending on certain factors like:
- The extent to which a DUI remains on your driving record.
- The time frame your state insurance laws allow a DUI to raise rates.
- Your age. Car insurance companies consider younger drivers to be riskier to insure.
- Number of DUIs within a specific time frame.
- The insurance company. Different companies use different calculations to set rates.
Other factors, such as population density, the likelihood of causing an accident, and the average cost of an auto insurance claim, may also affect the average rate per state.
The table below shows the average full coverage premium raise after a single DUI conviction in each state.
| State | The average car insurance rate increases after a DUI (%) |
| Alabama | 70 |
| Alaska | 33 |
| Arizona | 62 |
| Arkansas | 50 |
| California | 131 |
| Colorado | 70 |
| Connecticut | 83 |
| Delaware | 69 |
| Florida | 33 |
| Georgia | 93 |
| Hawaii | 219 |
| Idaho | 65 |
| Illinois | 83 |
| Indiana | 93 |
| Iowa | 100 |
| Kansas | 63 |
| Kentucky | 76 |
| Louisiana | 38 |
| Maine | 97 |
| Maryland | 70 |
| Massachusetts | 94 |
| Michigan | 191 |
| Minnesota | 75 |
| Mississippi | 62 |
| Missouri | 33 |
| Montana | 55 |
| Nebraska | 88 |
| Nevada | 49 |
| New Hampshire | 126 |
| New Jersey | 82 |
| New Mexico | 53 |
| New York | 80 |
| North Carolina | 266 |
| North Dakota | 79 |
| Ohio | 100 |
| Oklahoma | 60 |
| Oregon | 68 |
| Pennsylvania | 83 |
| Rhode Island | 65 |
| South Carolina | 38 |
| South Dakota | 84 |
| Tennessee | 105 |
| Texas | 52 |
| Utah | 73 |
| Vermont | 143 |
| Virginia | 86 |
| Washington | 55 |
| West Virginia | 80 |
| Wisconsin | 82 |
| Wyoming | 67 |
Source: Quadrant Information Services
How Can I Get A Cheap Car Insurance Rate After A DUI?
If you want to lower your rates after a DUI, the following strategies will be helpful.
- Compare Quotes from multiple insurance companies with your present insurer to get the best premium rate.
- Request for discounts. You can request discounts by making full payments, insuring several cars, or bundling auto and homeowners policies.
- Prove that you are a safe driver. You will have to avoid any further driving violations.
- Purchasing a non-owner policy. You can get an auto insurance policy that gives you coverage when driving rental cars or borrowed vehicles at much-reduced rates than you’d pay for standard vehicle coverage.
- Improve your credit scores. Most insurance firms in most states, except in California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Washington, Michigan, Oregon, and Utah, use a credit-based insurance score to determine your car premiums. Therefore, a poor credit score can lead to you paying more for your car insurance.
- Change your insurance providers. Other companies in your state may offer you a more affordable rate than your present insurer.
- Install safety devices. Installing anti-theft devices, automated seat belts, antilock brakes, and alarms can get you discounted rates.
Required Insurance Documents After A DUI
If you have a DUI, in most states, you may be required to show evidence of an SR-22 filing – a form filed by your insurer that indicates you consistently meet minimum coverage requirements. However, in Florida or Virginia, you may instead be required to have an FR-44 certification.
Auto insurance companies usually provide these documents. However, you should know that not all companies offer SR-22 or FR-44 filings. Therefore, you must search for an insurer that provides this service to high-risk drivers.
Which Is The Cheapest Car Insurance Company After A DUI?
To help you find the auto insurance company with the cheapest rates, a team from Rateforce researched the best companies for DUI insurance.
Below is a list of 12 car insurance companies that offer the cheapest rates for DUI drivers, as published by rateforce.com.
| Company | Average Full Coverage Insurance Rate With DUI | Average Minimum Coverage Insurance Rate With DUI |
|---|---|---|
| 21st Century | $4,712 | $2,072 |
| Liberty Mutual | $4,112 | $1,823 |
| Allstate | $3,323 | $1,453 |
| Auto-Owners | $2,821 | $1,132 |
| Farmers | $2,857 | $1,419 |
| Geico | $2,751 | $1,072 |
| State Farm | $2,561 | $1,132 |
| Travellers | $2,365 | $1,271 |
| Progressive | $2,271 | $987 |
| Safeco | $2,072 | $754 |
| USAA* | $1,931 | $787 |
| American Family | $1,381 | $657 |
Conclusion
Once you are charged for a DUI, your current auto insurance rate will be raised by your insurer. In some instances, your policy may be cancelled.
However, you can still find companies with affordable premiums. Some insurers offer discounts based on specific considerations, such as installing safety devices in your car, taking safe driving courses, and avoiding further infractions for a period.