How Drunk Driving Affects Auto Insurance Rates
Content
- DWI, OUI, DUI, DWAI, OVI: what do they mean and how do they differ
- Suspended or revoked driving license
- How much does drunk driving cost
- How Drunk Driving Affects Insurance
- Drunk driving insurance rates by state
- How to get cheap DUI insurance
- How long does a DUI stay on your driving license?
- How long does drunk driving affect car insurance rates
- Maintaining car coverage after a DUI
- All about SR-22
- Non-Owner's Insurance SR-22
Drivers caught driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs face a number of consequences. These consequences vary depending on the state in which the indictment was filed, but almost always include fines, suspension of your driver's license and a significant increase in auto insurance rates, as well as a multi-year mark on your driving record. However, there are ways to reduce the impact of a drunk driving conviction on the amount you pay for car insurance.
DWI, OUI, DUI, DWAI, OVI: what do they mean and how do they differ
There are many terms associated with driving after using a controlled substance. Terms such as driving under the influence (DUI), driving under the influence of alcohol (DWI), or driving under the influence (OUI) usually cover driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, but have slightly different meanings in different states.
In some states, drunk driving qualifies as drunk driving, but a violation from marijuana or other drugs is considered drunk driving. Some states define DUI and DWI as separate violations, where DUI is a lesser charge than DWI.
For the purposes of this article, DUI will be used as a generic term for DWI, OVI, and OUI.
Suspended or revoked driving license
Suspension of a driver's license is almost always accompanied by a conviction for drunk driving. State laws vary on how long this suspension lasts, but it's usually between three and six months.
This can happen in two ways: the state motor vehicle agency suspends your license or suspends your license.
Failure to take a breathalyser blood alcohol test or blood test during a traffic stop will result in an automatic suspension of your driver's license, regardless of the decision in your drunk driving case. So, as with any stop, it's best to do what the officer says.
It depends on state laws and individual circumstances, but first-time drunk drivers can get their license back in as little as 90 days. Sometimes the judge imposes restrictions, such as the ability to travel to and from work only for the offender who violated traffic rules. Repeat offenders may face harsher penalties, such as license suspension for a year or more, or permanent license revocation.
How much does drunk driving cost
In addition to being extremely dangerous, drunk or drunk driving is also extremely expensive. A drunk driving conviction entails fines, fines, and legal fees that you will have to pay out of your own pocket. “In Ohio, a first offense for driving under the influence of alcohol can cost $7,000 or more,” says Michael E. Cicero, traffic lawyer for Nicola, Gudbranson & Cooper in Cleveland. Cicero points out several costs that drivers in Ohio can expect if they are found guilty of drunk driving:
- Fine from 500 to 1,000 dollars
- Legal costs from 120 to 400 dollars.
- Trial period, $250
- Driver intervention program instead of jail, $300 to $400.
- Legal costs from 1,000 to 5,000 dollars.
How Drunk Driving Affects Insurance
In addition to fines and fees, your car insurance costs will increase after drunk driving. How much they increase depends on where you live, but drivers convicted of drunk driving should expect their rates to double.
Penny Gusner, consumer analyst at Insure.com, says: “Drunken driving alone will raise your car insurance rates by 40 to 200 percent. In North Carolina, that's 300 percent more."
Drunk driving insurance rates by state
The laws of the state where you live have a big impact on auto insurance rates, and raising your rate for drunk driving is no different. Even if drunk driving didn't happen in the state you live in, it will follow you home. This table shows the average increase in auto insurance rates after DUI in each state:
| Average increase in auto insurance rates after drunk driving | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Average annual rate | Drink driving bet | Additional cost | % Increase |
| AK | $1,188 | $1,771 | $583 | Present in several = 49% |
| AL | $1,217 | $2,029 | $812 | Present in several = 67% |
| AR | $1,277 | $2,087 | $809 | Present in several = 63% |
| AZ | $1,009 | $2,532 | $1,523 | Present in several = 151% |
| CA | $1,461 | $3,765 | $2,304 | Present in several = 158% |
| CO | $1,095 | $1,660 | $565 | Present in several = 52% |
| CT | $1,597 | $2,592 | $995 | Present in several = 62% |
| DC | $1,628 | $2,406 | $778 | Present in several = 48% |
| DE | $1,538 | $3,113 | $1,574 | Present in several = 102% |
| FL | $1,463 | $2,739 | $1,276 | Present in several = 87% |
| GA | $1,210 | $1,972 | $762 | Present in several = 63% |
| HI | $1,104 | $3,112 | $2,008 | Present in several = 182% |
| IA | $939 | $1,345 | $406 | Present in several = 43% |
| ID | $822 | $1,279 | $457 | Present in several = 56% |
| IL | $990 | $1,570 | $580 | Present in several = 59% |
| IN | $950 | $1,651 | $701 | Present in several = 74% |
| KS | $1,141 | $1,816 | $675 | Present in several = 59% |
| KY | $1,177 | $2,176 | $999 | Present in several = 85% |
| LA | $1,645 | $2,488 | $843 | Present in several = 51% |
| MA | $1,469 | $2,629 | $1,160 | Present in several = 79% |
| MD | $1,260 | $1,411 | $151 | Present in several = 12% |
| ME | $758 | $1,386 | $628 | Present in several = 83% |
| MI | $2,297 | $6,337 | $4,040 | Present in several = 176% |
| MN | $1,270 | $2,584 | $1,315 | Present in several = 104% |
| MO | $1,039 | $1,550 | $511 | Present in several = 49% |
| MS | $1,218 | $1,913 | $695 | Present in several = 57% |
| MT | $1,321 | $2,249 | $927 | Present in several = 70% |
| NC | $836 | $3,206 | $2,370 | Present in several = 284% |
| ND | $1,365 | $2,143 | $778 | Present in several = 57% |
| NE | $1,035 | $1,759 | $724 | Present in several = 70% |
| NH | $865 | $1,776 | $911 | Present in several = 105% |
| NJ | $1,348 | $2,499 | $1,151 | Present in several = 85% |
| NM | $1,125 | $ 1,787 | $661 | Present in several = 59% |
| NV | $1,113 | $1,696 | $582 | Present in several = 52% |
| NY | $1,336 | $2,144 | $808 | Present in several = 60% |
| OH | $763 | $1,165 | $402 | Present in several = 53% |
| OK | $1,405 | $2,461 | $1,056 | Present in several = 75% |
| OR | $1,110 | $1,737 | $627 | Present in several = 56% |
| PA | $1,252 | $1,968 | $717 | Present in several = 57% |
| RI | $2,117 | $3,502 | $1,385 | Present in several = 65% |
| SC | $1,055 | $1,566 | $511 | Present in several = 48% |
| SD | $1,080 | $1,520 | $439 | Present in several = 41% |
| TN | $1,256 | $2,193 | $937 | Present in several = 75% |
| TX | $1,416 | $2,267 | $851 | Present in several = 60% |
| UT | $935 | $1,472 | $537 | Present in several = 57% |
| VA | $849 | $1,415 | $566 | Present in several = 67% |
| VT | $900 | $1,392 | $492 | Present in several = 55% |
| WA | $1,075 | $1,740 | $666 | Present in several = 62% |
| WI | $863 | $1,417 | $554 | Present in several = 64% |
| WV | $1,534 | $2,523 | $988 | Present in several = 64% |
| WY | $1,237 | $1,945 | $708 | Present in several = 57% |
| USA | $1,215 | $2,143 | $928 | Present in several = 76% |
| All data taken from http://www.insurance.com | ||||
How to get cheap DUI insurance
Looking for low cost car insurance after a drunk driving conviction? You're out of luck. It's inevitable that your rates will go up, but if you shop around you might find a less expensive option. Each insurance company calculates risk differently: some may opt out of policyholders convicted of drunk driving outright, while others have special plans for drunk driving offenders. Doing research and shopping around is the best way to make sure you're paying the best price for car insurance. This can make a difference of several thousand dollars a year.
How long does a DUI stay on your driving license?
Like the fines you will face, how long a drunk driving conviction remains in your driving history varies from state to state. As a general rule, it stays on your driving license for at least five years, but in many states it is much longer. In New York and California, drunk driving stays on your record for 10 years, and in Iowa even longer: 12 years.
How long does drunk driving affect car insurance rates
Again, the state in which the conviction occurred affects how long your car insurance rates will be affected. As long as he is in your driving experience, he will raise your rates. The key to gradually reducing rates to normal levels is to keep a clean driving history. “You can reinstate your driving license to show that you have learned from your mistake and are a responsible driver,” Gusner says. “Over time, your rates will start to drop. It may take three or five or seven years, but you will get there.” Once DUI is permanently removed from your record, shop and compare insurance rates to see if you can get a better price from another provider.
Maintaining car coverage after a DUI
It is necessary to maintain car insurance coverage even if your license is suspended after a drunk driving conviction. This is because insurers consider continuous coverage when determining your rates. If you maintain continuous coverage with no gaps, you will end up paying a lower rate, so it's smart to keep paying even if you can't legally drive. If your license is suspended for a year and you don't pay insurance during that time, your insurance quotes will be astronomical when you start buying insurance again.
“If you have a car and people will drive you, ask if your insurance company will allow you to add a person who will drive you as the main driver, excluding you. The policy will still be in your name, so technically there is no gap in coverage,” Gusner says.
However, only some insurers will allow this, so it may take some diligence to find one who is willing to accommodate your request.
All about SR-22
Drivers convicted of drunk driving, reckless driving, or driving without insurance are often ordered by the court to carry insurance policies that exceed the state's minimum requirements. These drivers must validate these insurance limits before their license can be reinstated, which is achieved with the SR-22.
An SR-22 is a document your insurance company must file with the State Department of Motor Vehicles to prove that you have adequate insurance coverage. If you miss a payment, cancel your policy, or otherwise let your coverage expire, the SR-22 will be revoked and your license will be suspended again.
“If an SR-22 is required, be sure to let your insurer know as not all insurers file the form,” Gusner says.
Non-Owner's Insurance SR-22
SR-22 insurance for non-owners can be a smart way to keep coverage if you no longer own the car. These policies require you not to have constant access to the vehicle, but only offer liability coverage, so this type of insurance is often cheaper than a standard policy.
This article is adapted with the approval of carinsurance.com: http://www.carinsurance.com/how-do-points-affect-insurance-rates.aspx
