Following a DUI conviction, you should look for companies that offer the best rates and specialize in providing coverage to high-risk drivers. National companies may offer low-cost insurance after a DUI, but localized insurers frequently outperform them.
Even if your car insurance companies haven’t learned about your DUI, we encourage being truthful instead of trying to trick them to avoid other risks that could raise your rates even more, such as having your policy lapse. If your insurer wishes to terminate your auto insurance after a DUI, we recommend researching quotes and discounts from companies that specialize in DUI insurance to find the best available rates.
Average DUI Insurance Premiums
The average annual cost of vehicle insurance after a DUI is $1,465; this is 103% higher than the average cost of insurance for someone with a clean driving record. The cost of DUI insurance is determined by the driver’s state and insurance carrier.
Drivers in Alaska, for example, see their rates increase by an average of 49% after a DUI, and drivers in North Carolina pay an average of 278% more. Similarly, whereas Erie Insurance boosts rates by 73% on average after a DUI, Progressive only raises rates by 7% on average.
Average DUI Insurance Cost Increase
| Insurer | Annual Cost Before DUI | Annual Cost After DUI | Increase for DUI |
| Progressive | $625 | $669 | 7% |
| Erie | $1,351 | $2,338 | 73% |
| USAA | $1,460 | $2,458 | 68% |
| State Farm | $1,823 | $2,023 | 11% |
| Travelers | $2,183 | $2,779 | 27% |
Companies with the Cheapest DUI insurance
Large Companies providing DUI insurance.
We looked at significant companies that are available in several states and can service the most customers to find the lowest costs for drivers with a recent DUI.
Here are the typical monthly rates for drivers with a recent DUI from the nation’s four largest auto insurance companies, sorted from cheapest to most expensive:
- Progressive: $184
- State Farm: $205
- Geico: $245.
- Allstate: $247.
Although USAA had lower average rates than Progressive, it was not included in our analysis because it is only offered to the military, veterans, and their families.
DUI Insurance from Small Companies
However, large companies are not your only options. American National had the lowest average rates after a DUI of the insurers we know rates for, with drivers paying only $77 per month.
In many cases, smaller statewide and regional insurers offer the most affordable rates. For example, Indiana Farmers has the nation’s second-lowest rates after a DUI, with drivers paying an average of $80 per month. However, the corporation only sells insurance in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.
Our research discovered that in 34 states and Washington, D.C., the lowest rates for a DUI driver come from an insurer that is not among the top ten in the country. So, following a DUI, it’s critical to research vehicle insurance rates and finds the best deal for you.
States with the Cheapest DUI insurance
The most affordable vehicle insurance company in one location may not be the most affordable in another.
In our comparison for example:
- Geico was the least expensive alternative for DUI drivers in Florida, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Utah, but the most expensive one in North Carolina and North Dakota.
- Farm bureaus: On average, North Carolina and Virginia drivers can find the cheapest insurance at their state’s farm bureaus, but Texas Farm Bureau was the most expensive option in Texas.
- Travelers were the cheapest option in Delaware for DUI drivers, but the most expensive in Massachusetts.
The lowest insurer for a driver with a clean record isn’t always the cheapest after a DUI in the majority of states. Geico, for example, was the cheapest company in North Carolina for a motorist with no violations but the most expensive after a DUI, with costs more than five times higher.
Read Also: CAR INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE: How It Works
Check the table below to find which insurance companies in your area offer the lowest rates after a DUI.
| State | Cheapest company | Full coverage with one DUI |
| Alabama | Allstate | $1,676 |
| Alaska | Umialik | $1,225 |
| Arizona | ACCC Insurance | $1,406 |
| Arkansas | Southern Farm Bureau Casualty | $1,165 |
| California | National General | $1,914 |
| Colorado | American National | $1,086 |
| Connecticut | State Farm | $2,038 |
| Delaware | Travelers | $2,351 |
| Florida | Geico | $2,789 |
| Georgia | Auto Owners | $1,947 |
| Hawaii | State Farm | $1,336 |
| Idaho | American National | $710 |
| Illinois | Erie | $1,384 |
| Indiana | Indiana Farmers | $964 |
| Iowa | State Farm | $1,068 |
| Kansas | State Farm | $1,729 |
| Kentucky | State Farm | $2,368 |
| Louisiana | Southern Farm Bureau Casualty | $2,282 |
| Maine | Vermont Mutual | $896 |
| Maryland | Geico | $1,561 |
| Massachusetts | State Farm | $899 |
| Michigan | Chubb | $1,583 |
| Minnesota | American Family | $1,248 |
| Mississippi | State Farm | $1,955 |
| Missouri | Electric Insurance | $1,449 |
| Montana | State Farm | $1,522 |
| Nebraska | EMC | $1,415 |
| Nevada | Country Financial | $2,073 |
| New Hampshire | Progressive | $1,231 |
| New Jersey | NJM | $1,625 |
| New Mexico | State Farm | $1,673 |
| New York | Main Street America | $1,268 |
| North Carolina | North Carolina Farm Bureau | $1,384 |
| North Dakota | American Family | $1,329 |
| Ohio | American Family | $990 |
| Oklahoma | Geico | $1,726 |
| Oregon | State Farm | $1,475 |
| Pennsylvania | Allstate | $1,013 |
| Rhode Island | State Farm | $877 |
| South Carolina | American National | $870 |
| South Dakota | American Family | $1,458 |
| Tennessee | Erie | $1,091 |
| Texas | Republic Group | $1,770 |
| Utah | Geico | $1,313 |
| Vermont | State Farm | $1,192 |
| Virginia | Virginia Farm Bureau | $1,235 |
| Washington | Progressive | $1,488 |
| Washington, D.C. | Erie | $1,771 |
| West Virginia | State Farm | $1,872 |
| Wisconsin | Erie | $950 |
| Wyoming | State Farm | $1,112 |
What is the Cost of Car Insurance after a DUI?
Even with the lowest needed insurance coverage, which is normally one-third the price of full coverage, you’re unlikely to avoid a rate increase for DUI insurance. After a DUI, average rates for both types increase by 93% or more.
While purchasing only the minimum necessary insurance coverage in your state is one option for lowering rates after a DUI, it is not for everyone. Full coverage is often required for auto loans and leases.
Furthermore, minimum coverage insurance frequently has relatively modest liability limitations. If you cause a collision and don’t have enough insurance to cover the damage, you’ll have to pay for it yourself.
On average, full coverage vehicle insurance for a driver with one DUI costs around $262 per month. That’s $126 more per month than a clean driver would pay.
Minimum coverage costs $95 per month on average for a driver with one DUI – $48 per month more than someone with a clean driving record would pay.
How to Get Low-Cost Car Insurance After a DUI
For several years after a DUI, your vehicle insurance provider considers you a high-risk driver, or more likely to file an insurance claim than most people. Your premium will almost definitely rise, and your carrier may even drop you. What you can do is as follows:
- Begin your auto insurance search as soon as possible. Because your coverage may be canceled, you should begin looking for vehicle insurance quotes as soon as possible following a DUI. This allows you to compare rates.
- When shopping around, disclose your DUI status. If you compare quotations soon away, insurance may be unaware of your recent DUI. To get the most accurate rate, discuss any recent traffic violations, including DUIs.
- Make use of comparative tools. Your premium will be affected by factors such as where you live, your age, and your credit score. The NerdWallet vehicle insurance comparison tool can assist you in weighing your options.
- Obtain many quotations. Companies’ pricing policies differ widely. Obtaining auto insurance quotes from multiple competitors is the best method to find the lowest rate.
- Three and five years later, go shopping again. After these milestones, rates after a DUI tend to fall, and other insurance companies may be cheaper than yours at those stages.
- Avoid any additional traffic violations. Even if you have a DUI, it will not affect your insurance rates indefinitely. To keep your car insurance bill low now and in the future, avoid any additional DUIs, accidents, or speeding fines.
- Consider non-owner car insurance. You can get nonowner auto insurance and still meet your state’s liability insurance requirements if you don’t own a car and occasionally drive someone else’s vehicle. In an at-fault accident, liability insurance covers the harm you cause to another person (or their vehicle).
How Do Insurance Companies Find Out About DUI?
Insurance companies will almost certainly find out about your DUI from the DMV. Different insurance companies review these records at various times, although many do so when you renew your coverage.
If you need to file an SR-22, insurance companies may find out about your DUI. If you’ve been convicted of a DUI or DWI, you’ll almost certainly need to complete an SR-22 form in order to have your license renewed. The SR-22 must be filed on your behalf with your state’s department of motor vehicles by your auto insurance company.
We recommend informing your insurance company about your DUI conviction. If you neglect to notify your auto insurance provider about your DUI, it may cancel your policy, resulting in a lapse in coverage and higher rates. While the possibility of cancellation remains if you disclose your DUI to your insurer, you will not be caught off guard and will have more time to consider your choices.
How Long Does a DUI have an effect on Insurance Rates?
The length of time DUIs affects your insurance varies depending on your area and insurer. Three to five years is the most common range. A DUI can stay on your record for ten years and will prevent you from receiving a good-driver discount in California.
What’s the Difference Between a DUI and a DWI?
In most places, there is no distinction between a DUI and a DWI; the phrases are interchangeable. They reflect varying levels of intoxication in a few states, although which is worse depending on the state.
Is there a DUI Insurance Trick?
No, there is no trick to keep your insurance from rising after a DUI. Insurance companies will eventually find out through the DMV. Rather than attempting to trick an insurer, your best options are to shop around for the best DUI insurance companies’ rates, find as many reductions as possible, and avoid compounding the rise with another violation.
What is the Best DUI insurance?
The best insurance after a DUI is determined by your region as well as your tastes. State Farm is the national insurer with the lowest total rates. Some companies focus on high-risk drivers. Some local insurance may provide lower rates. You could also investigate non-owner car insurance.
How can I obtain SR-22 Insurance?
An insurer must file an SR-22 form on your behalf. This demonstrates to the state that you have the required amount of insurance coverage. Both large and small companies provide SR-22 coverage, while smaller companies are frequently less expensive.
Alternative Auto Insurance Following a DUI
Many large insurance companies cater to high-risk drivers, and some smaller companies specialize in this sector. After a DUI, it’s a good idea to get rates from nonstandard carriers as well as large ones, if possible.
If you are unable to find a company willing to insure you due to your driving record, you can turn to your state’s “high-risk insurance pool,” which exists to provide coverage to persons who are unable to obtain auto insurance through traditional channels. To begin, find your state in the Automobile Insurance Plan Service Office directory.
How Does a DUI Affect Your Insurance Rate?
Your rate will go higher if you have a DUI violation on your record. Insurance companies may refuse coverage on the grounds that drivers who have been convicted of DUI are at a higher risk. Progressive is one of the few insurance companies that will insure drivers who have been convicted of driving under the influence (DUI), and we only raise rates by a countrywide average* of roughly 13% after just one DUI conviction.
How Much Is Car Insurance After a DUI?
The average cost of a full coverage policy with a DUI conviction is $272 per month. Your premium could be different from someone else’s based on a number of factors, including where you reside, how long you’ve been driving, what kind of coverage you select, and more.
How Long Does a DUI Stay On Your Insurance?
Your auto insurance premiums will be higher for at least three to five years and perhaps for a longer period of time if you have a DUI. It varies from company to company and state to state how long your rates are increased and by how much they do so.
In the state of California, for example, a driving under the influence conviction will remain on your record for ten years. You won’t be able to accumulate points for a good driver discount during that time period.
Because drivers with a recent DUI conviction are often categorized as high-risk drivers, you may be required to get coverage from an insurer that is not deemed normal.
How Long Does DUI Stay on Record Ohio?
- Forever
A lot of people are under the impression that a conviction for driving under the influence would be removed from their record after two years have passed. That is not completely accurate. The conviction itself will stay on your record for the rest of your life, but the points, which in Ohio are equal to six points for driving under the influence conviction, are removed after two years.
Does a DUI Show Up on a Background Check?
A conviction for driving under the influence is one of the offenses that appear on background checks the most frequently. However, it is possible to maintain employment despite having a DUI conviction for a lesser offense. Candidates have a responsibility to be truthful since, even while a DUI alone may not automatically disqualify you from the position, lying about a conviction can.
How Much Does Insurance Go Up After Drink Driving?
In most cases, the amount of money you pay for auto insurance would rise by more than twice as much as it was before. This minimum rise of one hundred percent will often remain on your record for as long as the conviction for drunk driving remains there.
DUI Insurance FAQs
Is your insurance valid if you are drunk?
A DUI or DWI conviction will raise your insurance premiums, and some insurers may refuse to insure you. Legally, you must notify your insurer about your conviction for at least five years. (Some convictions can carry a sentence of up to eleven years.)
How long does drink driving affect insurance?
Convicted drunk drivers are likely to face higher insurance costs for the next five years following their conviction.
How long do you lose your licence for drink driving?
A conviction results in an obligatory disqualification of at least 12 months but is frequently in the range of 18 months or longer. If you have a previous conviction for a drunk or drug-driving offense within the last ten years, the minimum disqualification is three years.
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