The Best DUI Car Insurance in 2024

One sure way to lose auto insurance is to get behind the wheel of a car while drunk. Because of the risk to the driver and anyone else on the road, insurance companies are wary of providing auto coverage to those who decide to drink and drive. Here, we'll take a look at DUI insurance rates, find out if it's possible to obtain insurance coverage after a DUI, and learn which companies offer the best car insurance after DUI convictions.

Car insurance rates after DUI or DWI

Depending on the state in which a driver lives and the severity of their offense, their insurance rate could increase by anywhere from 28% to 371%. In Missouri, for example, the average auto insurance rate goes up by just under $800. In North Carolina, DUI car insurance rates can be more than triple what someone without a DUI would pay. So, if someone normally pays $1,500 per year for coverage, their rates could jump to more than $4,500. The term "cheap DUI insurance" is relative. Drivers should expect to pay higher car insurance costs following a DUI. It's a matter of finding an insurance company that provides DUI insurance at a more forgiving rate until the DUI finally falls off the driver's record.

What's the difference between DUI, DWI, OUI, and OVI?

Each of these acronyms refer to driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, and they each lead to the need for DUI car insurance and higher insurance rates. Here's a look at what they mean.

• DUI: Driving under the influence
• DWI: Driving while intoxicated
• OUI: Operating under the influence
• OVI: Operating a vehicle while intoxicated

Average car insurance cost increase after a DUI

On average, taking out DUI car insurance increases a driver's rates by 94%. To see what that means to the average driver, let's say someone is paying $1,500 per year before their drunk driving conviction. Afterward, they can expect to pay around $2,910 annually for DUI auto insurance. While it's less in Missouri and more in North Carolina, 94% represents the average increase once a driver takes out DUI insurance.

How to find cheap car insurance after a DUI

The best advice for finding cheap car insurance following a DUI is to shop around and collect DUI car insurance quotes. Drivers should take time to check the rates of many insurers, even those they have never heard of. That's because every car insurance company treats DUI convictions and DUI insurance differently. All insurers charge more for drivers with DUIs than for drivers with a clean record, but some charge far more, and some offer comparatively cheap car insurance with a DUI.

Looking for the best car insurance companies is the responsibility of every driver, but is particularly important for someone who needs DUI car insurance. There's simply no way for many people to get around without adequate car insurance coverage. Even if the most the driver can afford after a DUI is liability insurance, that beats running the legal risk of being uninsured.

When it comes to high-risk auto insurance, it's not all bad news. Every insurance agency in the country understands the reality of drunk driving, and many do their best to provide cheap DUI insurance. While some admittedly do better than others, it is possible to find cheap car insurance with a DUI.

Cheapest auto insurance after a DUI

We checked all 50 states and Washington D.C., and noted that State Farm offers the best insurance for DUI drivers in 35 states as well as D.C. Among other insurers, only Erie and Geico offered the cheapest DUI insurance in more than one state. Here's the cheapest post-DUI insurer in each state.

Every company will raise rates when a DUI appears on a driving record. How much that rate increases will vary from company to company. The amount of increase will vary greatly. As you can see below, the average increase can be as little as 18% and can climb up to as much as 84%. These numbers can vary depending on a variety of factors.

After a conviction for drunk driving, insurance premiums will typically increase substantially. Here are some potential ways to reduce the high costs of auto insurance that follow an impaired driving conviction:

• Complete a driver's education course. Taking a defensive driving class can result in reduced premiums. Be sure the course is approved by the insurer.
• Shop around for coverage. Some insurance companies impose larger premium penalties for an impaired driving conviction than others. An independent insurance agent can help a driver with a DUI to find the most affordable coverage. Or the driver can get insurance quotes from at least five different carriers online to explore their options.
• Use an app. Some insurers allow drivers to download apps that monitor driving habits. Good driving can result in a premium reduction.
• Choose a safe vehicle. Cars with advanced safety and anti-theft features may cost less to insure.
• Improve credit. People with lower credit scores may pay higher insurance rates due to a statistical link between lower credit and crash risk.
• Ask about discounts. Sometimes, membership in certain organizations or working for specific employers can open up the door to savings.
• Maintain a safe driving record. Avoid any more DUIs and other incidents such as speeding, to help reduce the risk an insurance company takes when providing coverage.
• Increase the deductible. Policies with higher deductibles tend to cost less. A higher deductible does require paying more out-of-pocket in the event a crash happens.

Waiting can also help. With time, as a DUI gets further and further into the past, insurers will not weigh it as heavily in setting premiums. As time passes, the costs of getting covered should hopefully come down.

How long does a DUI stay on your driving record?

How long a DUI stays on your record depends on the state in which you live. In most states, a DUI will remain on a driver's record for three to five years, although it may impact a driver's insurance premium for around seven years. The exceptions to the rule are:

• California: 10 years
• New York: 10 years
• Iowa: 12 years
• Florida: 75 years
• Alaska: forever

Driving drunk is a lose-lose situation. In addition to the risk of a car accident, a DUI offender runs the risk of being dropped by their auto insurance company. Once they lose motor vehicle coverage, a driver must scramble to find the cheapest car insurance available through another insurance carrier. For a driver with a history of driving under the influence, the cost of DUI car insurance may be high enough to keep them off the road.

Insurance providers can legally refuse coverage to people with an impaired driving record. This usually will not happen to first-time DUI offenders, although it is possible in some circumstances.

When private insurers are unwilling to provide a policy, it may be necessary to get covered through a state's high-risk insurance pool. Policies sold through the state are often called Assigned Risk Auto Policies.

The specifics of how these programs work can differ depending on where a driver lives. For example, in California, the high-risk auto insurance plan is called the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan (CAARP). Participants in the plan are assigned to an insurance company, and all auto insurers licensed to sell policies in the state must accept some CAARP participants.

All companies participating in the CAARP program are required to charge the same premiums to drivers. These are normally very high, although they can be paid in installments. The high-risk insurance pools often provide only state-required coverages such as bodily injury and property damage liability coverage. There's often no option to get collision or comprehensive coverage that would protect a policyholder against their own losses in the event of a crash or non-crash-related incident.

These alternative options should typically be viewed as a last resort only when private coverage is not available.