How a DUI Affects Your Car Insurance
Fast facts:
- DUIs increase car insurance rates by 87% on average.
- The average annual premium for a driver with a DUI on their record is $3,139, but this varies state-to-state.
You already know driving under the influence makes you a danger to yourself and others on the road. It also makes you a much bigger risk to auto insurance companies, which is why they’ll ask drivers with a DUI on record to share the weight of that risk by paying much higher premiums.
| Average yearly full coverage auto insurance* | Average rate increase with a DUI* | Average yearly full coverage auto insurance after DUI* |
| $1,674 | 87% | $3,139 |
*Data provided by Bankrate.com
These rates are a sample set meant only for general comparison. Your own premium will vary.
Learn how we tested rates for DUI auto insurance.
We studied how a DUI impacts auto insurance rates for drivers 40 years of age, using Quadrant Information Services data from Bankrate.com. Our test considers drivers with one recent DUI and an otherwise clean driving record.
First Things First: Understanding DUI, DWI, OUI, and OVI
There are many ways to say “drunk driving.” DUI and DWI are most common, but you might also see the terms OUI, OVI, OMVI, or variations of these depending on which state you live in.
• DUI: Driving under the influence
• DWI: Driving while intoxicated
• OUI: Operating under the influence
• OVI: Operating vehicle intoxicated
• OMVI: Operating a motor vehicle impaired
All of these terms cover drunk driving. DUI, OUI, and a few others can also apply when driving under the influence of prescription drugs, marijuana, or another substance. For the purpose of our study, we use “DUI” to mean any driver convicted of operating their vehicle with a BAC of 0.08 or higher. (Except in Utah, where the legal BAC threshold is 0.05.)
How a DUI Impacts Auto Insurance Rates
We looked at how a DUI impacts auto insurance rates, compared to other driving incidents, for drivers at the age of 40. On average, DUIs cause a far greater increase than a speeding ticket or at-fault accident. DUIs indicate to car insurance companies that you are engaging in risky driving behavior. The more likely you are to file a claim, the higher your premium will generally be.
| Clean driving record* | Speeding ticket* | At-fault accident* | DUI* | |
| Average annual full coverage premium | $1,674 | $2,062 | $2,311 | $3,139 |
*Data provided by Bankrate.com
These rates are a sample set meant only for general comparison. Your own premium will vary.
Learn how we tested rates for DUI auto insurance.
Driver’s License Restrictions After a DUI
After a first-time DUI conviction, the driver’s license can be suspended for anywhere from 7 days to one year. The length of suspension depends on location and severity of the infraction (i.e. how a higher BAC showing up on their breathalyzer test can lead to more severe punishment). Driving while your license is suspended can lead to jail time or a fine of up to $1,000.
Most states have much more severe DUI penalties for second- or third-time DUI offenders and drivers that refuse to take a breathalyzer test. If you don’t blow but end up being convicted of a first-time DUI, you’ll likely see an automatic 12-month suspension on your driver’s license rather than the usual 90 days or six months.
DUI Penalties and Insurance Rates by State
| State | Average full coverage rate increase after first DUI offense* | License suspension after first DUI offense |
| Alabama | 94% | 90 days |
| Alaska | 50% | 90 days |
| Arizona | 98% | 90 days |
| Arkansas | 62% | 6 months |
| California | 142% | 4 months |
| Colorado | 53% | 3 months |
| Connecticut | 55% | 90 days |
| Delaware | 85% | 3 months |
| Florida | 92% | 6 months12 months for refusal to breathalyze |
| Georgia | 86% | 1 year |
| Hawaii | 290% | 3 months |
| Idaho | 72% | 90 days |
| Illinois | 80% | 6 months |
| Indiana | 83% | 180 days |
| Iowa | 85% | 180 days |
| Kansas | 65% | 30 days |
| Kentucky | 98% | 30–120 days |
| Louisiana | 96% | 45 day hard suspension after second DUI |
| Maine | 57% | 90 days |
| Maryland | 62% | 90 days |
| Massachusetts | 87% | 90 days |
| Michigan | 141% | License suspension for refusal to breathalyze |
| Minnesota | 90% | 90 days |
| Mississippi | 53% | 90 days |
| Missouri | 64% | 90 days |
| Montana | 74% | 6 months |
| Nebraska | 70% | 90 days |
| Nevada | 51% | 90 days |
| New Hampshire | 46% | 6 months |
| New Jersey | 87% | N/A |
| New Mexico | 77% | 1 year for under 216 months for 21 and over |
| New York | 72% | Varies |
| North Carolina | 320% | 30 days |
| North Dakota | 89% | 91 days |
| Ohio | 102% | 90 days |
| Oklahoma | 41% | 180 days |
| Oregon | 71% | 90 |
| Pennsylvania | 113% | N/A |
| Rhode Island | 48% | N/A |
| South Carolina | 86% | 1 month for BAC .15 or higher |
| South Dakota | 61% | 30 days for refusal to breathalyze |
| Tennessee | 101% | 1 year |
| Texas | 51% | 90 days180 days for refusal to breathalyze |
| Utah | 95% | 120 days |
| Vermont | 47% | 90 days |
| Virginia | 90% | 7 days |
| Washington | 81% | 90 days |
| Washington, D.C. | 47% | 2–90 days or until deposition |
| West Virginia | 97% | 6 months |
| Wisconsin | 90% | 6–9 months |
| Wyoming | 89% | 90 days |
*Data provided by Bankrate.com
These rates are a sample set meant only for general comparison. Your own premium will vary.
Learn how we tested rates for DUI auto insurance.
Data on state DUI laws provided by the Governors Highway Safety Association
Cheap Auto Insurance After a DUI
“Cheap” auto insurance after a DUI is relative. If the DUI is on your insurance record, rates are going to spike no matter what. Incidents and claims follow you for seven to 10 years, and usually count against your rates for three years, so you shouldn’t expect that one-time mistake to disappear anytime soon.
That said, every insurer measures risk differently. Some will be a little more forgiving of DUIs when it comes to rate setting. If your current insurer prices you out after a DUI, it might be worth comparing rates from a few others to see if you can save elsewhere.
Can Auto Insurance Drop You After a DUI?
You might be afraid your insurer will cancel coverage mid-policy if it finds out you were recently convicted of a DUI. That’s usually not the case. Insurers generally only “drop” customers for one of two reasons: either because they fail to pay premiums, or because the company finds out they lied on their application. If you neglected to tell your insurer about a DUI you had prior to signing up, and it found out, that might be grounds for cancellation.
A more likely scenario after receiving a DUI is that your insurer hikes up rates next time you renew, or decides not to renew your policy altogether. Nonrenewal might happen if the DUI isn’t your first offense. Say you have a previous at-fault accident or claim on record; you’re going to start looking a lot riskier to insurers as those incidents compound.
If your insurer decides not to renew coverage or becomes unaffordable after a DUI, you still have options. Shop around and consider switching auto insurance companies if you find cheaper rates elsewhere. If your record is full of red marks and you’re having trouble getting coverage at all, look into a “nonstandard insurer” or state-run auto insurance plan tailored toward high-risk drivers.
SR-22 Forms for DUI Auto Insurance
Drivers convicted of a DUI will likely need to file an “SR-22 form” with their insurer or state insurance department. An SR-22 form is not a type of insurance, but rather a document proving the driver meets minimum insurance requirements according to their risk level. A few states require a similar form called an FR-44.
SR-22s and FR-44s are required for drivers deemed “higher-risk” than normal. You’d probably need one if you were convicted of a DUI, caught driving without insurance or a license, had repeat traffic violations in a short time, or were found guilty of other dangerous behavior behind the wheel.
You can get an SR-22 or FR-44 form through your current auto insurance company. They will help you fill it out and make sure it gets filed with the right state department. If you move across state lines, you’ll have to request a new SR-22 or FR-44 at your new address.
Methodology
Reviews.com reviews products, services and companies based on five criteria to help readers understand how companies compare based on similar metrics. As for average pricing, we used Bankrate.com’s data of car insurance in Georgia, based on the profiles of a 40-year male and female. For full coverage, the details used were the following:
- $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $50,000 property damage liability per accident
- $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
- $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
- $500 collision deductible
- $500 comprehensive deductible
To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2019 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.
These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.
Incidents: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with a single DUI conviction applied.
What’s Next?
Find the best cheap auto insurance companies in the U.S.
Learn how to save on your auto insurance without cutting coverage
About the Authors
Maggie is a former lead insurance editor at Reviews.com. She's written more than 70 insurance articles covering homeowners, auto, life, motorcycle, travel, and more.
