Auto Insurance And Duis: What You Need To Know

Pleading no contest or guilty when being convicted of a driving under the influence can cost you a lot of money. You have to pay court costs and fees associated with getting your license back. However, if you have never had a DUI before, you may be shocked when you see how much your car insurance increases following a DUI. This may leave you with many questions. Here is some information you need to know about auto insurance following a DUI.

Why Your Rates Increase So Drastically

After getting your license back, you will find that your insurance rates will dramatically increase following a DUI conviction. Your insurance rates increase because you are now considered a big liability to the insurance company. You had the opportunity to prove to the insurance company that you were a safe driver, and instead, you drove while intoxicated. Because you have engaged in reckless behavior while behind the wheel, the insurance company now must take steps to protect themselves in case you make the same mistake in the future and crash your car or injure someone in the process. Also, it is important to be aware that some companies may decline you coverage if you have a DUI, rather than increase your rates. If you are convicted of a DUI, talk to your insurance company and find out what their rates will be or if they will drop you. This will give you time to shop around for a new company, if need be.

How Long Your Rates Will Remain High For

A DUI can stay on your driving record for as long as 10 years, depending on where you reside. As such, any insurance company will be able to see this information for that long and can increase your rates for that long. Additionally, in many states, such as California and Florida, state law prohibits offering any motorist with a DUI or DWI on their record any type of good driving discount. While your rates may lower slightly if you have tickets or accidents that fall off of your driving record during this time period, you should expect your insurance rates to stay higher for as long as the DUI stays on your driving record.

What You Can Do to Get Reasonably Priced Auto Insurance with A DUI

You can expect your auto insurance rates to rise after a DUI. However, you still have many options available to you when it comes to getting reasonably priced auto insurance. Take the time to get quotes from various auto insurance companies. What one company charges you following a DUI conviction may vary greatly from what another company charges. Another way to keep insurance affordable is to increase your deductibles. If you have a low deductible now, consider raising it, at least for the time being, to offset some of the added costs of a DUI conviction. Lastly, be sure to keep your driving record as clean as possible. It may be enticing to speed to work when you are late one day, but having a ticket in conjunction with a DUI can cause your rates to increase even more. Keeping a clean record following the DUI helps show the insurance company that you made a mistake and are not a habitual reckless driver.

Unfortunately, you will be paying much more for auto insurance following a driving under the influence conviction because you are considered a risk or liability to the insurance company. However, taking the time to shop around for a new policy, lowering your deductible, or changing your policy limits may help you afford auto insurance at the higher rates. For more information, consider a site like http://www.collinginsurance.com/.

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