Can Anything Be Done in Order to Lower Car or Truck Insurance Rates After a DUI?
Getting a DUI can be expensive. In fact, the price of a first-time DUI can add up to more than $10,000, including attorney fees, fines, bail, towing, and high-risk insurance. Of those, truck and car insurance after a DUI will probably be the highest cost associated with your DUI. Here is how a DUI affects truck and car insurance.
After a DUI, there are several things that may happen with your truck or car insurance. First, it’s possible that nothing will happen. You are not required to report your DUI to your car insurance company unless the state suspends your driver’s license. Insurance companies may randomly check driving records; however, if your car insurance company does not, they may not discover your DUI until the policy comes up for renewal. It’s also possible – though unlikely – that your arrest will slip through the cracks due to a miscommunication between the courts, the Department of Motor Vehicles, and your car insurance company. In either case, it’s important to pay premiums on time, not make any waves, and avoid drawing attention to yourself.
In some states, your driver’s license may be suspended. When this happens, you are required to file an SR-22, which is a formal declaration of car insurance to the Department of Motor Vehicles and proof to the state that you have obtained truck or car insurance following your DUI. Unfortunately, if you must file an SR-22, your insurance company will find out about your DUI immediately.
Once your car insurance company becomes aware of your DUI, they may cancel your policy, non-renew it, or raise your rates. If your insurance carrier drops you, you will still be able to find car insurance, albeit at a higher rate, with a high-risk carrier. If your car insurance company does not drop you after your DUI, they will almost certainly increase your premium as much as 300%.
Because of this, it’s important to get car insurance quotes from as many standard and non-standard car insurance companies to see what they will charge you after your DUI. Each car insurance company has a different methodology for determining premiums, and some do it on a case-by-case basis, taking into account vehicle model, gender, age, and driving history in addition to your DUI. You may also be able to get discounts for safety features on your car, driver improvement courses, or anti-theft devices.
Depending on your state, your car insurance rates may be affected for five to ten years and will be the most expensive consequence of your DUI. Shop around and get as many quotes as possible to avoid overpaying.
