How To Find Inexpensive Car Insurance After A DUI Conviction
With no exceptions, after a driver receives a conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, their car insurance rates are sure to rise. But there are ways to find the cheapest car insurance available to you so that you aren't paying more than you have to.
Some insurance companies will immediately cancel your policy or refuse to renew it once they receive news of your DUI conviction. But every insurance company that will keep you on will undoubtedly raise your car insurance rates. Some companies will raise their rates higher than others so after you learn how much your carrier is planning on raising your rates, it's time to start shopping around online. Many online insurance companies can provide what their rates will be once you provide some accurate information about your driving history. You won't be able to hide the fact that there is a DUI conviction on your record, so trying to hide it when shopping for the cheapest car insurance won't help you find lower costs, it will only make the process of finding cheaper insurance take longer. Some companies will even give you the rate of competitors claiming that even if someone else is cheaper they will tell you that. But the best way to find out is to do the research yourself and call around to as many companies as necessary to find a policy that covers your needs.
There are also ways through the court system that can help you avoid the spike in insurance entirely. Sometimes a plea bargain can get your DUI reduced to something less severe. Taking on a limited license suspension can also have the same effect. You can also sometimes get convictions erased from your record via alternative methods such as completing some relevant courses through a driving school. And then there is the remote possibility that your insurance company will simply never hear about your conviction due to a breakdown in communication between courts and motor vehicle departments but crossing your fingers won't really help.
The scenario is quite different though if you already have an existing DUI conviction on your record. Multiple speeding tickets, traffic violations and serious convictions can add up and get you placed on your state's assigned-risk pool for risky drivers. When placed on this list, you'll only be able to find policies with very high premiums and only the minimum liability insurance required by law. The only way to get your car insurance rates down from this point is to wait it out and do everything you can to improve your driving record.
