If you've been convicted of a DUI you may be thinking to yourself: will car insurance with a DUI be prohibitively expensive now? Can I even get car insurance with a DUI on my record? We're here to tell you that while a DUI will almost certainly affect your car insurance rate negatively–A driver with a DUI can expect to pay $3,948 per year ($1,652 more than those without a DUI) for car insurance in the US–there are a few car insurance companies that are more lenient on this issue than others. Below is a guide to finding the cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI or DWI.
The cheapest car insurance providers for drivers with a DUI
The average price of car insurance for someone with a DUI in the US is approaching $4,000 per year (42.6% more than people without a DUI), but that figure can vary wildly from state to state. This discrepancy between rates is due to the morass of individual state regulations surrounding car insurance. Some states have more requirements for providers and these businesses often pass the costs of that burden on to the insured driver. Below, we've noted which car insurance company is best for drivers with a DUI in each state as well as the potential savings you can expect versus other providers in that state. Enter your zip code or city and we can show you an estimated cost of car insurance in your state with a DUI on your record. You can also view car insurance rates in your state by clicking one of the links below.
The best car insurance for drivers with a DUI by state
State |
Average Yearly Premium for Driver with a DUI |
Best Car Insurance Company for DUI |
Potential Switch Savings |
$3,030 |
$1,037 |
||
$2,333 |
$935 |
||
$4,435 |
$2,206 |
||
$3,356 |
$1,824 |
||
$5,153 |
$2,699 |
||
$4,509 |
$3,477 |
||
$5,553 |
$3,759 |
||
$4,433 |
$2,136 |
||
$4,097 |
$2,038 |
||
$3,877 |
$1,329 |
||
$5,652 |
$1,780 |
||
$2,836 |
$1,779 |
||
$3,384 |
$2,192 |
||
$2,548 |
$980 |
||
$2,668 |
$1,439 |
||
$2,974 |
$1,363 |
||
$4,874 |
$3,130 |
||
$5,183 |
$2,875 |
||
$2,172 |
$1,018 |
||
$3,199 |
$909 |
||
$3,661 |
$1,701 |
||
$14,214 |
$12,431 |
||
$3,746 |
$2,375 |
||
$3,763 |
$2,305 |
||
$3,609 |
$2,095 |
||
$3,550 |
$2,213 |
||
$2,969 |
$1,668 |
||
$4,897 |
$3,249 |
||
$3,687 |
$2,446 |
||
$4,488 |
$2,153 |
||
$3,173 |
$1,777 |
||
$3,932 |
$1,463 |
||
$6,020 |
$1,342 |
||
$3,449 |
$2,121 |
||
$2,395 |
$1,230 |
||
$3,392 |
$1,793 |
||
$3,628 |
$2,232 |
||
$2,427 |
$913 |
||
$7,550 |
$4,242 |
||
$3,260 |
$1,501 |
||
$3,737 |
$2,392 |
||
$3,027 |
$1,615 |
||
$4,565 |
$2,927 |
||
$3,666 |
$1,868 |
||
$2,681 |
$1,113 |
||
$2,528 |
$1,428 |
||
$2,888 |
$1,418 |
||
$3,795 |
$2,326 |
||
$2,475 |
$1,021 |
||
$3,473 |
$2,239 |
||
$4,421 |
$2,139 |
All car insurance rates differ quite a bit by state due to the varied regulations, weather conditions and population density of the area. For example, in Louisiana you can expect to pay $5,183 per year as a driver with a DUI on your record. That's many times more than the US national average of $981/year for car insurance. Compare this to Ohio (where regulations on car insurance are weak and density is relatively low) where you'll only pay $2,395 per year, on average, with a DUI on your record.
How and when do car insurance providers check for DUIs?
If you've just been convicted of a DUI you will almost certainly lose your license for a period of time, depending on the severity of the offense and DUI laws in your state. Insurance providers check your license information at the onset of a new policy or when your current policy renews (usually annually or every 6 months). Your insurance company has the right to drop you from your plan and they may do this after discovering the DUI. But more likely, they'll offer you a higher rate when your plan renews that you'll be forced to accept or risk being uninsured while you shop elsewhere. It would make sense to start shopping around for new car insurance immediately after a DUI to make sure you're covered if you need to change providers at your next renewal period.
How long will a DUI affect my car insurance rate?
In most states, a DUI falls off of your driving record in 5-10 years, but will likely affect your insurance rates for 3-5 years, provided that you don’t incur any more infractions. As a criminal matter (per your state), a DUI may stay on your criminal record for life but insurance companies stick to your “driving record” for rate decisions. So the good news is that your insurance will only be affected for a handful of years (unless you're in California where it's 10 years). That being said, you'll still end up paying more for quite some time so it might be smart to try switching companies after a few years to see what kind of rates you are quoted. Or, if you're happy with your current provider, ask them to reassess your premium rate once the DUI has fallen off of your driving record. Forbes has a great table detailing each state's DUI details but this information may change as local ordinances evolve around DUIs in your state.
Which car insurance companies don't check for DUIs?
Every car insurance provider we have data for checks for DUIs and charges more for drivers that have DUIs on their record. But we've studied the data and can safely say that State Farm, Geico and Progressive might save you some cash if you're looking for a new car insurance policy after a DUI. Enter your zip code above for more specific rates or visit one of these major providers below for a quote:
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A DUI can be a complicated and stressful situation to navigate for anyone. From the license suspension, to the municipal fines, to the increase in your car insurance rate, a DUI is not something you want in your life. We encourage anyone reading this to drive sober for reasons well beyond the monetary ones we've focused on here.