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How much does your insurance go up after a DUI?
Find out which companies have the best rates, how much your insurance will go up after a DUI and how you can still save money on your policy.Skip to article
Written by:
Erik Martin
Contributing Researcher
Erik J. Martin is a Chicago area-based freelance writer whose articles have been published by AARP The Magazine, The Motley Fool, The Costco Connection, USAA, US Chamber of Commerce, Bankrate, The Chicago Tribune, and other publications. He often writes on topics related to insurance, real estate, personal finance, business, technology, health care, and entertainment. Erik also hosts a podcast and publishes several blogs, including Martinspiration.com and Cineversegroup.com.
Laura Longero is an insurance expert and Executive Editor at CarInsurance.com, where she specializes in helping consumers navigate the complexities of the financial and insurance industries. She has 15 years of experience educating people about finance and car insurance. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she worked as a reporter and editor at the
USA Today Network. Her expertise provides readers with practical guidance, helping them make informed choices about their financial and insurance needs.
If you are arrested and convicted for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or another substance, expect hefty fines, court costs, lawyer fees and possible jail time. You may also lose your automobile insurance or pay much more for coverage after the conviction.
Keep reading if you want to see how much car insurance might cost after a DUI conviction.
Written by:
Erik Martin
Contributing Researcher
Erik J. Martin is a Chicago area-based freelance writer whose articles have been published by AARP The Magazine, The Motley Fool, The Costco Connection, USAA, US Chamber of Commerce, Bankrate, The Chicago Tribune, and other publications. He often writes on topics related to insurance, real estate, personal finance, business, technology, health care, and entertainment. Erik also hosts a podcast and publishes several blogs, including Martinspiration.com and Cineversegroup.com.
Laura Longero is an insurance expert and Executive Editor at CarInsurance.com, where she specializes in helping consumers navigate the complexities of the financial and insurance industries. She has 15 years of experience educating people about finance and car insurance. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she worked as a reporter and editor at the
USA Today Network. Her expertise provides readers with practical guidance, helping them make informed choices about their financial and insurance needs.
“Insurance premiums could rise anywhere from 40% to 90% or more, depending on the insurance company, the state you live in, and the number of violations you have on your record,” says Lauren McKenzie, an insurance broker with A Plus Insurance.
Remember that your insurance rates will not automatically go up until your policy is due for renewal.
“For instance, if you have a six-month insurance policy, the rates will be adjusted upon the end of the six months at the beginning of a new insurance term,” she says. “That can give you time to shop around for other insurance companies to compare prices and find something affordable.”
DUI insurance rates by state
Residents of North Carolina who get a DUI face the most significant increase in their insurance rates, 307%, followed by 217% in Hawaii, 207% in California, 157% in Michigan – an already expensive state for car insurance – and 100% in Minnesota.
With a second DUI, your insurance rates will jump 425% in California, 421% in Hawaii, 367% in Michigan and 316% in North Carolina. In the table below, see how much you can expect to pay for car insurance in each state after a first and second DUI, according to 2022 data.
Car insurance rates per state
State
Base rate
DUI/DWI first offense
$ increase
% increase
DUI/DWI second offense
$ increase
% increase
Alaska
$1,286
$1,855
$569
44%
$2,346
$1,060
82%
Alabama
$1,580
$2,781
$1,201
76%
$3,972
$2,392
151%
Arkansas
$1,652
$2,994
$1,342
81%
$4,418
$2,766
167%
Arizona
$1,719
$2,873
$1,154
67%
$4,152
$2,433
142%
California
$2,207
$6,780
$4,573
207%
$11,586
$9,379
425%
Colorado
$2,125
$3,506
$1,381
65%
$4,940
$2,815
132%
Connecticut
$1,529
$2,862
$1,333
87%
$4,705
$3,176
208%
Washington, D.C.
$1,909
$3,050
$1,141
60%
$3,954
$2,045
107%
Delaware
$1,791
$3,109
$1,318
74%
$4,713
$2,922
163%
Florida
$2,981
$4,551
$1,570
53%
$6,675
$3,694
124%
Georgia
$1,710
$3,077
$1,367
80%
$4,905
$3,195
187%
Hawaii
$1,309
$4,150
$2,841
217%
$6,824
$5,515
421%
Iowa
$1,241
$1,790
$549
44%
$2,459
$1,218
98%
Idaho
$1,082
$1,735
$653
60%
$2,623
$1,541
142%
Illinois
$1,559
$2,798
$1,239
79%
$4,576
$3,017
194%
Indiana
$1,363
$2,356
$993
73%
$3,661
$2,298
169%
Kansas
$1,557
$2,670
$1,113
71%
$4,065
$2,508
161%
Kentucky
$2,086
$3,950
$1,864
89%
$6,568
$4,482
215%
Louisiana
$3,126
$5,348
$2,222
71%
$7,147
$4,021
129%
Massachusetts
$1,776
$3,233
$1,457
82%
$4,756
$2,980
168%
Maryland
$2,172
$3,807
$1,635
75%
$4,421
$2,249
104%
Maine
$1,068
$1,663
$595
56%
$2,446
$1,378
129%
Michigan
$3,915
$10,044
$6,129
157%
$18,275
$14,360
367%
Minnesota
$1,768
$3,542
$1,774
100%
$6,722
$4,954
280%
Missouri
$2,669
$3,904
$1,235
46%
$5,336
$2,667
100%
Mississippi
$1,535
$2,779
$1,244
81%
$4,198
$2,663
173%
Montana
$1,709
$2,764
$1,055
62%
$4,263
$2,554
149%
North Carolina
$1,442
$5,870
$4,428
307%
$6,001
$4,559
316%
North Dakota
$1,357
$2,550
$1,193
88%
$4,047
$2,690
198%
Nebraska
$1,926
$3,600
$1,674
87%
$6,053
$4,127
214%
New Hampshire
$1,023
$1,683
$660
65%
$2,354
$1,331
130%
New Jersey
$2,232
$4,254
$2,022
91%
$5,729
$3,497
157%
New Mexico
$1,657
$2,541
$884
53%
$3,444
$1,787
108%
Nevada
$2,427
$4,169
$1,742
72%
$5,895
$3,468
143%
New York
$1,822
$2,718
$896
49%
$3,701
$1,879
103%
Ohio
$1,136
$1,861
$725
64%
$2,708
$1,572
138%
Oklahoma
$1,968
$3,036
$1,068
54%
$4,639
$2,671
136%
Oregon
$1,484
$2,404
$920
62%
$3,171
$1,687
114%
Pennsylvania
$1,508
$2,765
$1,257
83%
$4,861
$3,353
222%
Rhode Island
$1,923
$3,312
$1,389
72%
$4,541
$2,618
136%
South Carolina
$1,804
$2,662
$858
48%
$3,767
$1,963
109%
South Dakota
$1,585
$2,920
$1,335
84%
$4,324
$2,739
173%
Tennessee
$1,360
$2,375
$1,015
75%
$3,674
$2,314
170%
Texas
$2,036
$3,332
$1,296
64%
$4,580
$2,544
125%
Utah
$1,629
$2,634
$1,005
62%
$3,941
$2,312
142%
Virginia
$1,319
$2,202
$883
67%
$2,971
$1,652
125%
Vermont
$1,195
$1,992
$797
67%
$3,260
$2,065
173%
Washington
$1,500
$2,744
$1,244
83%
$3,537
$2,037
136%
Wisconsin
$1,818
$3,364
$1,546
85%
$5,770
$3,952
217%
West Virginia
$1,474
$2,669
$1,195
81%
$3,883
$2,409
163%
Wyoming
$1,880
$3,481
$1,601
85%
$5,633
$3,753
200%
Which companies offer the cheapest insurance after a DUI?
New Jersey Manufacturers and National General offer the smallest insurance rate increases after one DUI at 20% and 38%, respectively, with Progressive, American Family and Mercury rounding out the top five. See the insurance rates after a DUI from major companies in 2022 in the table below.
Depending on your state, a DUI can stay on your motor vehicle record anywhere from five years to your lifetime.
Here are examples of lengths in various states, according to Mark Friedlander, director of corporate communications for the Insurance Information Institute, an insurance industry association:
Arizona: Five years
California: 10 years
New York: 15 years
New Mexico: 55 years
Florida: 75 years
Illinois, Ohio and Vermont: Life
“However, a DUI will remain in your criminal history forever,” says attorney James Grant with Georgia Trial Attorneys at Kirchen & Grant. “Criminal offenses do not fall off your criminal history. The issue is how far back an insurance company will search your record. Most insurance companies only search for a seven- or 10-year driving history. So, if your DUI occurred more than 10 years ago, chances are it will no longer affect your insurance rates.”
Friedlander says a first DUI conviction typically results in a minimum of seven consecutive years of annual surcharges added to your premium bill.
How can you find cheap car insurance after a DUI?
Whether your existing carrier keeps your policy intact without cancellation or you have to get a new one, prepare to get several quotes for your best shot at finding an affordable one.
“Ideally, get a minimum of three quotes from national and regional insurers to compare costs and coverages,” Friedlander says. “You can obtain quotes online or work with a local insurance agent.”
Also, “consider looking for smaller insurance companies. While the large ones are more likely to offer coverage, smaller ones that only operate in a limited number of states can often come through with better deals,” says Attorney Ben Michael with Michael & Associates, a law firm in Austin, Texas.
McKenzie recommends going through an independent insurance broker, as these professionals can get quotes from several insurance companies and save you time and money.
You may also reduce insurance costs by pursuing discounts, such as bundling your homeowners and auto insurance and opting for paperless billing.
Final thoughts on shopping for car insurance after a DUI
Driving under the influence is considered one of the riskiest driving behaviors and should be avoided at all costs. It’s no surprise that getting car insurance can be increasingly challenging for those with a DUI on their motor vehicle record.
“It’s not impossible to obtain insurance coverage after a DUI conviction. Just be aware that, if you can get coverage, it will likely take 10 years before your rates return to normal,” Grant says.
CarInsurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to pull rates in 2022 for a 40-year-old male driver with full coverage insurance driving a Honda Accord LX and a first DUI/DWI offense.
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Laura Longero
Executive Editor
Laura Longero is an insurance expert and Executive Editor at CarInsurance.com, where she specializes in helping consumers navigate the complexities of the financial and insurance industries. She has 15 years of experience educating people about finance and car insurance. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she worked as a reporter and editor at the
USA Today Network. Her expertise provides readers with practical guidance, helping them make informed choices about their financial and insurance needs.
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John McCormick
Editorial Director
John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.
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Leslie Kasperowicz
Executive Editor
Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.
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Nupur Gambhir
Managing Editor
Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.
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Erik J. Martin is a Chicago area-based freelance writer whose articles have been published by AARP The Magazine, The Motley Fool, The Costco Connection, USAA, US Chamber of Commerce, Bankrate, The Chicago Tribune, and other publications. He often writes on topics related to insurance, real estate, personal finance, business, technology, health care, and entertainment. Erik also hosts a podcast and publishes several blogs, including Martinspiration.com and Cineversegroup.com.