What kind of insurance do you need after a DUI?

Post-DUI insurance rates are 6% to 347% higher than premiums for drivers with clean records, depending on the state and insurance company. For example, Progressive only raises rates by an average of 6% after one DUI, while customers with Nationwide will see their premiums increase by about 125%. Similarly, a DUI affects insurance rates differently between states. Drivers in Maryland see the smallest increase in rates after a DUI, at only 28% on average. Rates in North Carolina, on the other hand, jump by an average of 347% – the most in the country.… read full answer

Insurance rates rise after a DUI because it indicates that a driver is riskier to cover and more likely to file an expensive claim. However, the good news is that most drivers will see their rates return to normal after 3-5 years, which is how far back insurance companies usually look at driving records. So even if a DUI remains on your driving record for longer, it will only affect your insurance rates for a few years if you practice safe driving habits. The only exception is that you might still be unable to qualify for good-driver discounts beyond the lookback period, depending on your state and insurance company.

Yes, Geico will insure you with a DUI. In addition to insuring people who have been convicted of driving under the influence (DUI), Geico will file an SR-22 or FR-44 form with the driver’s state after a DUI conviction, if necessary.

Geico insurance after a DUI conviction will cost 140% more than a Geico policy costs for drivers with a … read full answerclean driving record. After the DUI conviction stops showing up on your driving record, usually within 3 to 5 years, Geico will decrease your rates.

What to Do If Geico Denies You Coverage

Even though Geico insures drivers with a DUI, you may get turned down if you have more than one DUI or a DUI plus other significant risk factors. In this case, your state government will help. Each state has a program that allows drivers who cannot find car insurance coverage elsewhere to get a policy. These insurance programs are typically more expensive and only offer the state’s minimum required coverage, so you should shop around before resorting to getting your insurance through the state.

Insurance companies find out about DUI by checking a driver’s record before selling or renewing a policy. Drivers are not legally obligated to inform their insurance company when they are convicted of DUI, and the insurer will not receive a notification from the state DMV. However, once a DUI is on a driving record, an insurance company is certain to find out about it, so it’s always best to upfront after being convicted.… read full answer

Whenever you’re looking to buy a new insurance policy or renew an existing one, the insurance company will check your Motor Vehicle Report (MVR), which is a report of your driving history from your state’s department of motor vehicles. Exactly when your insurance company will find out about your DUI depends on when and how often they run your record, but they’ll eventually see it. Your insurer will also find out about your DUI if you require an SR-22 or FR-44, which are state-issued forms that serve as verification of insurance for extremely high-risk drivers.

As tempting as it might be to keep quiet about your DUI conviction, you should contact your insurer to find out what to do moving forward. If your current insurance company decides not to renew your policy, you’ll need to look for high-risk coverage elsewhere. Since high-risk insurance costs more than a normal policy, it’s best to get as many quotes as possible. If you struggle to find a company that will insure you, you might need to temporarily get a policy through a nonstandard insurer or your state’s assigned-risk pool while your driving record improves.