Driving Under the Influence and Auto Insurance

A previous WeCompareInsurance article covered how traffic violations can affect your auto insurance rate, and can even hurt your ability to keep or obtain auto insurance coverage. Most people probably already know one of the most damaging violations in terms of both public safety and auto insurance rates is driving under the influence (DUI) and it’s even more severe cousin, driving while intoxicated (DWI).

Here’s a breakdown on the two violations from the earlier article:

“DUI/DWI heads the list of moving violations that will affect your car insurance rate. If when driving under the influence you caused a wreck or hit someone your insurance rate is the least of your concerns, but if your DUI/DWI only resulted in an arrest and a ticket expect some dramatic changes in your auto insurance. You’ll be considered a high risk driver and in most states you’ll have to provide the department of motor vehicles with a SR-22 proof of insurance certificate. Of course all this happens after you pay your fines, serve any time in jail and get your license back after any suspension. And then only if your car insurance provider doesn’t drop your policy for the violation.”

If that isn’t enough to make you avoid driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, consider that a DUI on the record of an average driver will raise their auto insurance costs by around $500 per year. If your DUI involves an accident expect the increase to be even higher

Automobile insurance should be considered another cost of owning and driving a vehicle, along with maintenance and other expenses. In fact a certain level of liability car insurance is likely required in the state the car is registered, and if your car is being financed your lender probably requires auto insurance as well. Auto insurance is a great place to save money, but violations like driving under the influence will make your rate higher, maybe much higher. One of the easiest ways to save money with car insurance is to keep your driving record clean.

Did You Know? It doesn’t take a major violation like a DWI to affect your policy. It only takes one or two traffic tickets to potentially raise your auto insurance rate.

Takeaways:

1. A DUI/DWI on your record will raise your auto insurance rate and might even cause your policy to be cancelled.
2. Many states require a SR-22 proof of insurance certificate be provided to the department of motor vehicles after a DUI/DWI.
3. Driving under the influence can be devastating in many ways and will leave a lasting imprint on your driving record and ability to obtain auto insurance

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