DUI Convictions and their Impact on Auto Insurance
Posted on March 25th, 2011
Drinking and driving can lead to arrest for DUI (image by foreverdc.com)
Driving under the influence of alcohol is never a wise decision. At CarInsurance.org, we say if youre drinking, you shouldnt be driving, no questions asked. Zero tolerance. Driving under the influence is the leading broken traffic/driving law in terms of causing fatal accidents
While a conviction for driving under the influence (DUI or DWI) of alcohol or drugs might not be a scarlet letter that will follow you for life in terms of auto insurance, it will have both short and long term effects on drivers and car insurance. Lets look at the ways a DUI conviction can have an impact on auto insurance and driving.
Higher Cost for your Auto Premium
To say that a DUI/DWI conviction is a costly mistake is putting things mildly. Depending upon the state in which the conviction occurs, a conviction can easily cost the offender thousands of dollars in fines, impound fees and court costs. Offenders can also expect to see higher costs on their car insurance premiums. Expect an increase of at least 20%-40% at minimum.
Because insurance policies are issued predicated on risk factors, those who are convicted of a DUI appear as a higher risk for any auto insurance company. And not simply a higher risk, but a significant risk, because statistics show that drivers convicted of driving under the influence are more likely to have significant claims in the future.
Suspension of Drivers License
While all states are different, those convicted of a DUI can expect to have their drivers licenses suspended for a period of time. Some states allow administrative revocation, which means a conviction isnt required for the suspension just being pulled over by the police and testing over the limit, or refusing to submit to breathalyzer or field sobriety tests can result in the loss of a drivers license.
SR-22 Insurance Filing
In some states, those who have been convicted of a DUI offense are required to obtain an SR-22 filing from their insurers in order to have the suspension of their drivers license lifted.
SR-22 isnt an actual insurance product, but is a certification of financial responsibility that some states require high risk drivers to obtain not just those convicted of a DUI. States may require this for those who are caught driving without insurance, those who have been convicted of numerous moving violations, or those who have been involved in an accident where they were at fault because of a driving violation.
SR-22 certifications vary by state to state, but for those that require drivers to obtain them, they can normally expect to be required to keep the SR-22 in force for a period of three years.
And not all insurance companies offer SR-22 certifications, which means that in some cases, even if your auto insurer is willing to keep you as a customer after a DUI conviction, if the insurer doesnt offer them, youll have to switch to a provider that does.
Identification of a Driver as Someone Convicted of DUI
An example of the “scarlet letter” plate Ohio issues to those convicted of DUI. (image by Flickr.com)
Youve probably heard of sex offender registries that require all sex offenders to inform the state they live in of their activities, such as where they live, and reporting any moves from residence to residence. But did you know that some states identify drivers who have been convicted of a DUI by the license plates they are issued?
The plates are government initiatives designed to add an increased shame factor to DUI convictions and aimed at lowering the rates of drunken driving. While Ohios version has generated the most press, other states continue see legislation introduced that would bring a similar version to them, including California and Florida, although such legislation has not passed yet.
Every state is different, but Ohio is not the only state that issues DUI plates. Minnesota also has license plates to identify those convicted of a DUI, and Georgia requires all who are convicted of a DUI to have their name and picture published in the local paper as a DUI offender, and even requires that those convicted pay for the publication.
Youll also appear on the National Driver Register (NDR). The NDR is a computerized database of US drivers all of whom have had their licenses suspended or revoked, or that have been convicted of a serious traffic offense such as a DUI or multiple moving violations.
Requirement to Install Ignition Interlock Device on Car
Many states require those convicted of a DUI to obtain and install an ignition interlock device on the car they drive. These devices are similar to breathalyzers and require the driver to blow into it to start the vehicle, once again between 5 and 15 minutes later, and once an hour after that. If you have a blood alcohol content (BAC) that is too high, your car will not start. Drivers are required to purchase the interlock device, pay for the installation, and pay any associated monthly monitoring fees.
The devices store and transmit information to the authorities, so if youre under a judges orders to not drink as a condition of probation, be aware that such a device would show you being out of compliance with your terms of probation.
Inability to Obtain Car Insurance
A DUI conviction is a prime reason insurers cancel auto policies. They can also make it much harder to find an insurer willing to take someone convicted of a DUI on as a customer, due to the risks involved. And those with repeated DUI convictions may find it nearly impossible to obtain insurance.
Some steps that can be taken after a DUI conviction include performing steps that reduce their risk to insurers, such as taking defensive driving courses, purchasing a vehicle with better safety equipment and that scores higher in safety testing. You may also consider lowering your coverage limits to take some of the sting of higher premiums away.
Sometimes a DUI conviction is just a single blemish on an otherwise perfect driving record. If that is the case, those convicted should be extremely careful and make all attempts to avoid traffic citations and further incidents.
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Tags: Auto Insurance, Insurance
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