DUI: How much will my car insurance go up?

Or call us: [phone]

California defense lawyer, Neil Shouse explains how a DUI affects car & auto insurance premiums. Unfortunately, it is likely that your premium will significantly increase. But this isn't necessarily the case. A California DUI drunk driving conviction isn't the only consideration when determining whether to raise your premium. Auto insurance carriers will typically consider factors such as age, gender, marital status, driving experience and driving history, place of residence, and professional organization affiliation before deciding to raise your premium or cancel your policy.
This much we can say for sure...once you have a California DUI conviction, you will not be eligible for a "good driver" discount for a period of ten years following your DUI arrest.7
If you didn't benefit from a good driver discount prior to your DUI, this rule really won't affect you. If you did qualify for a good driver discount, this is one of the reasons why your premium would increase...perhaps as much as 20 to 30%.

Despite the fact that you are in need of high risk insurance, rates will still vary greatly between companies. It is a good idea to shop around for the best deal to help minimize your new costs. You may also want to call the California Department of Insurance at 1-800-927-HELP to make sure that you are working with an insurance agent / broker who is in good standing.
It should be noted that after you are once again eligible to receive a "good driver" discount...which is ten years following your driving under the influence arrest...the DMV will automatically remove the DUI from your record and, at least as far as an auto insurance company is concerned, it's as if it never happened.

If you or a loved one has been arrested, we invite you to contact us at Shouse Law Group. We can provide a free consultation in office or by phone. We have local offices in Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, Pasadena, Long Beach, Orange County, Ventura, San Bernardino, Rancho Cucamonga, Riverside, San Diego, Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose and throughout California.

[tomcampi]

Im an insurance agent and I would say about 99% of the time regardless of your "good standing" with the company you will see your rates increase. In CA you will lose your CA Good Driver Discount (20%), and at minimum be surcharged for three years. Most likely you will also lose other good driving discounts that the company offers you as well. Typically I see the rates double and even triple, but that all depends on coverage, types of vehicles, etc... Hope this helped

[EvanLevow]

A DUI conviction carries with it some long-term ramifications that include increased insurance rates, or even a loss of car insurance altogether. It's something one should think about before choosing to drive with a BAC above the legal limit.