Getting a DUI leads to higher insurance rates for several years. And these rate increases are substantial: we found that DUI insurance is over 80% more expensive than insurance without a DUI. After looking at thousands of DUI insurance quotes across the country, we found that USAA, Progressive and American Family sell the cheapest DUI insurance. This article covers:
- The cost of insurance after a DUI
- How to find cheap DUI insurance
- Insurance rates after a DUI
How much is DUI insurance?
A DUI can raise insurance rates by more than 80%, although the exact increase depends on the policy’s coverage limits. For a minimum-coverage policy, a DUI increases premiums by about $66 a month, for a total monthly premium of $141. A full-coverage policy costs an additional $140 a month after a DUI, totaling $308 per month.
These increases can lead to a noticeable financial strain. And when you consider the fact that a DUI affects your insurance for three years or more, it’s even worse. If you face inflated DUI insurance rates for three years, you’re paying an extra $2,379 for minimum coverage, or $5,055 for full coverage, during that time. That’s on top of what you were paying for insurance before the DUI.
Where to get the cheapest DUI insurance
If you’re looking for DUI insurance, some companies offer cheaper rates than others. We found that USAA, Progressive and American Family sell the cheapest DUI insurance policies. See how they stack up:
| Insurance company | Rate after a DUI |
|---|---|
| USAA | $956 |
| Progressive | $1,094 |
| American Family | $1,158 |
| State Farm | $1,179 |
| Allstate | $1,1234 |
| Farmers | $1,367 |
| Travelers | $1,506 |
| GEICO | $1,740 |
| Nationwide | $1,963 |
| Average rates are based on non-binding estimates provided by Quadrant Information Services. Your rates may vary. | |
Keep in mind that rates vary from state to state. While one company’s national average rates may be cheaper than most, that may not be the case in your state. We recommend that you compare quotes from a variety of companies to find the cheapest DUI insurance rates.
DUI insurance can cost you hundreds a month if you don't compare quotes from different insurance companies.
Minimum car insurance with a DUI
We found that a minimum car insurance policy costs $898 per year with a clean record. After a DUI, that rate increases to $1,691. That’s an increase of 88%, which translates to an extra $66 a month.
Every state has legal insurance requirements, and the minimum policy is usually the cheapest policy you can purchase. In most states, it only offers liability coverage, which helps pay for damages you cause to other people and their property. Since each state has different legal minimums, DUI insurance rates for a minimum policy vary from state to state. See how rates look in your state:
| State | Annual rate with a DUI | Annual rate with no DUI | Increase after a DUI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $1,228 | $623 | $605 |
| Alaska | $1,117 | $733 | $384 |
| Arizona | $1,820 | $1,002 | $818 |
| Arkansas | $1,470 | $795 | $675 |
| California | $2,441 | $1,002 | $1,439 |
| Colorado | $1,675 | $1,107 | $568 |
| Connecticut | $2,485 | $1,201 | $1,284 |
| Delaware | $1,619 | $889 | $730 |
| Florida | $2,426 | $1,320 | $1,106 |
| Georgia | $1,954 | $1,141 | $813 |
| Hawaii | $1,475 | $554 | $921 |
| Idaho | $1,032 | $531 | $501 |
| Illinois | $1,561 | $864 | $697 |
| Indiana | $1,375 | $723 | $652 |
| Iowa | $709 | $397 | $312 |
| Kansas | $1,071 | $608 | $463 |
| Kentucky | $3,338 | $1,603 | $1,735 |
| Louisiana | $2,816 | $1,392 | $1,424 |
| Maine | $884 | $472 | $412 |
| Maryland | $1,838 | $1,166 | $672 |
| Massachusetts | $1,178 | $633 | $545 |
| Michigan | $5,694 | $2,339 | $3,355 |
| Minnesota | $2,081 | $967 | $1,114 |
| Mississippi | $1,424 | $840 | $584 |
| Missouri | $1,433 | $832 | $601 |
| Montana | $940 | $492 | $448 |
| Nebraska | $821 | $487 | $334 |
| Nevada | $1,773 | $1,129 | $644 |
| New Hampshire | $1,076 | $556 | $520 |
| New Jersey | $2,529 | $1,405 | $1,124 |
| New Mexico | $919 | $512 | $407 |
| New Yotk | $2,556 | $1,452 | $1,104 |
| North Carolina | $1,829 | $459 | $1,370 |
| North Dakota | $978 | $522 | $456 |
| Ohio | $1,214 | $632 | $582 |
| Oklahoma | $1,039 | $716 | $323 |
| Oregon | $1,753 | $998 | $755 |
| Pennsylvania | $1,370 | $732 | $638 |
| Rhode Island | $1,924 | $1,231 | $693 |
| South Carolina | $1,937 | $1,216 | $721 |
| South Dakota | $802 | $481 | $321 |
| Tennessee | $1,350 | $694 | $656 |
| Texas | $1,745 | $1,155 | $590 |
| Utah | $1,720 | $917 | $803 |
| Vermont | $950 | $560 | $390 |
| Virginia | $1,417 | $773 | $644 |
| Washington | $1,725 | $962 | $763 |
| Washington, D.C. | $2,049 | $1,196 | $853 |
| West Virginia | $1,192 | $637 | $555 |
| Wisconsin | $1,055 | $619 | $436 |
| Wyoming | $683 | $397 | $286 |
| U.S. average | $1,691 | $898 | $793 |
| Average rates are based on non-binding estimates provided by Quadrant Information Services. Your rates may vary. | |||
Full-coverage car insurance after a DUI
A full-coverage policy comes with higher liability limits, plus coverages for comprehensive, collision and personal injury. Naturally, it’s more expensive than minimum coverage. And that’s especially true after a DUI, which raises rates for full-coverage insurance by 84%, or an extra $140 per month. See how DUI insurance rates in your state compare to the national average:
| State | Annual rate with a DUI | Annual rate with no DUI | Increase after a DUI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $3,398 | $1,764 | $1,634 |
| Alaska | $2,374 | $1,558 | $816 |
| Arizona | $4,125 | $2,223 | $1,902 |
| Arkansas | $3,860 | $2,307 | $1,553 |
| California | $5,670 | $2,319 | $3,351 |
| Colorado | $3,696 | $2,406 | $1,290 |
| Connecticut | $4,553 | $2,244 | $2,309 |
| Delaware | $3,074 | $1,723 | $1,351 |
| Florida | $5,416 | $3,207 | $2,209 |
| Georgia | $4,013 | $2,287 | $1,726 |
| Hawaii | $3,357 | $1,347 | $2,010 |
| Idaho | $2,584 | $1,392 | $1,192 |
| Illinois | $3,365 | $1,917 | $1,448 |
| Indiana | $3,048 | $1,617 | $1,431 |
| Iowa | $2,253 | $1,346 | $907 |
| Kansas | $3,090 | $1,798 | $1,292 |
| Kentucky | $6,965 | $3,575 | $3,390 |
| Louisiana | $6,236 | $3,387 | $2,849 |
| Maine | $1,985 | $1,097 | $888 |
| Maryland | $3,463 | $2,235 | $1,228 |
| Massachusetts | $2,717 | $1,473 | $1,244 |
| Michigan | $9,044 | $3,579 | $5,465 |
| Minnesota | $3,822 | $1,803 | $2,019 |
| Mississippi | $3,532 | $1,996 | $1,536 |
| Missouri | $2,993 | $1,780 | $1,213 |
| Montana | $2,922 | $1,780 | $1,142 |
| Nebraska | $2,394 | $1,396 | $998 |
| Nevada | $3,702 | $2,219 | $1,483 |
| New Hampshire | $2,280 | $1,329 | $951 |
| New Jersey | $4,531 | $2,461 | $2,070 |
| New Mexico | $2,870 | $1,697 | $1,173 |
| New Yotk | $4,511 | $2,610 | $1,901 |
| North Carolina | $3,949 | $964 | $2,985 |
| North Dakota | $3,123 | $1,602 | $1,521 |
| Ohio | $2,846 | $1,532 | $1,314 |
| Oklahoma | $2,992 | $1,963 | $1,029 |
| Oregon | $3,158 | $1,834 | $1,324 |
| Pennsylvania | $3,548 | $1,943 | $1,605 |
| Rhode Island | $3,790 | $2,329 | $1,461 |
| South Carolina | $3,612 | $2,196 | $1,416 |
| South Dakota | $2,808 | $1,785 | $1,023 |
| Tennessee | $3,423 | $1,782 | $1,641 |
| Texas | $3,984 | $2,793 | $1,191 |
| Utah | $3,262 | $1,753 | $1,509 |
| Vermont | $2,540 | $1,342 | $1,198 |
| Virginia | $3,138 | $1,772 | $1,366 |
| Washington | $3,221 | $1,895 | $1,326 |
| Washington, D.C. | $4,299 | $2,527 | $1,772 |
| West Virginia | $3,012 | $1,595 | $1,417 |
| Wisconsin | $2,568 | $1,453 | $1,115 |
| Wyoming | $2,751 | $1,528 | $1,223 |
| U.S. average | $3,699 | $2,014 | $1,685 |
| Average rates are based on non-binding estimates provided by Quadrant Information Services. Your rates may vary. | |||
How to get cheap insurance if you have a DUI
While a DUI almost guarantees that you’ll pay more for car insurance, there are steps to take to ensure that you’re getting the cheapest DUI insurance available.
The most important thing you can do to get cheap DUI insurance is shop around and compare DUI insurance quotes from different companies. As we showed earlier, each insurer sets its own rates after a DUI, and some offer cheaper policies. Specifically, we found that USAA, Progressive and American Family offered the cheapest DUI insurance.
Every insurance company charges different rates for DUI insurance. If you don't compare quotes, you're probably overpaying.
After comparing quotes, check for any discounts. Most car insurance companies offer a variety of discounts. That includes discounts for bundling, veterans, students, insuring multiple cars and more.
You can also work on bettering your insurance score. If you lower your credit score and avoid additional driving infractions, your insurance score should improve. Insurance companies typically charge lower rates to drivers with good insurance scores.
Finally, reassess your coverage levels. If you feel like your premium is too high, you can increase your deductible and lower or remove certain coverages. You’ll end up with a cheaper rate. Of course, you get what you pay for: cheaper rates tend to come with less coverage.
What else you need to know about DUI insurance
A DUI stays on your insurance record for three years, in most cases. You will likely pay higher insurance rates during that period. A driving record is a different story: in most states, a DUI stays on your driving record for five to 10 years.
If you get a DUI, you may need to file an SR-22 (or an FR-44, in some states). It’s a document provided by your insurer that proves to the state that you have the legal minimum insurance. Each state has different requirements:
- California usually requires drivers to maintain an SR-22 for three consecutive years.
- Florida drivers need to file an FR-44, which is similar to an SR-22, but specifically for DUIs.
- Texas drivers must maintain SR-22 coverage for two years from the date of the DUI conviction.
It’s also advised that you hire a lawyer to help you navigate a DUI charge. Our cost-benefit analysis of hiring a DUI lawyer found that you’re three times more likely to get a DUI charge reduced with the help of a lawyer. The savings on insurance and court fines can more than pay for a lawyer.
Methodology
We gathered more than 30,000 car insurance quotes across the country through Quadrant Information Services for this driver profile:
- 30-year-old male
- Single
- Drives a 2012 Honda Accord LX
We chose this driver profile because their age and vehicle represent a low insurance risk.
In each state, we selected five random ZIP codes and requested quotes for every auto insurance company operating in that state for each of those ZIP codes. We removed obvious outliers on either end of the cost spectrum.
Minimum-coverage rates are based on each state’s specific minimum insurance requirements. Full-coverage quotes are based on these coverages:
- $50,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $25,000 property damage liability
- Comprehensive and collision coverages with a $500 deductible
- $10,000 in personal injury protection, if available
- $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person
- $100,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident
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