How Does a DUI Affect Insurance Rates?
If you're looking at a potential DUI and license suspension, there are many repercussions that you may face. One of the big ones is changing rates for auto insurance. Here is what you need to know about DUIs and insurance rates.
Will My Insurance Rates Go Up?
Your insurance rates will almost certainly go up after a DUI charge or a suspended license. Driving under the influence presents a huge risk that you may run into another car, so the insurance company may see you as a riskier driver even if your drunk driving didn't result in a collision.
What Affects My Insurance Increase?
The insurance increase will depend on a few factors. If this is your first DUI, then your auto-insurance rates won't go up quite as much as they would after a second or third incident. The increase will also depend on what types of corrective actions you take. If you do end up getting your license suspended, you might want to take that interim time to get enrolled in a corrective driver-education program or get treatment for alcohol abuse. These things can play a role in reduced rates for insurance when you do return to the road.
What Can You Do?
If you haven't been sentenced for your DUI yet, there are a few things that you can do to avoid the potential consequences. The first is to hire a DUI defense lawyer or criminal lawyer to fight the DUI charge. If this is your first offense, there may be some ways to successfully dispute the charge. This is especially true if you only had a breathalyzer or field-sobriety test, both of which can be inaccurate in some instances. Your DUI defense lawyer might be able to get the charges dropped based on insufficient evidence. They might also get the penalties lessened, such as by negotiating a deal where your license doesn't get suspended. Since a suspended license can be a factor in insurance premiums, this may help to reduce the damages a little bit. When you factor in the potential insurance savings, hiring a lawyer, such as one from Steven T. Fox Law Firm can become more affordable.
The second thing to do is to shop around for insurance premiums. You may have gotten the best auto-insurance rates for your previous conditions, but the best insurer for you can easily change when you have a new life event, such as a DUI charge or license suspension. So do some research to find out what your new auto-insurance rates will be to find the most affordable company.
