The Best Auto Insurance for DUI

With over 87 million customers, State Farm is the largest auto insurance provider in the United States. The company is known for offering competitive rates, including to customers with DUIs. In the Central region, State Farm holds a customer satisfaction score of 833 from J.D. Power, surpassing the overall industry satisfaction score of 822.¹ It also ranks above-average nationally for claims satisfaction; its score of 891 out of 1,000 surpasses the average by 13 points.

Low Rates and Discounts

On average, a DUI will raise your insurance premiums by 75 to 80 percent. Your premiums could increase even more, however, depending on where you live, your coverage, and other factors. DUIs are more expensive than speeding tickets or accidents, which by comparison, may increase your premiums by 20 to 40 percent in most cases.²

State Farm offers some of the least expensive auto insurance for people who have DUIs. Depending on where you live, your premiums may only increase by a few hundred dollars at your next renewal. In addition, you can take advantage of the following discounts even if you have a DUI:

• Drive Safe & Save: Get a discount for enrolling in this safe-driving program and up to 30 percent at your next renewal if you demonstrate good driving habits.
• Defensive driver course: Earn savings for completing a course on defensive driving; this discount is available in some states, including Texas and Montana, which have some of the highest DUI rates.³
• Good driver: You may qualify for this discount if your DUI happened more than three years ago.
• Accident-free: You can often apply this discount as long as your DUI did not result in a car accident.
• Safe vehicle: Drive a vehicle with safety features, like passive restraints and anti-theft technology, and lower your costs.

Save for Low Mileage

Each state has different DUI laws, but in general, the state will restrict your driving privileges after a conviction. For example, you’ll face a license suspension of 30 to 90 days or more, typically. When the suspension ends, you will most likely have to install a DUI ignition interlock.

If you’re driving fewer miles for any reason — including DUI restrictions — you can save on auto insurance. State Farm offers a low mileage discount if you drive 7,500 miles or fewer each year, which translates to about 20 miles a day. To apply the discount, State Farm will ask you to verify your odometer reading at various intervals, including the middle of your policy term.

Bundle Policies and Insure Multiple Vehicles

Another way you can lower your cost of auto insurance after a DUI is to combine all of your insurance needs at State Farm.

State Farm claims that adding policies for homeowners, condo, renters, or even life insurance can save you up to 17 percent on your insurance premiums overall. By bundling home and auto policies, you may be able to save up to $1,273 or $704 for renters and auto, respectively. In addition, you can save 20 to 25 percent by insuring multiple vehicles in your household with State Farm.

Coverage for Drivers with SR-22s

After a DUI conviction, the government may force you to get an SR-22, proof that you have the minimum car insurance that your state requires. However, not every company accepts high-risk drivers with SR-22s, as they’re more likely to have claims.

Progressive is not one of these companies. It accepts both new and existing customers with SR-22s and will file the form with the DMV for you, either electronically or by mail. You can easily get SR-22 insurance from Progressive via an online quote, or their phone line, if you prefer.

Lowest Average Increases After DUIs

While companies like State Farm may increase your car insurance rates by 10 to 40 percent following a DUI, Progressive has an average increase of 13 percent in every state except:

• Alaska
• North Carolina
• Hawaii
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Illinois
• Maryland
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• New York
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• Tennessee
• Wyoming

While the increases are usually higher in these states, they still may not be as high as State Farm or USAA, so it’s worth getting a quote to compare.

Usage-Based Insurance

Although you may have a spotty driving record, that doesn’t mean you’re an unsafe driver now. If you want to be rewarded for your current safe driving behaviors now and in the future, take advantage of Snapshot, Progressive’s take on usage-based insurance, or UBI. Essentially, Snapshot monitors your driving behaviors via the Snapshot app or a plug-in device, whichever you prefer. You’ll drive as you normally would, and the app will see how hard you’re braking, how fast you’re accelerating, how late into the night you’re driving, and how much you’re driving overall. The average customer saves $94 just for signing up, then $231 by the time the program completes (this discount excludes Hawaii and North Carolina, and the program isn’t available for policyholders in California.)

Note that, if you don’t display safe driving behaviors, you could end up paying more than you would have originally, but that only happens to about 20 percent of drivers, so only do the program if you know you drive safely.

Allstate recently purchased National General (or NatGen), which specializes in insuring high-risk drivers. In particular, National General sells special policies for first-time DUI offenders.

Special Policies for a First DUI

National General believes in second chances after a DUI, which is why it offers discounted rates to customers who complete safe driving and substance abuse therapy programs.

Take note that this opportunity is not available to second and subsequent DUI offenders.

Valet Rental

Research finds that DUI arrests occur more frequently in rural areas, where people rely on their cars to get around, compared to urban areas.⁵ If you need a car on a daily basis, purchasing rental coverage is a good idea.

National General’s offering stands out because it offers valet service as part of its rental reimbursement coverage. After you file a claim, the company will send someone to pick up your damaged car and drop off a rental. Once your car is repaired, a representative will bring it back to you and return the rental car.

Keep in mind that rental car companies can deny you a vehicle if you have a DUI. Many want to see that it’s been at least two or three years since your conviction. So, this offering is best if your DUI is further in the past and you have kept a clean record since then.

Lifetime Repair Guarantees

A DUI can serve as a serious reminder of how important it is to stay safe on the road. Road safety includes driving a vehicle that is mechanically sound. National General guarantees repairs made at repair shops in its network for the lifetime of your vehicle. If you have any concerns about a repair, National General will send someone to re-inspect your car and confirm its safety.

Like National General, Direct Auto specializes in insurance policies for high-risk drivers. It’s a good option if you have a DUI or if insurance companies consider you to be high risk for another reason. This can include things like a lapse in insurance coverage, history of infractions, or multiple accidents.

Non-Owner Insurance

In most cases, after a DUI or another serious offense, you will need to file an SR-22 form with the state. An SR-22 certifies that you hold liability coverage, and filing one is often a condition for license reinstatement after a DUI.

If the state requires you to have an SR-22, you must file one, even if you don’t own a car. In this situation, you’ll need to purchase non-owner auto insurance. You might need non-owner insurance for an SR-22 if you got a DUI in a borrowed car, or if you sold your car after a DUI.

Direct Auto sells non-owner insurance to anyone, including people with DUIs. The company will file your SR-22, as well. With non-owner insurance, you can purchase many of the same coverages as you can with regular auto insurance.

Multitude of Discounts

On average, a DUI can cost you upwards an average of $6,500, which includes an average of $1,900 in attorney’s fees. That cost, however, does not include lost wages, which were a reported $4,400, on average.⁶

Direct Auto offers an array of discounts that can help you save money in the aftermath of a DUI. While some discounts require a clean driving record, many are available regardless of your driving history.

Flexible Payment Options

If the costs associated with a DUI pose a financial hardship to you, you might benefit from Direct Auto’s flexible payment options. The company lets you choose the following when it comes to paying your insurance bill:

• Payment method: You can make one-time payments online with a debit or credit card, set up auto-payments online, pay by eCheck, over the phone, and even with cash at a Direct Auto location or partner location.
• Frequency: You choose how often you pay, whether upfront in full or in several installments.
• Down payment: You can choose to pay more upfront and lower your subsequent monthly costs.
• Payment schedule: You pick the day of the month you make your payment, which allows you to schedule around your payday.

Holding 6 percent of the private auto insurance market, USAA is the eighth-largest provider in the country.⁷ The company offers financial services to active military members (including pre-commissioned officers), veterans, and their families. It’s a good choice for military-affiliated individuals convicted of DUIs.

Low-Cost Auto Insurance

Studies find that alcohol abuse is more prevalent among veterans than nonveterans and that rates of binge drinking are higher among active-duty military members than civilians.¹¹ USAA offers cheaper insurance rates after DUIs than many competitors. Depending on your circumstances, your coverage may increase by around 40 percent (compare that to the average post-DUI increase of 75 to 80 percent).

In addition, USAA offers several discounts that individuals with DUI convictions can take advantage of, such as:

Accident Forgiveness

In most cases, an at-fault accident will increase insurance costs, which you might not be able to afford if you’re already paying increased DUI rates. On average, after an at-fault accident, your premiums will increase by about 42 percent and will stay that way for several years until the accident drops off your record.

If your household goes five years without an at-fault accident, USAA offers free accident forgiveness coverage. Additionally, you may be able to purchase this coverage for an additional premium earlier than that. With this coverage, your rates will not increase after an accident even if you’re at fault. Once you apply for accident forgiveness, the clock resets and you must go another five years accident-free before you qualify again.

Keep in mind that accident forgiveness does not require an insurer to renew your policy. So, if you cause an accident because of another DUI, USAA may drop your coverage at your next policy renewal.

Low Mileage and Stored Vehicle Rates

After a DUI, you may choose to stop driving temporarily. Maybe your insurance rates are too high, you have a license suspension, you’re being deployed, or you feel you need to take a break from the road. If you decide to store your vehicle — whether for deployment or another reason — you can save up to 60 percent on your auto insurance costs. If you’re garaging your car on a military installation, you’ll get 15 percent off your comprehensive coverage as well.