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. State Farm holds a customer satisfaction score of 847 from J.D. Power, surpassing the overall industry satisfaction score of 835.¹

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 North Dakota, 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 $1,127 or $722 for renters and auto, respectively. In addition, you can save 20 to 25 percent by insuring multiple vehicles in your household with State Farm.

Allstate is another major national auto insurance provider. It sells regular auto insurance policies as well as policies for drivers with DUIs. With an A+ financial strength rating from A.M. Best, you can count on Allstate’s ability to pay for a claim, no matter how high.⁴

Discounts for Young Drivers

Young drivers are more likely to drive inebriated than older ones. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, people ages 21 to 34 drive drunk the most.

Allstate offers several discounts that make it a good choice for young drivers with DUIs. If you’re under 25 and unmarried, you can qualify for Allstate’s student discount, even if you’re not a full-time student. To apply for the discount, you must meet one of the following criteria:

• You must be a full-time student with at least a B- average of a 2.7 GPA (many insurers require a B-average/3.0).
• You must complete the teenSMART driver education program
• You must attend school at least 100 miles away from where you garage your car.

Pay-Per-Mile

Research finds that, regardless of DUI status, millennials are driving less than previous generations. More young people live in urban areas and work remotely, meaning they drive less.⁶ If you add DUI restrictions on top of that, a young person might feel especially disinclined to drive.

For low-mileage drivers (regardless of age), Allstate offers a pay-per-mile insurance option called Milewise. With Milewise, you’ll pay a daily rate and per-mile rate rather than a monthly or annual premium. Here’s an example of what you might pay, depending on the miles you drive:

Keep in mind that after a DUI, your daily and per-mile rates may be higher than the example rates Allstate shares online. To learn how much you’ll pay, you’ll need to get a quote from an agent, either on the phone or online.

Rewards for Safe Driving

Some discounts require you to have a clean driving record, which isn’t possible with a DUI. However, you can prove yourself to be a safe driver with your actions on the road. Allstate offers several ways for safe drivers to save on auto insurance:

• Drivewise: You can earn up to a 40 percent discount for tracking your good driving habits like speeding, hard braking, and late-night trips, with Allstate’s app.
• Deductible rewards: For every year you drive without an accident, Allstate will reduce your collision deductible by $100, up to $500 total.
• Safe-driving bonus: For every six months without an accident, Allstates will issue a credit to your insurance policy.
• Accident forgiveness: If you add this coverage to your policy, your rates won’t go up after an at-fault accident. (However, take note that if you get into an accident as a result of another DUI, Allstate may drop your policy at your next renewal.)

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.

The company claims that first-time offenders can save $442 each year, or about $36 each month. 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.⁸ 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 of $4,000 once you account for raised insurance premiums, fines, an ignition interlock device, bail, lost wages, and more. If you hire an attorney, the average cost rises to about $6,500.⁹

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 fifth-largest provider in the country.¹⁰ 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.