My friend told me that a sobriety DUI ticket can greatly affect my auto insurance. Is that true?

Grisom

Aurora, Colorado

Yes, a sobriety ticket will affect your auto insurance, how greatly will depend with your insurance company.

Your insurance rate will probably rise significantly if you will be convicted of the absolute sobriety violation. We are not sure how much but it will depend on the rating system of your insurance provider. In some cases it will double or triple the amount you are paying especially if it’s for an alcohol offense. It will also depend upon the gravity of your violation. It is also possible that your auto insurance be canceled because most insurance companies find this offense serious. Some insurance companies will increase your premium for a number of years or simply not allow you to renew your insurance policy. This is primarily because you have a higher risk to get into an accident as to a driver who never got cited for this kind of violation.

Different states will have their own laws and rules regarding drunk driving. In Wisconsin, each person under 21 should maintain absolute sobriety while driving, be it a motor vehicle or a motorcycle. There will be penalties if you refuse to submit if an officer demands you to take a blood test, urine test, breath test or any other test that will determine the alcohol content in your body. This may lead to license suspension or license revocation. Some convictions may also lead to monetary fines.

Insurance rates are affected as well for a minimum of three years if you are cited for underage drinking that involves a motor vehicle. Also in Wisconsin, a law prohibits a person below 21 to possess or consume alcohol.

Insurance companies consider drinking while operating a motor vehicle a serious offense especially if you were cited. This will mean that you have a higher risk and with that come a higher rate in your insurance policy.

Hello, I’m Hannah of San Antonio, Texas. I got a ticket for drunk driving two years ago and not have gotten any since then. Will I be rated a low risk driver now? If not, how long before this DUI charge take before I am taken off the list? I will be renewing my car insurance in three weeks.

Hannah

San Antonio, TX

Hi, Hannah. So, now you know the effects of police reports to your insurance premiums. It hurts our pockets a little bit, doesn’t it? In the auto insurance industry, normally, it takes 3 to 5 years from the date of violation before you’re written of the list. Drunk driving offenses are looked on very seriously by auto insurance companies. Having a record of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol just makes you a very high risk driver. The reason for this is because most fatal accidents result from… you guessed it… the driver was either smashed from alcohol or high on drugs.

Automobile insurers want to be sure that you’re cleaning yourself up, and that’s why you are given 3 to 5 years to establish a good driving record. Depending on the severity of the accident, if no fatalities were incurred, then you can try to plead to your insurer for 3 years, instead of 5, to place you back to a good driver status. You can also earn additional good driving points if you attend seminars from your local Department of Motor Vehicle offices in San Antonio, Texas. No more tickets since then? Good. Keep up the good work.

Does driving without insurance and DUI violations have a mandatory drivers license suspension or is it by the court’s discretion?

Julia

Thank you for asking Julia.

Driving Under the Influence(DUI) and Driving without insurance is a serious violation in most areas. The penalty for these infraction varies from state to state however these can include fines, suspension or revocation of driver’s license, impoundments of your vehicle (and payment of storage and towing charges incurred), jail time or community service.

This is regulated by each state.

It is also possible that you will have to comply with the state’s financial responsibility laws by getting an SR22 or SR16 or the financial responsibility certificate.

Goodluck!

MariCAR