How is My DUI Going to Affect My Car Insurance?
A common question that those who have recently suffered a California DUI ask is, “How is my DUI going to affect my car insurance?” Although this is a difficult question to answer without knowing the specific facts of your case, there are a few things that we know for sure.
The first is that California insurance law prohibits your auto insurance carrier from taking any action against you midterm. This means that even if you suffer a DUI the day after your new policy goes into effect, your car insurance company can’t drop you or raise your premium until your policy is up for renewal.
The second is that California law mandates that all DUI convictions are visible to auto insurance companies for ten years following your California DUI arrest. Perhaps the most significant part of this law is the fact that you are ineligible for a “good driver” discount for the duration of that period.
The third is that if you want a restricted license…or ultimately want to regain your unrestricted driving privilege…you will have to obtain a California SR 22 insurance certificate from your auto insurance carrier. This, unfortunately, means that they will discover the fact that you suffered a DUI if they weren’t already in the know.
And the final thing that we know for sure with respect to how your DUI is going to affect your car insurance is that you will find coverage somewhere…no matter what. The good news is that there are numerous companies that will still want to insure you and, as a result, will offer competitive rates to do so. Because of this, it certainly pays to shop around for the best deal.
