DUI and car insurance: Rates by state and company

Q: Can you drive with a DUI before your court date?

No, not if your license has been suspended. In many states, your license is suspended immediately, even before you are officially convicted. However, you may be able to apply for a hardship license while you await your court date, and if approved you can then drive in accordance with any applicable restrictions.

Cheapest car insurance rates after a DUI by company

Progressive offers drivers the cheapest car insurance rates after a DUI at about $3,513 a year, among national carriers open to all drivers, followed by Travelers, at an average annual cost of $3,605, based on Insurance.com data. USAA also has low rates after a DUI, but it is only available to military families.

Rates increase from 40% up to 148% with a first DUI based on Insurance.com data from major carriers.

Shopping around is the best way to get a lower rate on DUI car insurance. Every insurance company will raise your rates after a DUI, but not all by the same amount. Below, you'll see the average rate increase across multiple car insurance companies after a DUI.

Company	Average annual rate, clean record	Average annual rate, one DUI	Dollar difference	Percent difference
Progressive	$2,509	$3,513	$1,004	40%
Travelers	$2,133	$3,605	$1,472	69%
State Farm	$2,680	$4,315	$1,635	61%
Nationwide	$2,364	$5,295	$2,931	124%
Allstate	$3,288	$5,359	$2,071	63%
GEICO	$2,191	$5,434	$3,243	148%
Farmers	$3,268	$5,556	$2,288	70%
USAA	$1,730	$3,339	$1,609	93%

Read our methodology

*USAA is available only to military members, veterans and their families.

Cheapest car insurance companies for second-offense DUI

The cheapest company for a driver with two DUI convictions is Progressive at $4,642 a year, although USAA is cheaper if you qualify, at $3,996 a year.

Rates can increase by 85% to more than 300% compared with those for drivers with a clean record.

Company	Average annual rate, clean record	Average annual rate, second DUI	Dollar increase	Percent increase
Progressive	$2,509	$4,642	$2,133	85%
State Farm	$2,680	$5,735	$3,055	114%
Travelers	$2,133	$5,780	$3,647	171%
Nationwide	$2,364	$7,116	$4,752	201%
Allstate	$3,288	$7,168	$3,880	118%
Farmers	$3,268	$7,811	$4,543	139%
GEICO	$2,191	$8,917	$6,726	307%
USAA*	$1,730	$3,996	$2,266	131%

Read our methodology

*USAA is available only to military members, veterans and their families.

First-offense DUI vs second-offense DUI: Car insurance rates comparison

A second DUI will push you further into the high-risk category and push rates even higher, with increases from a first to second DUI ranging from $657 to $3,483 annually, depending on the carrierAn insurance carrier is the company that provides your car insurance policy and pays claims.. With most major carriers, the increase is more than $1,000.

Take a look at the comparison between rates for one DUI and a second DUI from top companies below.

Company	Average annual rate, clean record	Average rate, first DUI	Average rate, second DUI	Increase from one to two DUIs
Allstate	$3,288	$5,359	$7,168	$1,809
Farmers	$3,268	$5,556	$7,811	$2,255
GEICO	$2,191	$5,434	$8,917	$3,483
Nationwide	$2,364	$5,295	$7,116	$1,821
Progressive	$2,509	$3,513	$4,642	$1,129
State Farm	$2,680	$4,315	$5,735	$1,420
Travelers	$2,133	$3,605	$5,780	$2,175
USAA	$1,730	$3,339	$3,996	$657

Read our methodology

Cheapest car insurance rates after a DUI by state and company

Car insurance rates after a DUI vary greatly by state, so finding the cheapest rate in your state requires some shopping around. For example:

A driver in Arizona with GEICO will pay an average of $4,812 a year with one DUI
In Georgia, that driver would pay about $6,388 with GEICO
In California, an Allstate policy with one DUI averages $17,478
That same driver in Nevada would pay an average of $6,087 at Allstate

To help, we have gathered rates from the top car insurance companies in each state for a driver with a DUI, as well as the average percent increase in rates.

Company	Average annual rate, clean record	Average annual rate, one DUI	Percent increase
Progressive	$1,922	$2,287	19%
State Farm	$2,281	$2,441	7%
Western National Insurance	$2,797	$2,797	0%
Allstate	$2,486	$3,480	40%
GEICO	$1,906	$3,602	89%
USAA	$1,735	$3,314	91%

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Your ticket will raise your annual rates by an average of:

Shopping around can help you to find a better deal, even with tickets.

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National average increase

How age impacts the effect of a DUI on car insurance rates

Young drivers pay the most for car insurance, so it's not surprising that they pay the most with a DUI conviction. The average cost of car insurance for an 18-year-old with a DUI is $12,680. It's important to note, however, that since it's illegal to drink alcohol under the age of 21 in every state, this conviction may result in the loss of your license and you may not be able to get insurance. At age 40, the average annual rate with one DUI is $5,177.

Here's a look at average car insurance rates by age for a driver with a DUI.

Age group	Average annual premium	Rate with one DUI	Percent increase
18	$7,503	$12,680	69%
25	$3,186	$6,117	92%
40	$2,655	$5,177	95%
65	$2,417	$4,834	100%

Read our methodology

PEOPLE ASK

How much is DUI insurance per month?

The average cost of car insurance with one DUI is $431 monthly for a 40-year-old driver. At age 18, the average monthly rate is $1,056 and at age 65, it's $403. Rates vary by location, company and other factors.

How long does a DUI affect insurance?

On average, a DUI will raise your car insurance rates for three to five years. Some states keep a DUI on your record longer, but it may not impact your car insurance rates after the insurer's lookback period.

However, it's possible for the impact to last for up to 10 years. For instance, in California, a DUI prevents you from receiving a 20% safe-driver discount for 10 years from the date of your DUI conviction.

Here's a look at the state laws for how long a DUI stays on your record; it may not affect insurance rates for as long.

How long a DUI stays on your record by state
State	DUI length
Alabama	10 years
Alaska	life
Arizona	five years
Arkansas	five years
California	three years
Colorado	10 years
Connecticut	10 years
Delaware	at least five years
Florida	75 years
Georgia	10 years
Hawaii	10 years
Idaho	three years
Illinois	life
Indiana	life
Iowa	12 years
Kansas	life
Kentucky	five years
Louisiana	at least 10 years
Maine	life
Maryland	life, unless it is expunged
Massachusetts	life
Michigan	seven years
Minnesota	10 years
Mississippi	five years
Missouri	at least five years
Montana	life
Nebraska	five years
Nevada	ten years
New Hampshire	ten years
New Jersey	at least five years
New Mexico	55 years
New York	15 years
North Carolina	seven years
North Dakota	seven years
Ohio	life
Oklahoma	10 years
Oregon	life
Pennsylvania	life, unless it is expunged
Rhode Island	five years
South Carolina	10 years
South Dakota	10 years
Tennessee	life
Texas	life
Utah	10 years
Vermont	life
Virginia	11 years
Washington	life
West Virginia	10 years
Wisconsin	life
Wyoming	at least five years and up to 10 years
Washington, D.C.	10 years

Read our methodology

What is DUI insurance? Do I need different coverage?

DUI insurance is not a type of insurance, and there is no difference in coverage or policy options. Car insurance after a DUI may require a high-risk insurance policy, however.

Your car insurance rates will increase significantly after you have been convicted of a DUI. You’ll probably also have to file an SR-22, which is a form that proves you have the legally required car insurance. If this is not your first DUI, or you have other problems with your driving record, you may need to look at high-risk car insurance companies.

However, nothing else about your coverage will change unless you choose to make changes to reduce your rates.

How to get cheap auto insurance after a DUI

To get lower car insurance rates after a DUI, compare multiple carriers, increase your deductibleThe deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket for a covered loss when you file a claim., ask about discounts and keep your record clean going forward.

Compare car insurance rates from multiple carriers. Not every carrier treats a DUI the same way.
Increase your deductible to lower your premiums. Ensure you can afford the deductible you choose.
Ask about discounts you can still qualify for with a DUI, like bundling your home and auto policy. You may lose a safe driver discount, but can still qualify for others.
Avoid other traffic violations. Stacking convictions can really affect rates, so drive carefully.

Methodology

We partnered with Quadrant Information Services to field car insurance rates across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. for drivers with and without DUI convictions.

Unless otherwise indicated, averages are based on our full coverage data set. This data set is based on:

Bodily injury liability of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per incident
Property damage liability of $100,000 per incident
Comprehensive and collision deductibles of $500
40-year-old driver
Honda Accord LX
Good credit
A clean driving record
12-mile commute, 10,000 annual mileage

Additional rate data is drawn based on:

Ages 18, 25 and 65
One and two DUI convictions

Learn more about our data and methodology.

FAQ: DUI and car insurance

How do insurance companies find out about a DUI?

Car insurance companies run your driving record on renewal and will find any new convictions at that time. They will also run your driving record when you apply for a new insurance policy.

Do you lose your driver’s license immediately with a DUI?

In most cases, yes. If you get a DUI or DWI in most states, your license will be suspended for a specific period. The length of the suspension can vary depending on your location and whether you have had a DUI in the past. You can find specific information about DUIs and suspended licenses on your state's DMV website.

Can you drive with a DUI before your court date?

No, not if your license has been suspended. In many states, your license is suspended immediately, even before you are officially convicted. However, you may be able to apply for a hardship license while you await your court date, and if approved you can then drive in accordance with any applicable restrictions.