How Does a DUI Affect Your Auto Insurance Rates in 2026?
A DUI raises your car insurance rates by around 88%. That's an average increase of $183 per month for full coverage insurance.
Drunk driving usually means higher rates for several years, up to five in some states. Car insurance is more expensive after a DUI because insurance companies believe you're more likely to file a claim in the future.
Find Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes after a DUI
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How much is DUI insurance per month?
Full coverage car insurance costs $391 per month after a DUI, on average.
That's 88% more than drivers with a clean record pay for the same coverage.
How much does insurance go up after a DUI?
One DUI can raise your auto insurance rates by $183 per month for a full coverage policy.
However, some companies increase rates after a DUI more than others. Progressive's rates only go up by an average of $61 per month, while Nationwide's rise by $329 per month.
Find Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes after a DUI
Monthly full coverage DUI insurance rates
Company | Monthly DUI rate | % increase | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NJM | $168 | 33% |
| USAA* | $125 | 98% |
| Erie | $154 | 66% |
| Progressive | $207 | 29% |
| Shelter | $192 | 45% |
*USAA is only available to military members, veterans and some family members.
How much is car insurance with a DUI in my state?
Michigan has the most expensive rates after a DUI, at $670 per month for full coverage. That's two and a half times the cost of insurance for Michigan drivers with a clean record.
North Carolina car insurance rates are more than four times higher after one DUI. That's the largest increase in the country.
In eleven states — California, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Vermont — a single DUI more than doubles the price of car insurance.
Monthly DUI insurance rates by state
State | DUI rate | % increase |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $345 | 91% |
| Alaska | $270 | 59% |
| Arizona | $414 | 75% |
| Arkansas | $347 | 54% |
| California | $620 | 181% |
Rates are for a full coverage policy.
How long after a DUI does your insurance go down?
A DUI typically raises your insurance rates for three to five years, depending on the state where you live.
Three years after the DUI, your rates may return to their normal levels, depending on your insurance company.
Cost of full coverage car insurance after one DUI
Time since DUI | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| No DUI | $181 |
| 6 months | $291 |
| 1 year | $285 |
| 2 years | $283 |
| 3 years | $205 |
| 4 years | $204 |
| 5 years | $187 |
You may also need to keep an SR-22 form on file for three to five years.
A drunk driving ticket can stay on your driving record for five to 10 years, and in some cases longer. But it likely won't impact your rates for that long.
What else affects your auto insurance rates after a DUI?
Many factors affect your rates after a DUI. Where you live plays a big part, as do your age, insurance company and how recently you got a ticket.
Age: Car insurance companies generally consider younger drivers riskier to insure. That's because they have less experience behind the wheel. So, age plays a big role in how much your rates go up after a DUI.
For example, full coverage insurance for a 21-year-old with a DUI costs an average of 40% more than coverage for an older driver.
Number of DUIs: The number of DUIs you've had in the past three to five years also affects your rates. A 30-year-old with three DUIs pays around 55% more for full coverage insurance than someone with one DUI.
Number of DUIs | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| 1 | $292 |
| 2 | $363 |
| 3 | $454 |
Companies: Every insurance company considers different factors when setting rates. For that reason, the cheapest company after a DUI typically isn't the same for everyone.
There's a difference of $326 per month between the cheapest major company after a DUI, Progressive, and the most expensive, Nationwide. Comparing quotes from multiple companies can help ensure you get the cheapest car insurance rates for you.
How do insurance companies find out about a DUI?
Your state's DMV will tell your insurance company when you get a DUI, DWI or DWAI.
It's a good idea to contact your insurance company before this happens so you can get an SR-22 form and get back to driving. The DMV will also let your insurance company know if your license is suspended as a result of your DUI.
Insurance companies typically check your driving record when you renew your policy. They do this to decide what your new rate will be. Your record will show any recent DUIs.
The best thing you can do is be honest with your insurance company.
Not telling your insurance company about a DUI won't keep your rates from going up. And your insurance company may drop your policy entirely.
You may also need to ask your company to file an SR-22 or FR-44 form. This form is required in 42 states and Washington, D.C. It proves to the DMV that your insurance limits are high enough to meet the state requirement. You'll need it to keep your license after a major traffic citation, like a DUI.
Most insurance companies charge a fee to file an SR-22 or FR-44 form, which is typically around $15 to $50. You may need to keep the form on file for three to five years, depending on your state.
Some insurance companies won't file an SR-22 or FR-44 for you. And if you have a lot of tickets or accidents on your record, your insurance company may cancel your policy.
If that happens, you might need to get a policy through a high-risk car insurance company. You can expect to pay even higher car insurance rates with these companies.
Frequently asked questions
How much will my insurance go up after a DUI?
Insurance rates go up by an average of 88% after one DUI. However, your increase will depend on your company, state, driving history and other personal factors. In North Carolina, a DUI quadruples the price of insurance. On the other hand, a DUI in Washington only increases rates by 50%.
How much is car insurance after your first DUI?
A full coverage policy costs an average of $391 per month after your first DUI. You can typically find cheaper DUI rates from national companies like Progressive and Travelers, and midsize companies like Erie and NJM usually have even lower rates.
Does auto insurance cover DUI accidents?
Yes, your car insurance company will pay for damage or injuries you cause in an accident, up to your chosen limits. This is true even if you were driving under the influence when you caused the crash. However, having an accident while under the influence will likely increase your car insurance rates even more than simply getting a ticket for a DUI.
Methodology
To find average insurance rates after a DUI, ValuePenguin gathered millions of quotes from every ZIP code in the United States. Quotes are for a 30-year-old man with a 2018 Honda Civic and good credit, one DUI and no other tickets or accidents on his record.
Rates are for a full coverage policy with higher liability limits than required in each state, along with comprehensive and collision coverage.
- Bodily injury liability:$50,000 per person; $100,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $50,000 per accident
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury: $50,000 per person; $100,000 per accident
- Comprehensive and collision: $500 deductible
To find the cost of insurance after multiple DUIs, how DUI rates change over time, and the difference in DUI rates by age, ValuePenguin editors gathered quotes from every residential ZIP code across Pennsylvania.
Quadrant Information Services was used to compile the insurance rate data for the analysis. The data is publicly sourced from insurance company filings. Rates should be used for comparative purposes only. Your quotes may be different.
Senior Writer
Lindsay Bishop is a Senior Writer at ValuePenguin, where she educates readers about home, auto, renters, flood and motorcycle insurance.
Lindsay began her career in the insurance and financial industry in 2010. She was a licensed auto, home, life and health insurance agent and held Series 6 and 63 financial licenses.
After a hiatus from the financial sector, Lindsay returned to the industry as a content writer for ValuePenguin in 2021. She enjoys having the opportunity to help readers make smart decisions about their insurance so they can be prepared for anything life throws their way.
When Lindsay isn't writing about insurance, you can find her spending time with family, enjoying the outdoors on Sunday long runs or riding her Peloton.
How insurance helped Lindsay
As a homeowner for 15 years located in South Carolina, Lindsay has plenty of experience navigating the coastal insurance market and managing the claims process. That includes successfully negotiating a full roof replacement claim.
Expertise
- Home insurance
- Car insurance
- Flood insurance
- Renters insurance
- Motorcycle insurance
Referenced by
- CNBC
- Yahoo Finance
- Miami Herald
Education
- BS/BA Economics, University of Nevada Las Vegas
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.
