The Effects of a Driving Under The Influence Charge on Your Auto Insurance Quotes
A DUI (driving under the influence) conviction can cause some financial difficulties. Not only will you have attorney’s fees, fines and other expenses, you’re also going to see an increase in your auto insurance rate for the next several years. You’ll pay about 00 more in auto insurance over the next three to five years, according to statistics.
However, you can take some steps to help prevent a huge insurance rate increase after a DUI. The first step is to fight the charge. It is well worth your time and money to get an attorney and go to court. Just as important as protecting your auto insurance rate, you’re protecting your criminal and driving record by doing your best not to be convicted. A DUI conviction will remain on your criminal record forever, but will come off your driving record in 3-10 years, depending upon the state you live in.
Even after fighting the charge, if you are convicted, it’s important to be cooperative and follow the court’s requirements. Follow your driving restrictions to the letter by not driving if your license is suspended or revoked. If you’re permitted to drive only to and from work, then follow those restrictions. Do your required community service and safe driving classes promptly and cheerfully. The court will be very hard on you if you’re not cooperative about your sentence requirements.
After the conviction and sentencing are completed, you’ll have to see what happens with your auto insurance. If you’re a long time customer of the same insurance company, you might have some luck. Some companies rarely check the driving records of their current customers. If your insurance company does find out about your DUI conviction, they will either raise your rate or cancel your policy.
If your current company increases your rates, you can consider some other options. Take a look at companies who specialize in DUI offenders and compare their rates to your new rate. You may choose such a carrier if your company cancels your policy, or simply because they can now give you a better rate than your company.
Your agent may be able to help reduce the rate increase by reducing coverage if they continue your policy. Once the DUI is off your record, you can increase your coverage again, if you’d like.
If you’ve received a DUI conviction, you’re likely going through a very difficult time. The difficulty can, hopefully, be productive in the long run. You’ve seen that driving under the influence is a big offense. Of course, if you avoided an accident, and didn’t harm yourself or someone else, you can be thankful that the only damage was to your driving record and your auto insurance rate.
Visit Peppercoin Insurance homeowner’s insurance and to read more great auto insurance articles including ‘Know Your Auto Insurance Before Making A Switch‘ and more.