Rachael Brennan is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.
Andrew Hurst is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. His work has also been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, NPR, Mic, Insurance Business Magazine, ValuePenguin, and Property Casualty 360.
Not only can getting a DUI can lead to time in court, fines, and possible jail time, but it can also cost drivers thousands of dollars per year in increased car insurance premiums. On average, the cost of car insurance after a DUI is $1,728 more expensive per year than it is for drivers with a clean record.
While it's more difficult to find cheap coverage after a citation for intoxicated driving, some companies do offer affordable DUI insurance rates. Our analysis found that State Farm is the cheapest DUI insurance for most drivers. Depending on where you live, Progressive and GEICO may also offer the cheapest DUI car insurance.
How we picked the cheapest DUI car insurance companies
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To find the cheapest DUI car insurance, Policygenius analyzed rates provided by Quadrant Information Services for every ZIP code in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. We used sample policies with one DUI conviction and the following coverage limits:
Bodily injury liability: 50/100
Property damage liability: $50,000
Uninsured/underinsured motorist: 50/100
Comprehensive: $500 deductible
Collision: $500 deductible
We found the cost of coverage by ZIP code for single 30-year-old drivers who drive a 2017 Toyota Camry LE driven 10,000 miles/year.
Rates for driving violations and “Poor” credit determined using average rates for a single male 30-year-old driver with a credit score under 578.
Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.
Cheapest car insurance companies after a DUI
It will be harder for drivers with a DUI to find affordable insurance. However, there are a few insurance companies known for offering cheap coverage to drivers with a DUI on their records. Our analysis of average car insurance rates found that, for most drivers, the cheapest car insurance company after a DUI is State Farm.
On average, State Farm offers insurance for DUI drivers that costs $1,877 less per year than the national average for similar drivers. Erie, USAA, Progressive, and American Family also have lower rates than average — though State Farm is typically much cheaper than each of these companies.
Compare rates and shop affordable car insurance today
Besides State Farm, our other picks for best companies for DUI insurance operate in fewer states than the major insurers. For example, Erie (operates in 13 states), American Family (19 states), and COUNTRY Financial (19 states) are all among the most affordable options for DUI car insurance.
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
The cost of DUI car insurance from State Farm is $1,877 cheaper than the average rate.
State Farm is the best company for cheap DUI insurance. Compared to its competitors, State Farm has the lowest insurance rates for drivers with a DUI ($138 per month) and the smallest price increase after a DUI (33%). Compared to the second-cheapest insurer, Erie, the cost of DUI insurance from State Farm is $380 less per year.
Besides offering the cheapest DUI auto insurance, State Farm also lets drivers save money on their insurance premiums and help balance out the increase from a DUI if they sign up for the Drive Safe and Save program. You may earn a discount of up to 30% depending on your driving habits and typical mileage if you allow your driving to be tracked with the program’s app. State Farm also offers discounts for:
Bundling your car insurance and homeowners insurance
If you're having trouble finding car insurance coverage after a DUI, National General may be the cheapest company for you. National General is known for offering non-standard car insurance to drivers who are riskier to insure than typical drivers.
The average cost of car insurance after a DUI is $213 per month with National General. While it's more expensive than State Farm, Progressive, and Travelers, National General is cheaper than other non-standard car insurance companies like Dairyland, Kemper, and Safe Auto, which also specialize in high-risk drivers.
National General is also a good option for DUI car insurance because of the number of discounts that it offers. These include discounts for:
Completing a defensive driving course
Signing up for automatic payments
Owning a car with anti-theft features
Switching to electronic payments
Cheapest DUI car insurance rates by state
In most states, State Farm is the cheapest company for DUI insurance. We found that State Farm has the most affordable DUI car insurance rates in 39 states, including the District of Columbia. Compared to the average cost of car insurance for DUI offenders in each state where it's the cheapest option, State Farm's rates are 59% cheaper than average.
Progressive can be another cheap company for DUI insurance. We found that Progressive offers the cheapest car insurance after a DUI in three states — Michigan, New Jersey, and New York. Allstate and GEICO are the cheapest after a DUI in one state each.
The average cost of car insurance after a DUI is $3,170 per year. DUI insurance rates are more expensive than any other violation except for a hit-and-run. However, insurance after a hit and run is only $28 more expensive per year than DUI insurance.
Along with a DUI and hit and run, driving with a suspended license, having poor credit, and reckless driving all result in an average cost of car insurance that's greater than $3,000 per year.
Car insurance after a DUI may be even more expensive once you factor in the cost of filing an SR-22 or FR-44 form. You may have to pay your insurer to file these forms after a DUI in order to prove that you have car insurance.
How long do insurance rates stay high after DUI?
After a DUI, your insurance rates will stay high for at least a few years after your conviction. This is usually the amount of time that states require you to renew your SR-22 or FR-44 filing. As long as you avoid accidents, tickets, and another DUI, your rates should return to average as time passes, as long as you maintain a clean driving record going forward.
How to get cheap DUI insurance
It’s common for people to search for a DUI insurance trick to reduce their rates. Unfortunately, there isn’t one. However, there are still ways to save money on on car insurance after a DUI, including:
Taking advantage of discounts: Even with a DUI, you can still take advantage of the many discounts offered by most insurance companies.
Improving your credit rating: If your credit, combined with a DUI, is making you pay even more for car insurance, try to improve your rating by paying down your debt, including your credit card bills and any outstanding loans, and by not increasing your credit sources.
Switching to a usage-based company: If you don't have to drive frequently, consider switching from a conventional insurer to a usage-based company, where you're charged according to how much you drive or by your driving habits, like Metromile and Root.
Increasing your deductibles: You can lower your car insurance rates by raising your deductible — the amount you pay out of pocket for a claim. This is an easy way to lower your insurance rates without sacrificing coverage, but it will mean you're taking on more risk, since you'll have to pay for cheaper damage yourself.
The most effective way to get cheap DUI insurance is by comparing quotes between multiple companies. This way, you can find the best rate in your area, as well as the companies with the most discount opportunities and most complete coverage options for the price.
Which company has cheap car insurance for drivers with a drunk driving conviction?
On average, we found that State Farm has the cheapest car insurance for drivers with one drunk driving conviction. If you have more than one conviction on your record, you will have to get coverage from a non-standard car insurance company that specializes in covering high-risk drivers, like National General or Dairyland.
Can your insurance company cancel your policy after a DUI?
It depends. Insurance companies can only cancel your auto insurance for a few reasons, but they can decide not to renew your policy after any claim or violation. If you lied to your insurer about a past DUI your policy can be canceled. Companies can also cancel your policy if your license is suspended after a DUI.
What happens if you get a DUI but don't own a car?
If you're not a car owner but get a DUI in someone else's vehicle, a rental car, or in another car that's not yours, you may still have to file an SR-22 and will have to get insurance. If you don’t own a car, you'd have to get a non-owner car insurance policy. These are cheaper than a regular policy and offer less protection than full-coverage car insurance.
How do insurance companies find out about DUIs?
When you shop for car insurance, companies check your driving record or motor vehicle report. A motor vehicle report tells companies about past accidents, violations, tickets, and DUIs. If these events happened long ago in the past, your rates may not be affected. You may also be asked about your driving history when you apply for coverage. If this happens, you’ll have to disclose any past DUIs.
Rachael Brennan is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.
Andrew Hurst is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. His work has also been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, NPR, Mic, Insurance Business Magazine, ValuePenguin, and Property Casualty 360.
