Cheapest Car Insurance Companies for a DUI Record in 2024

Drivers convicted of a DUI might wonder if they can still get insurance. While your rates will likely increase for three to five years, you can still find cheap car insurance after getting a DUI.

When comparing insurance companies, you’ll find that USAA has the cheapest rates and Progressive has the lowest cost increase. Rates are high after DUI offenses, but you can lower your rates by combining various discounts.

Learning about the best car insurance companies for DUI offenders will help you find coverage.

Before learning about the best car insurance companies for DUI offenders, enter your ZIP code to get free auto insurance quotes available in your area.

What are the best car insurance companies for DUI offenders?

Driving under the influence (DUI) can also be called driving while impaired (DWI), depending on where you live. A DUI conviction causes insurance companies to view drivers as high risk. The result is an increase in the driver’s rates.

While many companies provide coverage to drivers with a DUI, others might deny coverage altogether. So you might be wondering, “What is the best car insurance for DUI offenders?”

Your insurance will increase with a DUI, regardless of the company. How much, though, depends on the insurer. Some will double or even triple your rates after a DUI.

Comparing the best affordable car insurance companies for DUI offenders will allow you to determine the cheapest option. The following chart shows the average annual rates for drivers with a DUI, without a DUI, and the average increase after a DUI with various companies.

Average Annual Rates from the Best Car Insurance Companies for DUI Offenses

Company	Average Annual Car Insurance Rates With a DUI	Average Annual Car Insurance Rates Without a DUI	Average Annual Car Insurance Rates Increase After a DUI
Allstate	$1,351	$2,669	$1,318
Farmers	$1,578	$2,416	$839
GEICO	$1,047	$2,680	$1.634
MetLife	$1,686	$5,051	$3,364
Nationwide	$1,341	$2,582	$1,241
Progressive	$1,381	$2,132	$751
State Farm	$1,235	$2,222	$987
Travelers	$1,525	$3,163	$1,639
USAA	$883	$1,816	$933

As you can see, the lowest rates for drivers with and without a DUI are from USAA. However, USAA only provides coverage for military service members and their immediate families.

While GEICO has the lowest rates for non-military members without a DUI, Progressive is cheapest for drivers after the offense. Additionally, Progressive has the smallest increase after getting a DUI — at $751 — compared with all other companies.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, several factors impact your insurance rates. While your driving record is a major factor, companies will take several other aspects into consideration.

How do the best car insurance companies for DUI offenders know of your violation?

Some drivers that get a DUI might think that they can get better rates by hiding their conviction from their insurance company. However, insurance companies always know if you’ve had a DUI offense. But how do they find out?

The most likely way an insurance company will discover your DUI is through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Companies check customers’ DMV records at different times and usually review your record when you renew a policy.

Drivers with a DUI usually have their license suspended and must file an SR-22 to have it reinstated. The insurance company will likely discover this filing, and the offense that necessitated it.

Instead of an SR-22, Florida and Virginia require drivers with a DUI to obtain an FR-44 certification. The difference between these is that an FR-44 requires drivers to buy additional liability insurance.

As previously mentioned, most states require drivers with a DUI conviction to file an SR-22 or FR-44. The only states that don’t have this requirement are:

• Delaware
• Kentucky
• Minnesota
• New Mexico
• New York
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania

Some drivers might think they can get away with not telling their company about their DUI offense. However, your insurer will almost certainly find out. If it is discovered that you lied about your driving history, your policy could be canceled.

What discounts are available from the best car insurance companies for DUI offenders?

Car insurance for DUI offenders will usually be more expensive than for most drivers. One of the best ways to lower your rates is to combine the various discounts offered by most insurance companies.

If you get a DUI, some discounts might not be available. For example, you might not be able to get a discount for safe driving or defensive driving, even if you safely operate your vehicle for several months.

Fortunately, you can still be eligible for multiple discounts if you have a DUI on your driving record. The following chart shows the standard auto insurance discounts that you can obtain with a DUI.

Discounts from the Best Car Insurance Companies for DUI Offenses

Car Insurance Discount	Discount Eligibility
Anti-lock brakes	Car has factory-installed anti-lock brakes
Anti-theft	Car includes anti-theft devices, like alarms, tracking systems, and kill switches
Good student	High school or college students with at least a 3.0 grade point average
Homeowner	Insured owns a single-family home
Low mileage	Insured drives 5,000 to 15,000 miles per year
Multi-car policy	Insure more than one car on a single car insurance policy
Multi-policy	Bundle different types of insurance
Paid in full	Policy is paid in one payment
Student away at school	College-aged children who attend college over 100 miles away and leave their car at home

A DUI will stay on your record for multiple years, so it might take a while for you to be eligible for some discounts. However, maintaining a clean driving record will help you lower your rates and gain more discounts over time.

How else can you lower your rates?

Someone caught drinking and driving might be looking for a DUI insurance trick. There’s no trick to finding low rates, but you can find affordable coverage by combining discounts and comparing the best car insurance companies’ quotes for DUI offenders.

Here are three additional ways to get lower rates:

• Increase your deductible – Increasing your deductible will cost you more if you get into an accident but it will lower your monthly rates.
• Improve your credit score – Customers with good credit are more likely to make timely payments, so insurance companies decrease their rates.
• Decrease your coverage – Car insurance companies individually price coverage, allowing customers to customize their insurance. As a result, less coverage will result in lower rates.

While increasing your deductible and improving your credit score are recommended ways of lowering your rates, decreasing your coverage can be dangerous. Ultimately, you might not be covered if you get into an accident.

How can you find the best car insurance companies for DUI offenders?

As you’ve learned, a DUI can have a significant impact on your auto insurance. So you might be wondering how to get cheap car insurance with a DUI.

While it will take time to get the cheap rates you had before, there are some things that you can do to work toward that goal. The following are some of the ways that you can rebound your insurance after a DUI.

Comply with SR-22 Requirements

If you get a DUI, your state might require that you file an SR-22 or FR-44 certification. This document confirms that you’re carrying the minimum amount of insurance required by the state. These requirements typically last from three to five years.

As previously mentioned, an insurance company will know if you’ve filed an SR-22 or FR-44 certification. However, complying with these requirements will help you obtain lower rates after the three to five years are complete.

Consider Non-Owner Car Insurance

Depending on where your DUI occurred and the circumstances surrounding it, the state might suspend your driver’s license. If you can’t drive, you might consider selling your car. Transportation can be difficult without a car, but you can save some money.

To regain your license, you’ll need to prove that you meet the state’s minimum insurance requirement. Non-owner coverage is for those that don’t have a car but don’t want to have a lapse in coverage. Any lapse will raise your insurance rates in the future.

Avoid Future DUIs

Car insurance companies are similar to the law in that they’re somewhat forgiving if you only have one DUI. However, the consequences for a second or third DUI are much more severe. You could be denied coverage or have your policy canceled.

Insurance companies might see one DUI as a mistake. But if you have multiple offenses, this is viewed as habitual bad behavior. Numerous DUIs could result in an insurer seeing you as a liability and too risky to insure.

While you can work your way back to lower car insurance rates, this will likely take some time. In the meantime, you’ll need to find the best car insurance companies’ rates for DUI offenders. The following are some tips for finding the cheapest coverage.

Compare Quotes

As you can see from the sample rates above, insurance companies view DUIs differently. While some allow customers to have a DUI, others see even one as too many and will refuse to insure you. As a result, you might find better rates with a company other than your current insurer.

Even if you’re happy with your current coverage, it’s helpful to compare quotes from multiple companies. These comparisons will ensure that you get the best rates and the most discounts in the industry.

Look for Discounts

As mentioned above, customers can bundle discounts to lower their car insurance rates. These savings opportunities are particularly beneficial for risky drivers, like those with a DUI. Bundling as many discounts as possible will help you get the best rates.

Given your driving history, you might not be eligible for all discounts. However, several deals have nothing to do with your driving record. Therefore, you might qualify for multiple discounts.

Maintain a Clean Driving Record

Even though you’ll automatically have higher rates than other customers, companies will still consider your driving record. So while you search for quotes, try to avoid getting any additional strikes. Companies will keep an eye on your current driving record and quote accordingly.

Shop Over Time

Car insurance companies change their rates over time because of changes to statistical modeling about risk. For this reason, you might receive a different price from a company a year after your initial quote.

Continuing to compare rates over time will ensure that you’re still receiving the cheapest option.

Case Studies: Cheapest Car Insurance Companies for a DUI Record

Case Study 1: USAA

John, a military service member, recently got a DUI conviction. Despite his offense, he was able to find affordable car insurance through USAA. With USAA, John found the cheapest rates for drivers with a DUI.

Case Study 2: Progressive

Sarah, a non-military customer, also faced a DUI conviction. She compared various car insurance companies and found that Progressive offered the lowest rates after a DUI offense.In addition to competitive rates, Progressive had the smallest rate increase of $751 compared to other companies.

Case Study 3: GEICO

Mike, another non-military customer, sought car insurance after a DUI. Although GEICO did not offer the lowest rates for drivers with a DUI, it provided the lowest rates for non-military customers without a DUI.

Best Car Insurance Companies for DUI Offenders: The Bottom Line

A DUI can have a significant impact on your car insurance rates. However, knowing how to find the best rates will help you get more affordable coverage while you prove yourself to be a safe driver again.

When comparing auto insurance companies, you’ll find that USAA has the lowest rates with a DUI, and Progressive has the lowest rates for non-military customers. But comparing quotes from various companies will help you find the best price.

Learning more about the best car insurance companies for DUI offenders will help you get the best coverage for the lowest price.

Now that you know about the best car insurance companies for DUI offenders, enter your ZIP code to see the best rates in your area.