Few things are more important than having the right insurance coverage. About ten years ago, I was involved in a near-fatal crash where I experienced traumatic physical and emotional injuries. It was really challenging for me to endure the hospital stay and subsequent physical rehabilitation, but with the help of my medical team and my insurance company, I was able to overcome the challenge and completely recover. This blog is all about the importance of choosing the right insurance plan so that you can get on with your life and enjoy those precious years with your family and your friends.
One of the effects of having a DUI conviction is that you'll see your car insurance premiums increase because of it. You are considered a more at risk driver, so an insurance company needs a bigger premium to offset the chance of an accident happening. If you need to find a way to cut back on insurance costs, know that you are not stuck with those high premiums. There are several ways to reduce your premiums so that the increase is not as bad.
Drive A Vehicle That Is Cheaper To Have Insured
If you know that your premiums are going up after your DUI, you should consider the car that you are insuring to drive. A newer and more expensive car is going to naturally cost more to insure than an older car that is barely worth anything. If another driver in your home is the primary driver on an older car, consider switching cars with them for the first few years following your DUI. If you do get into an accident, your risk will be much lower to the insurance company since the value of the car may be lower than the repairs, causing them to total the car instead of fixing it.
Shop For Insurance For People With DUIs
It's possible that the insurance company you are with may drop your auto insurance after a DUI, or raise your rates so high that it is not practical to have insurance with them anymore. If you are running into a problem with getting auto insurance, know that there are companies that are DUI-friendly when it comes to people with previous convictions.
You'll want to find an insurance company that offers SR22 insurance. The name is kind of misleading, because it is actually a certificate that the insurance company files with your state that vouches for you as an insured driver. It's an addition to a normal car insurance policy, and may even be required based on how serious your DUI conviction was. You won't need SR22 insurance forever, since the terms of your DUI conviction will state how long you need it for. This could help you get insurance from an alternative company that won't charge an arm and a leg.
Be Extra Careful When Driving
While it should be common sense to not drink and drive, you'll want to be extra careful when driving with your drivers license back. Even basic moving violations like speeding can impact your insurance premiums even more once you are convicted of a DUI.
For more info on getting car insurance after a DUI, speak with an agent in your area.
Share8 July 2016
