Best DUI Car Insurance
Progressive is the cheapest major car insurance company for drivers with a DUI, at $221 per month for full coverage.
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Best cheap car insurance with a DUI
How we chose the top companies
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Best cheap auto insurance with a DUI
Progressive, Travelers and American Family are the cheapest major companies for drivers with a DUI, DWI or DWAI.
All three companies are at least $43 per month cheaper than the national average, which is $324 per month. However, some mid-size insurance companies, such as Erie, may be more affordable after a DUI.
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DUI and DWI car insurance rates differ a lot from one company to the next.
The most expensive major company, Nationwide, is twice as expensive as the cheapest option, Progressive for the same coverage. That's why it's important to get online car insurance quotes from multiple companies.
Cheapest full coverage DUI insurance rates
Cheapest national DUI car insurance: Progressive
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Editor's rating
- Full coverage after one DUI: $221/mo
Progressive has the cheapest car insurance rates for drivers with a DUI among major insurance companies.
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Cheapest widely available rates
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Lots of discounts
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Includes small accident forgiveness for most drivers
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Mixed customer service reviews
A full coverage policy from Progressive costs $221 per month after one DUI. That's $103 less per month than the national average.
Drivers with a DUI can get even better rates by qualifying for Progressive's many discounts. You can save by getting a quote online, bundling home and auto insurance or paying your bill automatically.
In addition, drivers in most states automatically get small accident forgiveness when they switch to Progressive. That means your rate won't go up if you cause under $500 in damage in an accident. This is particularly helpful for drivers who cause a small crash.
But drivers aren't always happy with Progressive's customer service. The company gets 28% fewer fewer complaints than an average competitor. However, Progressive got a very low score on J.D. Power's claims satisfaction study. That means it may take longer for Progressive to get you back on the road after an accident.
Cheapest midsize company for DUI car insurance: Erie
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Editor's rating
- Full coverage after one DUI: $200/mo
Erie is a great DUI insurance company if you live in a state where it sells car insurance.
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Very cheap rates
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Excellent customer service
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Includes small accident forgiveness Useful coverage options
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Only available in 12 states and D.C.
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Can't buy a policy online
Full coverage insurance from Erie costs $200 per month after a DUI, on average. That's $124 per month cheaper than the national average.
Erie also offers outstanding customer service. It earned the third-highest score on J.D. Power's claims satisfaction survey. That means Erie customers are typically happy with their experience after an accident.
In addition, Erie customers can customize their car insurance policy with helpful coverage add-ons. This includes roadside assistance and new or better car replacement. It also offers gap insurance, which is useful if you have a car loan or lease.
Although you can get an online quote for Erie car insurance, you'll have to call an agent to buy a policy. Speaking with an agent may be less convenient than managing your policy online. But Erie's helpful agents could be part of the reason why it gets such high customer satisfaction scores.
Best DUI insurance for military members and veterans: USAA
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Editor's rating
- Full coverage after one DUI: $215/mo
USAA offers military members and veterans cheap insurance and great customer service after a DUI.
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Affordable DUI insurance
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Good customer service
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Lots of discounts
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Only available to military members, veterans and their families
USAA has the best auto insurance after a DUI for drivers with military ties. A full coverage policy from USAA costs $215 per month after one DUI, on average. That's $109 per month less than the national average.
Although USAA is slightly more expensive than the cheapest company, Progressive, it has much better customer service reviews. USAA consistently earns a high score on J.D. Power's claims satisfaction survey. That means you can count on USAA to get your life back on track quickly after a crash.
USAA also offers lots of discounts to help lower your car insurance bill. For example, you can save money if you garage your car on a military base or sign up to make automatic payments.
The biggest downside to USAA is that it's only available to military members, veterans and some of their family members. So many drivers can't get a policy.
Best insurance for drivers with multiple DUIs: The General
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Editor's rating
Unlike many other auto insurance companies, The General doesn't shy away from high-risk drivers.
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Specializes in insurance for high-risk drivers
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Poor customer service
The General specializes in insuring high-risk drivers, including people with multiple DUIs. In fact, The General provides relatively affordable rates to high-risk drivers. This makes it one of the better choices for DUI auto insurance.
The General even tailors its quote process to high-risk drivers. When you're getting a quote, The General asks if you need an SR-22 filing. If you need it, The General includes the form with your policy.
Some auto insurance companies that offer nonstandard insurance offer fewer coverage options and features. That isn't the case with The General. It offers a convenient mobile app, along with the option to add coverage like roadside assistance and gap insurance.
Cheapest DUI car insurance by state
Progressive has the best DUI insurance rates in 17 states, more than any other company.
However, the cheapest company nationally may not be the best option near you.
Travelers has the cheapest quotes in 12 states, while Farm Bureau is the cheapest option in five states.
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Cheapest DUI insurance quotes by state
State | Cheapest monthly rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Travelers | $209 |
| Alaska | Umialik | $169 |
| Arizona | Travelers | $255 |
| Arkansas | Farm Bureau | $164 |
| California | Mercury | $252 |
Rates are for a full coverage policy with comprehensive and collision coverage, along with higher liability limits than the state average.
DUI insurance in California and Florida
In California, it's against the law for your car insurance company to raise your rates or cancel your policy until your policy renews.
For example, say you buy a six-month policy and get a DUI in the third month. Your insurance company can't raise your rates or cancel your coverage until the policy ends. However, you should still tell your company that you got a DUI and prepare to shop around for new coverage.
California removes DUIs from your public driving record after 10 years. During that 10-year span, you will not be eligible for any good driver discounts.
Florida drivers with a DUI must have higher insurance limits than drivers with a clean record.
To get your license reinstated after a DUI in Florida, you'll need to have an insurance company file an FR-44 form. This form proves that you have the right amount of coverage.
How to lower car insurance after a DUI?
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Getting a DUI almost always causes your car insurance rates to go up. That's because insurance companies believe you're more likely to cause another accident in the future.
To find cheap DUI insurance, you should shop around, look for discounts and practice safe driving habits in the future.
Shop around: The best way to save money on car insurance is to compare quotes from multiple companies. Start by getting quotes from companies that offer the cheapest rates for high-risk drivers.
Look for discounts: Most insurance companies offer discounts that can lower your rates. Some are very easy to qualify for, like signing up for automatic payments or getting your statements via email. And you can usually save a lot by bundling your auto insurance with a home or renter policy.
Practice safe driving habits: Going forward, it's important that you have a clean driving record. This will help you avoid even higher rates.
You won’t feel the effects of safe driving right away. But over time, safe driving can lower your insurance rates after a DUI and get you discounts.
Some companies offer usage-based discounts that can save you money right away. Companies track your driving habits using your phone or a device that plugs into your car. If you're committed to driving more safely in the future, these programs can save you a lot of money.
Keep in mind that in some states, like California, you can't qualify for good driver discounts for a set period of time after a DUI.
How do insurance companies find out about a DUI?
Your insurance company will most likely find out about your DUI through the DMV. Different insurance companies check these records at different times, but many check when you're renewing your policy.
Your insurance company will also find out about your DUI if you need an SR-22 filing. After a DUI or a DWI, you'll likely need to file an SR-22 form to get your license reinstated. Your auto insurance company needs to file the SR-22 with your state's DMV on your behalf.
It is highly unlikely — if not impossible — to hide a DUI from your insurance company.
Instead, you should tell your insurance company about your DUI conviction. If you don't let your insurance company know about your DUI, it could cancel your policy. That could lead to a lapse in coverage and higher rates.
Your company may still cancel your policy if you share information about your DUI. But you won't be caught off guard and will have time to shop around for coverage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest insurance for a DUI?
Progressive is the cheapest major insurance company after a DUI. Full coverage car insurance from Progressive costs around $221 per month. However, midsize companies — like Erie and NJM — tend to have cheaper rates than large national companies.
What is the best insurance for a DUI?Is there any DUI insurance trick?
No, there is no trick to prevent your rates from going up after a DUI. Your insurance company will find out through the DMV at some point.
Rather than trying to trick your insurance company, you should shop around for the best rate. You should also try to find as many discounts as you can and drive safely in the future.
Methodology
To find the best cheap auto insurance for DUIs, ValuePenguin collected rates from ZIP codes across every state in the U.S. Quotes are for a single 30-year-old man with good credit, a 2015 Honda Civic EX and one DUI.
Rates are for a full coverage policy. It includes comprehensive and collision coverage along with higher liability limits than state minimum requirements.
- Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
- Comprehensive and collision: $500 deductible
Rates were provided by Quadrant Information Services and sourced from public insurance company filings. Your rates will likely be different, as these are for comparison purposes only.
About the Author
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.
