If you have been convicted of driving under the influence, you may need to know about DUI auto insurance. Most people understand the high costs of being convicted of this charge in terms of fines and jail time, but many do not know that it can also lead to problems with getting and keeping car insurance. This article looks at a few of the issues a convicted offender may face.
As mentioned above, being convicted of driving under the influence can have severe penalties including heavy fines, impoundment of vehicle, attorney fees, court costs, and on and on and on. But a conviction can also affect how your insurance carrier treats you. It is not at all uncommon for carriers to increase their rates on those found guilty of this charge. In some cases, they may cancel the policy altogether.
Many people do not realize that carriers keep abreast of driving offenses on their customers, so the chances yours will find out about your conviction are pretty good. When this happens, you are automatically labeled as a high risk customer, which, as mentioned above, can lead to much higher premiums or loss of the policy completely.
The vast majority of states now require those convicted of driving under the influence to have what is commonly known as DUI auto insurance. The legal term for this is SR-22 (Proof of Insurance Certificate). This certificate must be delivered by your insurer to your state DMV. It simply certifies that you have the appropriate level of coverage on all of your vehicles.
There is a problem with this, however, that offenders should know about, and that problem is that not all companies offer SR 22′s to their customers. If this is the case with your insurer, they will have no other option but to cancel your policy as they will not be able to comply with state law which mandates the issuance of the SR 22.
If you lose your policy, you have some options. There are companies that offer DUI auto insurance, but usually at a higher rate than what you were paying before the conviction. These same companies are able to issue the SR 22 on your behalf to the DMV. Before you sign up with a new insurer make sure that they can and will do this for you. It is vital that the DMV get this certificate, or you may face even more problems with the court.
You should also know that in most states the only valid SR 22 is one that comes from a company that is licensed to do business in your state. For the larger insurers, such as State Farm, this is not usually a problem, but it can be a problem if you deal with small, online companies. Double-check on this before you take out the policy, and if you have trouble finding someone on your own, consult an independent agent as they often have access to many reliable companies, thus being able to offer you more options.
While finding DUI auto insurance can be a hassle, it is more often than not, a requirement in most states. Check your local laws to make sure you understand all that is required before you commit to a new carrier.
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