By
Holiday weekends, like Labor Day, Memorial Day, and
Christmas/New Year’s Eve, are events most of us hugely look forward to, but we
have been known to let our celebratory moods get the best of us. Too often, we
drink and get behind the wheel, which helps explain the huge increases in DUI (driving under the
influence) rates commonly seen
during these times of the year.
Insurance Consequences of a DUI
Most people are well aware that a DUI charge can be
costly. And time-consuming. Consider that after being pulled over, you’ll spend
months dealing with court hearings, fines, education or treatment programs, and
possible jail time.
But the harshest aspect of getting a DUI from a
financial perspective? Higher car insurance rates. Having a DUI conviction on
your record can increase your car insurance costs up to
$5,000 a year or more.
That’s because most insurers move you into the “high-risk driver” category if
you’ve been charged with a DUI, even if you had a clean record prior to the
incident. That designation can cause your premium to double or even triple.
Plus, your insurance company will drop any safe-driver discounts you may have
received when you renew your coverage.
Some companies may even cancel your policy completely.
While an insurer cannot typicallycancel a car insurance policy that has been in effect 60
days or longer, they are able to do so if your driver’s license is suspended or
revoked, and unfortunately, license suspension is an automatic consequence of
being charged with DUI.
SR-22s
So once your license has been suspended, how do you
get it back? You’ll likely have to go through an education program ordered by
the court, designed for those charged with DUI and/or reckless driving. You’ll
also have to get an SR-22 form by filing with your state’s Department of Motor
Vehicles.
An SR-22 form proves you have the required liability
car insurance in your state. Expect to pay $15 to $50 for the form. Most, but
not all, states require you to have an SR-22 form if you’re convicted of a DUI
(the exceptions are: Delaware, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and
Pennsylvania). You’ll usually have to continue to file for an SR-22 form
annually for as long as your state requires it. In general, you’ll need to file
for three to five years.
Failure to provide an SR-22 form can have a number of
consequences. Penalties can include fines, license suspension, extension of the
SR-22 filing period, and jail time.
How long are insurance rates affected?
Your DUI will affect your rates as long as it shows up
on your driving record. How long it remains on your record depends on your
state. Most states will remove a DUI after three to seven years. Your premium
will no longer be impacted once your DUI is removed, but it will still appear
on your criminal record. This can show up if your potential employer, landlord,
or credit issuer runs a background check on you.
If you want to remove a DUI from your criminal record,
you can try to get it expunged.
Again, states vary on their rules regarding expungement. Some might only allow
removal if you were arrested but not convicted. This usually won’t show up on a
background check, but will still be considered a prior conviction.
This sounds pretty bad. Do I need a
lawyer?
Deciding whether or not to hire a DUI lawyer will depend on your driving
record and the specifics of your case, but it’s often money well spent. Still,
you’ll want to consider a number of factors before hiring a professional. Was
this your first DUI? How high was your blood alcohol content (BAC) during the
incident? Was anyone injured?
Dealing with a DUI arrest is a long process from the arraignment to
potential preliminary hearing and trial. An attorney also can tell you whether
or not you should plead guilty and assist you in working out a plea bargain if
possible.
During your plea bargain, a lawyer can help you reduce
your charge to a lesser sentence such as reckless driving. This is especially
likely if you’re a first-time offender. A lighter sentence can mean you’ll have
less severe consequences, like a shorter suspended license period and smaller
fines. In some instances, an attorney might even help you get off completely.
If there are more serious issues around your DUI, such
as having a high BAC, being underage, being a repeat offender, or—worst
case—being involved in a DUI-related accident or even death, hiring an attorney is a necessity.
In some cases, you could face up to 20 years of jail time and pay charges as
high as $10,000. A lawyer can help you spot any mishandled evidence or other
faulty procedures and possibly reduce your sentence.
How to save on post-DUI car insurance
Studies have shown that using a DUI lawyer, in
addition to navigating you through the legal process, can save you hundreds or
even thousands of dollars on car insurance. An attorney can help you negotiate
the lowest rates, and even using a public defender instead of representing
yourself generally reduces your monthly premiums.
Regardless, be sure to compare quotes from multiple
insurers. Insurance companies take into account a number of factors when
determining a premium, and don’t all treat DUIs the same way. So, if your
premium spikes dramatically, shop around for a better price.
Other options: See if your insurer offers discounts
for taking defensive driving classes. Or look into bundling multiple insurance
policies like car and home coverage under the same company.
Above all, the best thing you can do is to make sure
you don’t get another DUI. If you’re out drinking, call for a cab or ask a
sober friend to drive you. Getting a DUI conviction can haunt you for years.
Best to avoid the problem entirely by making good decisions.
No comments:
Post a Comment