Driving under the influence or DUI citations are among the most common auto-related tickets issued. If you get a DUI, you should know what to expect from your insurance company and how to handle it. Here are just a few questions that people have about what happens after a DUI.
What does my insurance company do if I get a DUI?
Most insurance companies check your driving record every year – although some insurance companies only check your driving record every three years. Because they don’t check every day, it is possible that your DUI may escape their eye for a period of time – however if they find out about it, you are pretty much guaranteed that you are going to see higher rates (best case) or even have your policy canceled (worst case).
Of course, you should always inform your insurance company the first chance that you get after a DUI whenever you have any kind of conviction. If you bring it to their attention, they will probably either raise your rates or cancel your policy all together – but by telling them rather than waiting for them to find out, you may increase your chances of them not just dropping you all together.
Either way, your best bet will be to pursue special DUI coverage, also referred to as SR-22 coverage.
SR-22 Insurance Coverage
An SR-22 is a form issued by your insurance company that removes the suspension order placed by the DMV after your DUI conviction. In California, filing this form guarantees that you have at least the state-required minimum liability coverage, and that the insurer will notify the state, should your policy lapse. Other states use similar forms and impose similar requirements, and your driving record will follow you across state lines, so avoiding the SR-22 is unlikely. This form is what reactivates your suspended license.
How Long Must You Maintain the SR-22 Filing?
Under normal circumstances, the SR-22 filing period is three years, though in some cases that term may be extended.
How Long Does a DUI Stay on Your Record?
While the SR-22 period elapses in three years, most of the time, your DUI conviction will be with you a while longer, for ten years, though it stops being rated for points after three. Even so, you may have continued trouble getting insurance from preferred carriers such as State Farm, Farmers, GEICO, Allstate and AAA with a DUI on your record.