DUI and Car Insurance
Following an individual’s DUI conviction, insurance companies will increase the individual’s car insurance premiums by as much as two to three times the original insurance premium. There are no laws that regulate premium changes following a DUI charge; instead, these changes vary widely from company to company. It is in the individual’s best interest to comparison shop for new insurance when the individual’s policy expires, to make sure that one company is not drastically increasing an individual’s premium over another company.
Auto insurance companies may check an individual’s motor vehicle record only once every three years or when a policy has expired. In certain situations, it may be possible that the insurer does not discover that a DUI charge has been placed on the individual’s record. However, in California and in most other states, the Department of Motor Vehicles requires DUI offenders to submit a SR-22 form signed by their insurance company in order to receive a restricted license. This form proves to the California DMV that the individual carries liability insurance and also requires the insurance company to notify the DMV if the company chooses to cancels the individual’s auto insurance for any reason. If this is the case, the insurance company would be alerted to the individual’s DUI charge when the request for a SR-22 is made. In other cases, an insurance company may not offer an SR-22 policy and therefore, an individual’s insurance may be cancelled or may not be renewed because the company is unable to fulfill the DMV’s request.
Effective January 1, 2005, California law requires every insurer selling private automobile insurance policies to provide consumers with estimated insurance premium quotes. A list of the admitted automobile insurers is maintained by the California Department of Insurance Consumers' Overview section, or by calling (800) 927-4357.