Car Insurance After a DUI: How Much It Costs and How Long It Lasts

A DUI is the most expensive mark you can put on a driving record. You can still get insured, though, and the cost does come down with time.

Key takeaways

• A DUI raised full coverage rates 88%, or $183 a month, in ValuePenguin’s June 2026 sample [1].
• North Carolina sets the increase by law: a DUI conviction carries 12 insurance points and a 340% surcharge [3].
• Expect higher rates for about three to five years. The DUI can stay on your record longer: 10 years in California, 15 in New York [1][8][12].
• Florida requires 100/300/50 liability limits for at least three years after a DUI [5].

How much does car insurance go up after a DUI?

A lot, but the number depends on your state and insurer. ValuePenguin found full coverage averaged $391 a month after one DUI, 88% more than a clean record, in its June 2026 analysis [1].

The risk behind that price is real. NHTSA counted 11,904 deaths in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in 2024, about one every 44 minutes [10].

Most of the cost is that surcharge on your auto insurance. The SR-22 or FR-44 filing fee is typically $15 to $50, according to ValuePenguin [1].

Comparison sites don’t agree on the size of the jump (checked October 2026):

Treat both as samples, not quotes. Both use Quadrant Information Services rate data, but for different drivers and policies: a 30-year-old with 50/100/50 limits in ValuePenguin’s case, a 40-year-old with 100/300/100 limits in MoneyGeek’s [1][2].

Your state and insurer change the answer

ValuePenguin’s state averages ranged from a 50% increase in Washington to 303% in North Carolina [1]. California (181%), Michigan (158%) and Georgia (130%) were also near the top. Florida (68%), Texas (62%) and New York (74%) were lower [1].

The insurer matters just as much. Across the 14 companies in ValuePenguin’s sample, the increase after one DUI ran from 29% to 144% [1]. The same DUI can add far more at one company than another.

When the state sets the surcharge: North Carolina

North Carolina is one of the few states that publishes fixed numbers. Under its Safe Driver Incentive Plan, driving while impaired, or with a blood-alcohol level of .08 or more, is a 12-point conviction with a 340% rate increase [3]. For comparison, a reckless driving conviction is 4 points and 90% [3], as our guide to how tickets raise insurance shows.

The rules got stricter in 2025. For 4-point-plus convictions on or after July 1, 2025, other than speeding, North Carolina uses a five-year look-back and applies the surcharge for five policy years. Earlier convictions get three [3].

A worked example: one DUI over five years

This is an illustration, not a quote. It applies North Carolina’s 340% [3] to the NAIC’s 2024 national average auto insurance expenditure of $1,431.63 [4].

• Surcharge per year: $1,431.63 x 3.40 = $4,867.54.
• New yearly premium: $1,431.63 + $4,867.54 = $6,299.17.
• Over five policy years: $4,867.54 x 5 = $24,337.71 in extra premium.

ValuePenguin’s national average is gentler but still adds up: $183 a month is $2,196 a year, or $6,588 over three years [1]. Either way, that’s far more than the fine. In New York, a first DWI carries a $500 to $1,000 fine [13].

How long does a DUI affect your insurance?

Usually three to five years for your rate, and longer for your record. There are three different clocks, and they rarely match.

1. Your insurer’s surcharge. In ValuePenguin’s Pennsylvania sample, a DUI driver paid about $100 a month extra for the first two years. The gap fell to $24 by year three and $6 by year five [1].
2. Your state’s rating rules. North Carolina applies a DUI surcharge for five policy years, for convictions on or after July 1, 2025 [3].
3. Your driving record. California keeps DUI convictions on your record for 10 years [8]. New York shows a DWI for 15 years and a DWAI for 10, from the conviction date [12].

State examples (checked October 2026):

A conviction can stay on your record long after it stops changing your rate. ValuePenguin says the same thing: a DUI likely won’t affect your rate for as long as it stays on your record [1].

Will your insurer drop you after a DUI?

It might. The Insurance Information Institute says a drunk driving incident is likely to trigger a nonrenewal from “virtually every insurance company” [15].

Mid-term cancellation is a separate question. In Texas, an insurer can cancel at any time if your driver’s license is suspended or revoked, with 10 days’ notice [14]. A DUI often brings exactly that. In New York, a first DWI means a license revocation of at least six months [13].

Nonrenewal comes with more warning. Texas insurers must give 60 days’ notice for policies bought or renewed in 2024 or later, and must tell you why if you ask [14].

If you’re turned down everywhere, ask about your state’s backstop plan. In Texas, you can get basic coverage from the Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association (TAIPA) after two insurers turn you down [14]. TAIPA doesn’t sell collision or comprehensive coverage, and it costs more than regular insurers [14].

Important: Don’t let your coverage lapse while you shop. A gap can trigger a new suspension if you’re under an SR-22 order [11].

Do you need an SR-22 or FR-44 after a DUI?

Often, yes. An SR-22 is a certificate your insurer files to show you carry liability coverage. It’s not a separate kind of insurance [11]. Oregon lists a DUII conviction among the triggers [11], and California requires an SR 22 to reinstate your license after a DUI conviction [8][9].

How long you keep it depends on your state. California’s DMV tells first-time DUI offenders to maintain the SR 22 for three years [9].

Florida and Virginia use a stricter form, the FR-44:

• Florida. After a DUI, you must carry $100,000 per person and $300,000 per crash for injuries, plus $50,000 for property damage, for at least three years [5]. That applies whether or not the court formally adjudicated guilt [5].
• Virginia. FR-44 limits are double the SR-22 limits in Va. Code § 46.2-472 [6]. That section sets 50/100/25 for policies effective on or after Jan. 1, 2025 [7], so doubling it gives 100/200/50.

Don’t own a car? Our guide to non-owner SR-22 insurance covers operator policies, state filing periods and what happens if a filing lapses.

How to get car insurance after a DUI

1. Tell your current insurer early. Not telling your insurer won’t stop your rates from going up, and it may drop you entirely, according to ValuePenguin [1].
2. Read your DMV or court notice. It sets the form (SR-22 or FR-44), the start date and the length.
3. Get at least three quotes. The same DUI raised rates 29% at one insurer and 144% at another in ValuePenguin’s sample [1].
4. Check the filing. Confirm the insurer filed your SR-22 or FR-44 and the state received it.
5. Use your state’s plan as a last resort. In Texas, that’s TAIPA after two rejections [14].

An independent insurance agent can run several of those quotes at once, which saves the most time when standard insurers are saying no.

How to lower your insurance after a DUI

You can’t erase the conviction, but you can control how long it costs you.

• Stay clean. ValuePenguin’s Pennsylvania sample shows two DUIs cost $363 a month and three cost $454, vs. $292 for one [1].
• Shop again as the surcharge ages. The big drop in ValuePenguin’s sample came at year three [1]. In Texas, an insurer must offer you a cheaper policy after three years without tickets or accidents on TAIPA [14].
• Rethink your deductible, not your liability limits. Try the trade-offs in our deductible calculator. Your liability limits are what protect you if you cause a crash, so check the liability limits calculator before you cut anything.
• Know what you’re giving up. Dropping collision on an older car is one lever. Our liability vs. full coverage guide walks through when that makes sense.

Pro tip: Set a reminder for the month your surcharge is due to drop or your SR-22 ends. Our policy renewal checklist covers what to compare at each renewal.

Find a local agent who works with DUI drivers

Many insurers won’t renew a driver after a DUI, and some won’t file SR-22s or FR-44s [1][15]. A local independent agent knows which ones do in your state.

Browse agencies on our auto insurance hub or find insurance agents near you. Bring your DMV notice, your conviction date and your current declarations page.

Frequently asked questions

Does a dismissed DUI affect insurance?

It can, even without a conviction. California suspends your license after a DUI arrest under a separate administrative process, independent of the criminal case [9]. A restricted license during that suspension requires an SR 22 [9]. Florida’s FR-44 rule applies after a guilty or no-contest plea, even without a formal adjudication of guilt [5]. Rate surcharges are another matter: North Carolina’s plan is built on convictions [3].

Can insurance deny a claim for a DUI accident?

Your liability coverage generally still pays the people you hurt. ValuePenguin says your insurer will pay for damage or injuries you cause, up to your limits, even if you were driving under the influence [1]. Policy terms vary, so read your exclusions. A DUI crash will raise your rate more than a DUI alone [1]. See insurance after an accident.

What is DUI insurance called?

There’s no product called DUI insurance. Drivers with a DUI buy regular auto insurance, sometimes from a high-risk insurer [1], plus an SR-22 or FR-44 filing if their state requires it [11]. The SR-22 is a certificate of insurance, not a policy [11]. Compare the types of coverage you’ll need before you shop.

Is there a trick to keep a DUI off your insurance?

No. Insurers usually check your driving record at renewal, and the DMV can notify them of a DUI or a license suspension [1]. Hiding it won’t stop your rate from going up and can get your policy dropped [1]. The legitimate “trick” is shopping widely, since increases varied from 29% to 144% by insurer in one sample [1].

Is a DWI the same as a DUI for insurance?

They’re closely related, and both are serious for insurance. States use different names. New York separates DWI from the lesser DWAI: a first DWI means at least a six-month revocation, a first DWAI-alcohol a 90-day suspension [13]. North Carolina calls it driving while impaired, a 12-point conviction [3].

The bottom line

Car insurance after a DUI usually costs a lot more, roughly 36% to 88% in two 2026 samples and 340% under North Carolina’s rules. The surcharge usually lasts three to five years, often with an SR-22 or FR-44 attached. Shop widely, keep coverage continuous and re-shop as the conviction ages.

» MORE: Browse all insurance guides

Sources

1. ValuePenguin, “How Does a DUI Affect Your Auto Insurance Rates in 2026?” (Lindsay Bishop, updated June 30, 2026; Quadrant Information Services data, 30-year-old male, 2018 Honda Civic, good credit, 50/100/50 full coverage; time-decay, multi-DUI and age rows use Pennsylvania-only quotes). Publisher is a comparison business owned by LendingTree. Live page returned 403; read via Internet Archive snapshot of Sept. 3, 2026. web.archive.org
2. MoneyGeek, “Cheapest Car Insurance After a DUI” (Mark Fitzpatrick, updated May 20, 2026; Quadrant Information Services data, 40-year-old male, 2012 Toyota Camry, 100/300/100, $1,000 deductible). Publisher is a comparison business. moneygeek.com
3. North Carolina Department of Insurance, “Safe Driver Incentive Plan.” ncdoi.gov
4. NAIC, “NAIC Releases 2024 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement” (Oct. 1, 2026). content.naic.org
5. Fla. Stat. § 324.023, Financial responsibility for bodily injury or death. leg.state.fl.us
6. Virginia DMV, “Financial Responsibility Certifications.” Live site unreachable (DNS failure); read via Internet Archive snapshot of Oct. 9, 2026. web.archive.org
7. Va. Code § 46.2-472, Coverage of owner’s policy. Live site unreachable; read via Internet Archive snapshot of Mar. 31, 2026. web.archive.org
8. California DMV, California Driver Handbook, “Section 9: Alcohol and Drugs.” dmv.ca.gov
9. California DMV, “DUI First Offenders: Alcohol Involved, Non-Injury, 21 and Older” (flyer, undated). dmv.ca.gov
10. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Drunk Driving.” Live page returned 403; read via Internet Archive snapshot of Oct. 12, 2026. web.archive.org
11. Oregon Department of Transportation, Driver & Motor Vehicle Services, “SR-22 Information.” oregon.gov
12. New York State DMV, “Get My Own Driving Record (Abstract).” dmv.ny.gov
13. New York State DMV, “Penalties for Alcohol or Drug-Related Violations.” dmv.ny.gov
14. Texas Department of Insurance, “Auto insurance guide” (last updated Dec. 11, 2025). tdi.texas.gov
15. Insurance Information Institute, “Do auto insurance premiums go up after a claim?” iii.org