Driving while intoxicated (DWI) charges are something you should report to your insurer if you are convicted. If you are actually still permitted to drive after you’ve been sentenced, your insurer may charge you more for the privilege.
While it is reasonable that an insurer would consider anyone who has been convicted of drunk driving to be at higher risk for being involved in an accident, the reasonability of the situation won’t make its financial implications any easier for you.
How much extra will you have to pay?
According to one report, the average premium rises 74% in New York when someone gets a DUI conviction. That’s a big difference in costs.
Can you negotiate a cheaper rate?
Maybe your insurer will allow this after some time has passed, or maybe you can shop around for a cheaper policy, but this effort is unlikely to reduce your bill much. Your premiums will be higher for several years and they will rise further still if you are convicted of impaired driving again.
Is there anything you can do to avoid a rate hike?
Some would claim that the obvious answer is not to drink and drive. Yet they overlook the fact that many people are wrongly convicted each year. Hence the best answer is to seek legal help in the event that you are charged with driving while intoxicated. There are many ways to overturn a DWI charge, and only by exploring them all can you give yourself the best chance of finding one that works.
If you are convicted of DWI charges, the increased insurance premiums you’ll face might be the least of your concerns. As a result, if you’ve been charged with a DWI, the time to start building a strong defense is now.
