Being charged for driving under the influence of tobacco or alcohol, also known as DUI, is a serious offence, and will bring severe consequences to your driving life. Fines, legal fees and suspension of driver’s licence are inevitable, but do you know that it will affect your automobile insurance coverage and premium rates too? Generally, after a DUI, you will need to pay substantially more your vehicle coverage for a considerable time period (usually more than 3 years).

Typically, following a DUI conviction, your license will probably be suspended for some time, or even permanently if the offence is very serious. If this happens, you will need to notify your insurance provider without ado. Some providers may request a temporary cancellation of your policy until your driving licence is reinstated. Even if you want to switch carries, without a valid license, you will not be eligible to apply for vehicle coverage. However, a provisional licence is acceptable to some agencies.

To reinstate your licence, the normal procedure for most states involves a SR-22, a document proving that you have purchased minimum liability automobile insurance according to the state mandate. The SR-22 is obtained from an insurance provider and can even be purchased for drivers who are not vehicle owners.

If you have a DUI on your record, you will be immediately disadvantaged, as DUI holders are considered high risk drivers. According to past records, DUI convicts will most probably be involved in drink driving again. Hence, accidents happen more easily and may be more serious. Insurers will have to pay more in compensation and to protect their financial interests; they will charge higher premium rates for those high risk individuals.

With DUI, it is difficult to find affordable insurance or even get a good auto insurance estimate online as you are termed risky after the insurers consider the insuring factors. Your good driving record is stained and you would no longer enjoy continual insurance coverage. Your previous policy may be terminated and the premium rates will shoot sky high. So, do not drive to drink so that you would not be involved in drink driving. Be wise and you will not need to face all the above consequences then.