When arrested on suspicion of a DUI, you may wonder how the arrest affects your life and finances. Simply put, the consequences likely impact many aspects of your life, including your finances and driving privileges. Sooner or later, you can expect a call from your insurance provider inquiring about the incident. A DUI can affect your insurance coverage in several ways.
The following are three concerns you should address after a DUI arrest. Whether this is your first or third arrest, it is important that you consider the legal impact and implications of having a criminal record, too. Your insurance may change in the following ways:
1. Convictions matter
Getting arrested for a DUI is scary in and of itself, but a conviction is far worse. After the arrest and charging, you typically receive a court date, and the consequences escalate upon conviction. While an arrest may still show up on background checks and impact other parts of your life, it only remains on your driving record—and affects your insurance—if it results in a conviction.
2. You may need SR-22
In some cases, you may be ineligible for coverage from major insurers. This often happens if you have multiples DUIs or other driving violations on your record that make you a high-risk driver. SR-22 insurance policies are designed for such drivers, but they are typically far more expensive than regular coverage.
3. Premiums will rise
According to QuoteWizard, Texas is one of only eight states in which a DUI stays on your driving record for life. This means that insurance companies can quote you inflated premiums decades after a DUI. Needless to say, many people may consider this unfair. To avoid such a fate, you should consider all your options for building a defense and keeping a conviction off your record.
