The Effects of a DUI on Your Insurance

   Driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious, yet common offense in the state of Florida. A DUI conviction can be humiliating and expensive for the person involved. Some of the short-term consequences include fines, attorney fees, and license suspension. The long-term consequences are often the most expensive due to the effects on auto insurance rates and coverage.

 How Auto Insurance Companies Discover DUI Arrests

   If you are convicted of a DUI, your auto insurance company will likely discover the event. The first method auto insurance companies use to uncover a DUI is annual driving record checks. The second method auto insurance companies use to find a DUI occurs when reinstating your license. Some states require you to file form SR-22 (Proof of Auto Insurance Certificate) in order to reinstate your license. The SR-22 has to be filled out by the auto insurance company, thus informing them of the DUI. Not all auto insurance companies will file a SR-22 on your behalf so you might have to consider changing auto insurance companies after incurring a DUI. Often times, the auto insurance companies that accept SR-22 forms will specialize in “high-risk” driving auto insurance. While your auto insurance rates may increase, filing with a smaller company usually makes the switch less expensive then attempting to file an SR-22 with a major insurance firm, such as State Farm. How auto insurance companies deal with your specific case is dependent on your individual driving record and past delinquencies, but there are two basic outcomes for the majority of people.

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