Beyond the stated costs like fines or jail time, a DUI conviction can continue to affect you well beyond your conviction date. Like any traffic infraction, a DUI conviction carries the risk of ramping up your insurance costs. But just how badly will it ding your insurance, really?
The truth is, a DUI can really jack up your insurance premiums over the subsequent 5 years – to as much as 3 times what you used to pay! Insurance companies take a DUI conviction extremely seriously, so much so that you may even find your policy pulled entirely, or not renewed once the policy’s expiration date comes to pass.
The state of Florida has also put in place special minimum requirements for insurance liability limits for individuals convicted of DUI. Currently, DUI drivers need to have insurance coverage of $100,000 per person in bodily liability insurance, $300,000 per occurrence and $50,000 for property damage. These requirements are TEN TIMES more than insurance coverage requirements for drivers who have no DUI on record. Chances are your insurance company will have already raised your premiums for your current liability limits – requesting increased limits may result in even more exorbitant cost.
If your insurance company chooses to drop your coverage after your conviction, or if you think you may be able to find cheaper insurance with another company, you may start soliciting other insurance carriers to give you a policy. However, being dropped by a previous carrier is a big red flag for insurance companies, and paints you as a significant risk. Odds are, you won’t be offered better premiums by another company.
You may think, well if I don’t report my DUI conviction to my insurance carrier then they won’t raise my premiums. Unfortunately, the DMV automatically suspends your driver’s license in the event of a DUI charge. In order to have your license reinstated, you need to request an FR-44 form from your insurance provider. In requesting this form, you de facto notify your provider of your DUI, which will automatically trigger your provider to reevaluate your policy.
You may then think, well fine, if my insurance provider is going to drop me then I won’t bother seeking out new coverage. In the state of Florida, if your insurance policy lapses then the DMV will automatically suspend your driver’s license until coverage is reinstated. Get caught driving with a suspended license, and you may face more fines, even higher insurance premiums and even jail time. Any attorney would strongly advise you against taking such a risky course of action.
In sum, a DUI conviction can wreak serious havoc on your car insurance. If you’re facing DUI charges, you will want to do everything in your power to resist a conviction. A Florida DUI attorney is the first place to start in setting up a strong defense.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.