How much does car insurance go up after DUI in California?
Your insurer may cancel your policy after your driver's license is suspended or revoked due to a DUI. But if they renew your policy, you can expect to pay premiums up to 185% more than the cost of your original policy.
You're looking at three to five years in most states. In some states, a DUI will fall off after just three years like any other traffic violation. In California, it will stay on your driving record for 10 years.
Cheapest DUI Insurance by Company
USAA, Progressive and American Family offer car insurance policies for less than $3,000 a year, on average, for drivers with a recent DUI. It's wise to get and compare car insurance quotes from multiple companies because rates vary significantly among insurers.
The cheapest and best DUI insurance companies in California are Mercury, GEICO, and Esurance, based on their low average rates (see above chart).
In most cases, the driver's insurance company is responsible for paying the claim of an accident victim, even if the driver was intoxicated or drugged at the time of the crash. However, you must prove the drunk driver caused the DUI accident before you can recover any compensation for your damages.
In California, expect your rates to increase by 185% per year after a DUI. Additionally, your license will be suspended, during which time you'll be given limited driving privileges. You'll also be required to install an ignition interlock system on your vehicle.
The Average Cost of Coverage After a California DUI
The average cost for the state-required minimum liability in California is $619 per year. Those with a first-time DUI will be looking at anywhere from $2,000 to $7,000 per year.
The best car insurance in California for drivers with a DUI is from Grange, Wawanesa, and Mercury. Getting a DUI in California will raise insurance premiums by an average of $1,053 per year, but drivers can minimize the cost of post-DUI car insurance by comparing quotes from the cheapest companies.
The average estimated full-coverage rate for Florida drivers with a DUI is $4,160 per year. State Farm offers the cheapest full coverage for drivers in the state with a DUI at an average cost of $1,939 per year.
Drivers with a history of accidents, speeding tickets or other traffic violations typically pay the highest rates.
Will progressive drop me after a DUI?
Progressive offers insurance after a DUI if that person holds a valid license and is legally able to drive.
In most cases, yes. State law requires licensing agencies to give weight to all evidence of rehabilitation and mitigation offered by you, and to make an individualized determination of the applicant's worthiness to be licensed by the agency. A DUI will not automatically cause disqualification.
In California, it is generally accepted that insurance follows the car. However, there are exceptions to this rule; thus, if you plan on temporarily transferring your vehicle or borrowing one from a family member or friend, reviewing your respective policies in advance is highly recommended.
Due to the lack of intent, insurance companies should payout when a drunk driving accident occurs. There are, however, some instances where the insurance company will try to deny all liability and not pay for any damages. You will then need a lawyer to help negotiate a settlement on your behalf.
Auto insurers do cover drunk driving accidents. However, the drunk driver's auto policy might not be enough to cover everything you lost. Having an aggressive and experienced drunk driving accident attorney can help you recover fair and just compensation from any party that contributed to your injuries.
Kemper auto insurance is one of the most popular insurance providers for high-risk drivers. If you have a DUI, require an SR-22, or have a period of no coverage and have found it difficult to find affordable insurance rates, you may want to check out Kemper insurance.
The average cost of full-coverage car insurance in California is $193 per month or $2,313 per year. It's about 15.2% more expensive than the national average of $2,008, according to our research, and the cost of California car insurance went up by 10.7% from 2022 to 2023 based on our rate data.
Zero tolerance laws aim to combat the genuine dangers of underage drinking. Zero tolerance laws make it a criminal DUI offense for drivers under 21 to operate a vehicle with even a small amount of alcohol in their system.
Auto Insurance Coverage in California
If you just moved to California and need auto insurance coverage, or you've been here for a while and are looking for cheap car insurance that doesn't cut corners, you'll be glad you got a quote with GEICO.
| Insurance Company | Avg. Annual Rate — After DUI |
|---|---|
| Mercury | $2,369 |
| Infinity | $2,756 |
| GEICO | $3,230 |
| Alliance | $4,312 |
Is Mercury Insurance still in California?
Mercury Insurance believes every homeowner in California deserves solid protection. That's why we offer a range of options for homeowners insurance. Mercury has local agents available all across the Golden State, so we can guarantee that we'll find the right policies with your best interests in mind.
Most insurance companies look back a minimum of three years on your record to determine your risk level, but some will look up to ten years back, especially for serious violations such as a DWI.
The vehicle with the most DUIs in 2022 was the Acura NSX. Pickup trucks such as the Dodge Ram 2500, Chevrolet S-10, and Ford Ranger, along with some luxury sedans like the BMW 7-Series and Audi A4, have been identified as having the highest rates of DUI citations.
Here are the minimum liability insurance requirements (per California Insurance Code §11580.1b): $15,000 for injury/death to one person. $30,000 for injury/death to more than one person. $5,000 for damage to property.
Full coverage car insurance costs an average of $2,663 per year in California. The average cost for state minimum coverage is $647 per year. Nationally, full coverage costs $2,314, and minimum coverage costs $644 on average per year, so California is an expensive place to buy insurance.
