The Best Car Insurance Companies for Drivers with a DUI

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Written by Ray Prince Edited by Nick Versaw Reviewed by Amanda Clear

Updated December 20, 2022

Driving under the influence is a serious offense, especially when you consider that 32 people die in DUI-related crashes every 45 minutes in the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Multiple infractions can even result in jail time.

If you have recently been convicted of driving under the influence, or a DUI, you may be thinking about how this will affect the cost of auto insurance premiums. You probably want to know if you can even get a solid auto insurance policy. 

This guide will answer your questions about getting the best insurance with a DUI on your record. We’ll cover what to look for in a policy, what rate hikes to expect, and how you can save on your insurance costs over time. 

It’s best to compare quotes from multiple DUI insurance providers to find the best auto insurance rates. To get started, enter your ZIP code below:

What Should the Best Car Insurance for Drivers with a DUI Offer?

When looking for auto insurers that will cover you with a DUI on your driving record, it’s a good idea to understand which determinants will give you the best possible policy. We prioritized the following factors:

• Cost: With a single DUI conviction capable of doubling or tripling your monthly premium (depending on the offense), the cost of premiums is arguably the number one criterion for finding the best insurance for DUI.
• Status as a “non-standard” carrier: Non-standard auto insurance carriers offer policies favorable to vehicle owners with a spotty driving history and multiple claims or moving violations who do not qualify for standard coverage. Generally, non-standard policies see higher rates. And thanks to DUI drivers‘ elevated risk profile, you can expect restrictions on your car insurance policy, such as annual miles driven or eligible discounts.
• SR-22s or FR-44s: We looked for auto insurers that advertise SR-22s and FR-44s, certificates of financial responsibility that prove you meet your state’s minimum liability requirements. There is no “SR-22 insurance,” but rather, SR-22 and FR-44 forms certify different levels of coverage required via court order or your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles or DMV.
• Excellent customer service: We favored auto insurance companies with strong customer service track records. Bonus points went to non-standard auto insurance carriers with favorable ratings from leading insights companies and reputable third-party review websites like Clearsurance and Trustpilot.

What are the Best Insurance Companies for Drivers With DUIs?

After evaluating several of the best auto insurance companies for people with DUIs on their record, we narrowed down the options to consider:

1. The General

The General is a non-standard auto insurance provider specializing in high-risk drivers with DUIs and DWIs (driving while intoxicated) or multiple at-fault car accidents. It has a healthy number of discounts non-standard insured drivers can qualify for, such as multi-car, defensive driving, and autopay or paperless billing.

Although The General is not one of the top 10 auto insurance providers named by J.D. Power, its parent company, American Family, is. In the J.D. Power 2021 Insurance Shopping Satisfaction Study, American Family reached first place for midsize auto insurers across several key performance indicators, including policy offerings and pricing.

2. Safe Auto

Safe Auto in Columbus, Ohio, is a DUI car insurance provider offering non-standard insurance coverage for drivers needing to provide SR-22 forms. Like The General, it has various discounts, such as multi-vehicle, paid-in-full, and homeownership bundling designed to save you money. They also offer non-owner car insurance.

It is also highly reputable, achieving an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and 3.45/5 from Clearsurance.

As of this writing, Safe Auto operates in 16 states, awarding policies in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Georgia, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, Virginia, and Texas.

3. Direct Auto

Nashville, Tennessee-based Direct Auto is a third non-standard insurance carrier suitable for high-risk drivers. Like The General and Safe Auto, it offers SR-22 form filing for drivers to comply with state laws. Drivers also have the option to bundle auto and life insurance and save on each one.

Direct Auto earns high marks from their policyholders. Its website features 48,000+ reviews (average of 4.5 stars), with customers raving about everything from knowledgeable agents to a fair quoting process.

4. GEICO

GEICO offers standard and non-standard car insurance for high-risk drivers, filing SR-22 or FR-44 forms directly with the state on a policyholder’s behalf. Its low-rate policies combine with discounts (e.g., multi-policy and multi-vehicle discounts) for even greater savings. 

Outside of its non-standard insurance, we appreciate GEICO‘s strong customer satisfaction ratings, including top ten placement in J.D. Power’s 2021 U.S. Auto Insurance Study. Other notables include an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and strong Clearsurance scores (average 4.1 rating across 19K+ reviews as of October 2022).

5. Progressive

Like GEICO, Progressive offers highly competitive rates for DUI offenders. It also has strong customer satisfaction ratings in J.D. Power’s 2021 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, winning the top ten marks in all regions.

One of Progressive’s biggest draws is a robust accident forgiveness program through its Loyalty Rewards program, split into three parts — Small Accident Forgiveness, Large Accident Forgiveness, and Progressive Accident Forgiveness.

Small Accident Forgiveness keeps insurance rates intact if a total claim is valued at $500 or less with no tenure required. Large Accident Forgiveness keeps rates the same if you remain a customer for five years with an at-fault accident with a total claim equal to or greater than $500.

Lastly, Progressive Accident Forgiveness is an opt-in program (upon purchase or renewal of a new/existing policy) that awards one eligible accident forgiven for every policy period.

All in all, Progressive’s accident forgiveness programs are an excellent choice for high-risk drivers who cannot afford to have one more claim on their record after a DUI conviction.

How Long Does a DUI Stay On My Record?

The length of time a  DUI stays on your record depends on your state. Most states keep a DUI on record for a minimum of 10 years. Some states, like Tennessee, keep a DUI on a motorist’s record for life. 

Expect to pay higher rates for a maximum of five years before seeing it drop over time as long as you do not file new claims, see a new license suspension, or get cited for reckless driving–or another DUI offense.

How Can I Lower My DUI Insurance Rates?

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to lower your DUI insurance rates:

• Maintain a clean driving record: Your best bet in lowering DUI insurance rates and achieving a good driver discount is maintaining a clean driving record. Expect your car insurance premiums to drop steadily over time if you stay free of claims and moving violations three to five years after your last DUI conviction.
• Shop rates: Upon policy renewal or once your auto insurance company drops you from a policy, shop around and compare quotes from different providers. Gather at least five price quotes, disclose your DUI status, and answer every application question honestly.

• Rework your policy: Reduce your monthly rates by tweaking your policy to increase your deductible, consider if you really need full coverage or that higher liability coverage limit and eliminate miscellaneous coverages on your policy such as rental car reimbursement and roadside assistance if you don’t feel you need them.
• Take small actions: More minor actions for smaller discounts can be had by enrolling in a defensive driving course, signing up for autopay/paperless billing, and installing a telematics device in your vehicle to monitor safe driving behaviors.

Although it’s a good idea to carry $100,000 in bodily injury per person, $300,000 in bodily injury per accident, and $100,000 in property damage liability, you can opt for the state’s minimum liability requirements in an effort to lower your rates. You’ll also have to consider that you’ll have less available coverage at the time of an at-fault accident if you choose to do this.

Suppose you drive a vehicle worth less than $10,000. In that case, you may also be considering dropping comprehensive and collision coverage, as the cost of coverage may exceed the vehicle’s actual cash value in the event of a total loss.

Shop Around for the Best Car Insurance Rates

Don’t let a drunk driving conviction deter you from searching for an affordable auto insurance policy. If you have a DUI on your record with a new rate increase, it’s an excellent time to shop between different cheap car insurance providers. 

By using a comparison tool like the one at Compare.com, you’ll be able to see all of your car insurance quotes in one place. Compare all of your options by entering your ZIP code below:

Ray Prince Insurance Writer

Ray Prince is an auto insurance writer for Compare.com based in Miami. He specializes in writing long-form content and product descriptions for the automotive and auto insurance industries. His work appears on sites such as Freeway Insurance, Auto Guide, Turn5, Mercedes Benz U.S.A., and Pelican Parts, with past and current roles as a digital operations manager at Pandora Media and iHeartMedia.