DUI Insurance

When a person is convicted for drinking and driving, otherwise known as DUI or DWI, he or she will need sr22 insurance.  A person that has been convicted of this type of traffic violation is considered to be a high risk driver.  Insurance companies do raise the rates on coverage when this occurs.  Most people will still need insurance, as they will have to travel back and forth to work.  A Judge can grant a work license to a person that has lost his or her license and that person will only be allowed to drive to and from work.  If a person is caught driving for any other reason, the work license will be revoked, which could be another traffic violation and will cause rates to go up again.

Along with DUI/DWI insurance, there will be a requirement to file an SR22 form, as well. Most insurance companies offer this service with policies.  The insured will tell the agency that he or she is required to file an SR22 form and the insurance company files the form with the DMV, which verifies that this individual is insured to legally drive an automobile.  All insurance companies use what is called a risk calculator to determine what rates will be, and they go by how many points a person has lost on his or her license, due to traffic violations and/or convictions of DUI or DWI.

There are some companies that will cancel a person’s policy when they have been convicted for DUI, so if this does happen, there is not any need for stress.  It might be difficult to find an agency to acquire DUI/DWI insurance, but it is possible.  If it is a huge struggle, or companies keep turning a person down, that person can contact the state insurance commissioner.  Insurance is mandatory and it is also mandatory for an insurance agency to offer this service.  It is a good idea to find the best sr22 insurance quote.  Obtain three or four quotes from three or four different companies.

When a person looks for DUI/DWI insurance and mentions an SR22, the insurance company will assume this is for a drinking and driving conviction, as this is usually the case when someone is required to file an SR22 form.  The rates will be a lot higher than they were before, for people seeking new insurance or ones that already have insurance.  There is no way around that.  There are discounts for some things, though, so it is worth asking an agent about.

Also, most insurance companies will include a section in the paperwork, when someone firsts acquires insurance, that will state that a company can terminate a customer/policy at any time, for any reason.  It has been said by some that an insurance company is not allowed to cancel a policy until the renewal period, but this is not true if it has been written and has been mailed to the insured.  Generally, people do not read all the paperwork they receive, but it is a good idea to read it all.  One never knows what the future might hold.  A person could have insurance for several years and then have a traffic incident which requires them to file an SR22 and have DUI/DWI insurance.  If a person knows what the paperwork said, he or she will know what to expect from the insurance company at that time.  It certainly does not hurt to read everything, for other reasons, at any rate.