The state imposes numerous obligations on motorists for the protection of everyone in traffic. Drivers have to have licenses, which means they have to complete a driver’s education course and pass a state test. They have to register their vehicles and must provide proof of liability insurance to register the vehicle.
Liability insurance coverage helps protect people in the event of a crash. Most people do not have enough money in savings to pay out of pocket to repair another person’s vehicle or pay for their hospital bills. Insurance makes it reasonably affordable to drive without putting everyone at risk of financial hardship if a wreck occurs.
Certain choices can affect eligibility for liability insurance, as well as the price that a driver pays. A driving while intoxicated (DWI) conviction can have a major impact on insurance for motorists.
Premiums rise after a conviction
Insurance companies base their premiums on a variety of factors. They look at a driver’s record, including recent tickets or convictions for traffic-related crimes. Certain characteristics, including an individual’s age and sex, can influence how much they pay for insurance as well.
A DWI conviction is indicative of a driver representing more risk than the average motorist. As such, the price that they pay for coverage increases significantly. According to an analysis of average insurance costs, drivers can expect their policy premiums to increase by an average of 57% after a DWI conviction. Motorists pay an average of $1,319 for coverage without a conviction on their record. Drivers with a single DWI violation on their record pay an average of $2,068 annually.
Some drivers need new policies
The consequences of a DWI don’t end with increased average premium amounts. In some cases, drivers may become ineligible for the policies they carried prior to their convictions. Certain insurance companies don’t work with people who have DWIs on their records. Drivers may need to shop around to find a new policy in a higher-risk pool of drivers.
Particularly when a DWI offense is not the first major traffic violation on a motorist’s record, they may struggle to find coverage. Those with multiple prior DWIs may find it particularly difficult to secure coverage, and the premium amounts they have to pay could be prohibitively costly.
The best means of avoiding the secondary consequences of a DWI conviction is to respond to charges in court. Fighting DWI charges can help people protect their reputations and their finances. Motorists hoping to avoid rising insurance costs and other penalties may need help developing a defense strategy before they go to trial, and that’s okay.