| If there is anything that could drive your car insurance | | | | (Source: Progressive) |
| cost sky-high it's a drunk-driving (DUI) conviction. | | | | Some car insurance companies don't even offer |
| According to the Insurance Information Institute, there is | | | | SR-22 policies, so you may be nonrenewed or |
| an alcohol-related traffic fatality in the United States | | | | cancelled because your company can no longer |
| every 29 minutes. Aside from the risk of killing yourself | | | | provide what you need. |
| and others, drunk driving carries with it serious penalties | | | | Insurers can miss DUI convictions |
| from your car insurance company. | | | | It's possible that your insurance company will never find |
| Car insurance companies may check your motor | | | | out about your DUI conviction if you don't have to get |
| vehicle record only once every three years or when | | | | an SR-22. A June 2002 study by the Insurance |
| you're applying for a new policy. It's possible that | | | | Research Council revealed that as many as |
| accidents, tickets and DUIs may never make their way | | | | one-quarter of driving convictions never end up on |
| to your official motor vehicle record. However, if your | | | | motor vehicle records due to lack of shared |
| insurer does discover your DUI and classifies you as a | | | | information between courts and motor vehicle |
| "high-risk driver," shopping around at renewal time is the | | | | departments, or because a conviction has been |
| best strategy, as car insurance rates will vary greatly | | | | erased through alternative means, such as driving |
| among insurers. On the other hand, a rate hike may be | | | | school. If you get your charge reduced in a plea |
| the least of your problems; your policy could be | | | | bargain, or have a limited license suspension, such as |
| cancelled or nonrenewed, especially if you are | | | | 30 days, it's also very unlikely your insurer will find out |
| currently in a preferred car insurance rate class. Then | | | | about your conviction. |
| you'll be forced to look for new car insurance with the | | | | If your insurance company misses the conviction at the |
| double-whammy of a DUI and a cancellation on your | | | | time it happens, it may still have a few years to raise |
| record. | | | | car insurance rates if the DUI is discovered later. |
| Laws regarding DUIs and car insurance coverage vary | | | | Your ultimate destiny rests with your car insurance |
| by state. Most states require DUI offenders to get a | | | | company. |
| form called an SR-22 from their auto insurers, so you | | | | For example, one insurance company's action depends |
| can't hide. This form proves to the DMV that you | | | | on which subsidiary you're with. The insurer reviews |
| carry liability insurance and removes your license | | | | rate-increase decisions on a case-by-case basis. If you |
| suspension. An SR-22 also requires your insurance | | | | have a preferred policy with your insurance company |
| company to notify the DMV if it cancels your auto | | | | and receive a DUI, they may move you into another |
| insurance for any reason. You'll likely have to file proof | | | | policy, which could be its standard-policy for riskier |
| of insurance for three - sometimes five - years with | | | | drivers and higher car insurance rates. |
| your state's DMV. | | | | If you're with Progressive, you will not face nonrenewal |
| SR-22 laws | | | | or cancellation because of a DUI, but you may face a |
| Delaware, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Mexico, | | | | rate increase. Progressive also reviews car insurance |
| Oklahoma and Pennsylvania don't require SR-22s, but | | | | rates on a case-by-case basis, with multiple factors |
| if you have an SR-22 and then move to one of these | | | | such as age, gender, driving history and your vehicle |
| states, you must continue to meet the requirements of | | | | model going into your rate. |
| the SR-22 state where the offense was committed. | | | | It doesn't end there. Your DUI conviction will follow you |
| New York and North Carolina don't require SR-22 | | | | if you apply for life insurance and could affect your |
| filings at all. In some states there is a fee for SR-22s. | | | | premiums there, too. |