How Will Getting a DUI Impact My Auto Insurance Rate in Auburn, AL?
The consequences of a DUI conviction in Auburn, Alabama can range from license suspension to fine and jail time – even if it is your first offense. Apart from this, a DUI conviction can have an adverse impact on your auto insurance rates as well.
Why Does Your Auto Insurance Rates Increase after a DUI Conviction?
Generally, auto insurance providers in Auburn, AL determine the premium for a policy after doing a risk analysis on the policyholder. They take a wide range of factors into consideration – your age, gender, occupation, location, make and model of your vehicle, driving record, and many more – to determine the following things:
- How likely is it that you might file a claim against the insurance company?
- How likely is it that you might get sued by a third-party?
Based on the analysis, the company will determine how big of a risk you are. If you fall into the low-risk category, you will be charged the lowest possible rate. On the other hand, if you fall into the high-risk category, you will be charged a significantly higher rate.
This is because auto insurance companies in Auburn will try to maximize their profits by limiting the number of claims they pay out. The fewer the claims, the more money they stand to make.
When you get convicted for DUI in Auburn, AL, what it shows is that you have failed in your duty as a motorist to drive in a safe and responsible manner. When you drink and drive, you are more likely to be involved in an accident, in which you could damage your vehicle, damage someone else’s vehicle, injure yourself, and injure others as well.
What it means is that when you drink and drive, you are more likely to file a claim against the insurance company and you are more likely to get sued by third parties as well. As a result, you will be categorized as a high-risk individual by the insurance company.
Impact of a DUI Conviction on Your Auto Insurance Rates
In Auburn, AL, the premium of an auto insurance policy can increase by as much as 92% after a DUI conviction. Data shows that the average cost of an auto insurance policy is $1,623 per year. On the other hand, the average cost of auto insurance for people who are convicted of DUI is $3,121. In other words, if you are convicted of DUI, you might have to pay nearly twice as much for the same policy.
Not every DUI conviction – as you can imagine – has the same kind of impact on auto insurance cost. Your insurance provider will increase your premium based on the following factors.
- Whether it is your first offense or whether you are a repeat offender
- Your blood alcohol count at the time of the accident
- Whether the accident resulted in serious injuries or property damage
- The amount of compensation the insurance company had to pay you (first-party claim) and the victim of the accident (third-party claim)
After a DUI conviction in Auburn, you can expect to pay more for your auto insurance for a period of three years or even longer. Most insurance providers are wary of reducing the cost of auto insurance for policyholders convicted of DUI, because data shows that such people are likely to engage in risky behavior again.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that over 30% of all DUI arrests in the country involve repeat offenders. With that said, your insurance provider will consider revising the cost of your policy only if you maintain a clean driving record for a period of three to five years after the DUI conviction. Any mistake on your part – even a parking violation or a speeding ticket – can affect your chances of getting back to the low-risk category.
How an Auburn, AL DUI Attorney Can Help You
Depending on the circumstances under which you were arrested, a proven DUI attorney in Auburn might be able to defend you by employing one or more of the following strategies.
- Lack of probable cause for traffic stop and arrest
- Violation of your constitutional rights
- Procedural errors by the arresting officer and the prosecution
- Unreliability of field sobriety tests and toxicology tests
Choose the Right Auburn, AL DUI Lawyers to Defend You
At Alsobrook Law Group, we know the consequences of a DUI conviction better than anyone else. If you are facing charges of DUI, we can represent you, devise the right strategy to defend you, fight hard to get the charges against you dropped or dismissed, or negotiate with the prosecution to get the most favorable legal solution possible.
Led by experienced Auburn, AL DUI lawyer Zach Alsobrook, our legal team is well-equipped to handle your DUI case. To discuss your DUI charges with us, call us today at 334-737-3718 or contact us online and schedule a free consultation.
