Car Insurance After a DUI: Costs and Coverage

Updated September 21, 2026

The information below is general educational content drawn from public industry sources. Specific rate impacts vary by state, by carrier, by individual driving history, and by the rate factors filed and approved with each state Department of Insurance. The ranges and patterns in this article are industry estimates, not GoAuto rating factors. For an accurate quote, contact GoAuto directly.

Car insurance is still available after a DUI, although it usually costs more and your state may require an SR-22 filing. A DUI does not make you uninsurable. It moves you into the nonstandard, high-risk category, which is a pricing tier that keeps coverage available at a higher premium.

A DUI is stressful enough without your insurance company piling on. You may be worried the rate will be impossible to afford, or that you will be dropped altogether. Those are fair worries, and understanding what actually happens to your insurance makes the next steps clearer.

Below is what a DUI does to your rate, how long it follows you, whether you will need an SR-22, and how the cost tends to move over time. You can also read our overview of the states we serve to see where GoAuto writes coverage.

Key Takeaways

A DUI moves you into the high-risk, nonstandard pricing tier, where coverage stays available at a higher premium rather than being cut off.
A DUI raises full-coverage car insurance by about 90 percent on average, to a median of about $4,469 a year, an increase of roughly $2,113, based on NerdWallet’s August 2026 analysis.
Full coverage carrying an SR-22 after a DUI averaged about $3,744 a year in NerdWallet’s January 2024 SR-22 analysis.
In most states a DUI affects your rates for about three to five years, though in California the conviction can stay on your driving record for about 10 years.
Many states require an SR-22 after a DUI, a filing that often runs about three years before a license is reinstated.
Carrying state-minimum liability, keeping coverage continuous, and re-shopping as the violation ages are the moves that bring the price back down.

Can You Still Get Car Insurance After a DUI?

Yes. A DUI moves you into the high-risk or nonstandard category, which is a pricing tier rather than a closed door.

Standard insurers may decline or non-renew you after a DUI, while nonstandard insurers specialize in higher-risk drivers and will still write a policy. The cost goes up because your risk profile changed, and coverage itself remains available. The goal after a DUI is straightforward: find a company that specializes in high-risk drivers, keep the coverage lean and legal, and get any required SR-22 filed so you can drive again. If you are shopping in a specific metro, our local pages, like car insurance after a DUI in Houston, show how coverage looks close to home.

DUI and DWI: What the Terms Mean

DUI and DWI both describe impaired driving, and which term your state uses affects the paperwork more than the insurance math.

DUI stands for driving under the influence, and DWI stands for driving while intoxicated or driving while impaired. Some states use only one of the terms, some use both to separate an alcohol charge from a drug charge, and some reserve the second term for a higher blood alcohol reading. Whatever the label, insurers treat the conviction as a serious violation and rate it as high risk. The distinction matters most for how your state handles the license and the required filing, so the exact charge on your citation is worth confirming with your state DMV.

Why a DUI Raises Your Rate So Much

Insurers price by risk, and a DUI is one of the strongest signals that a driver may file a future claim.

Car insurance pricing is built on probability. A DUI tells the insurer that the likelihood of another incident is higher than average, so the premium rises to match. That is also why the increase is temporary for many drivers: as the violation ages and you keep a clean record, the risk signal weakens and the surcharge usually fades. Understanding this helps you make smart choices, like keeping coverage continuous, that bring the price back down over time.

How Much Does Car Insurance Go Up After a DUI?

A DUI raises rates sharply. On average, full coverage roughly doubles.

NerdWallet’s August 2026 analysis of average car insurance costs found that a DUI increases full-coverage car insurance by about 90 percent on average, taking the median premium from $2,356 to about $4,469 a year, an increase of roughly $2,113. That is about $372 a month on our own conversion of the published annual figure. If your state also requires an SR-22, full coverage carrying that filing after a DUI averaged about $3,744 a year in NerdWallet’s January 2024 SR-22 analysis.

Situation	Average full-coverage cost	Source
After a DUI	About $4,469 / year (about 90% higher)	NerdWallet, August 2026
After a DUI, with an SR-22	About $3,744 / year	NerdWallet, January 2024

Those are full-coverage averages, and they are the high end of what you might see. One way drivers hold the actual bill lower is to carry state-minimum liability, the lowest coverage level the law allows, instead of full coverage where that fits the situation. Drivers comparing the leanest legal option often look at minimum-coverage car insurance in Georgia and the other states GoAuto writes about. Your own price depends on your state, your record, and your vehicle, all factors the Insurance Information Institute lists among what sets an auto premium, so the figure you are quoted will be specific to you.

How Long Does a DUI Affect Your Insurance?

In most states, a DUI affects your rates for about three to five years, sometimes longer.

The surcharge usually fades as the violation ages, so the high rate tends to ease over time. How long the conviction itself stays on your driving record is a separate question, and it can be much longer. In California, for example, the same NerdWallet analysis notes that a DUI can remain on a driving record for about 10 years. Because both timelines are set by your state, confirm exactly how long a DUI affects you with your state DMV.

The insurance clock and the record clock run separately. Most insurers apply a look-back period of about three to five years when they rate a policy, so a DUI weighs most heavily in the first year and counts for less each year after that. The conviction itself can sit on your motor vehicle record much longer, which is why your premium can start to improve well before the DUI clears your history.

Do You Need an SR-22 After a DUI?

Often yes. Many states require an SR-22 after a DUI before they will reinstate your license.

An SR-22 is a certificate your insurer files with the state to prove you carry at least the required minimum coverage. A DUI is one of the most common reasons a state asks for one, and in many states the requirement runs about three years. The exact triggers and duration are set by each state, so confirm your requirement with your state DMV. Once you have a policy, your insurer files the certificate on your behalf, and filing timelines vary by insurer and state.

Your insurer notifies the state that an active policy is in place, the state links that certificate to your license, and if the policy lapses the insurer must report it, which can restart the suspension. A few states use a different form called an FR-44 for certain alcohol-related convictions, and it requires liability limits above the ordinary state minimum. Florida is one example of a state that uses the FR-44 in some situations. Because the required form, the limits, and the filing period are all set at the state level, the surest way to learn what applies is to ask your state DMV.

What a DUI Affects Beyond Your Insurance

Insurance is one piece. A DUI usually reaches your license, your wallet, and your ability to drive legally at all.

Most states suspend or revoke a license after a DUI, and getting it back is its own process. Reinstatement can involve a waiting period, reinstatement fees, proof of insurance through an SR-22 or FR-44, and in some cases an ignition interlock device or an approved education program before the state restores full driving privileges. Court fines, reinstatement costs, and higher premiums stack up, so the full cost of a DUI runs well past insurance alone. Driving on a suspended license only deepens the trouble, so waiting until the state clears you is the safer path.

Steps to Lower Your Car Insurance After a DUI

You have more control over the price than it feels like in the first weeks after a DUI.

A handful of moves make a real difference. Shop nonstandard insurers that price high-risk drivers fairly, rather than standard carriers that surcharge heavily or decline you. Choose state-minimum liability if full coverage is straining the budget. Keep your coverage continuous, because a lapse can raise the price further and restart an SR-22 clock. Ask whether your state offers a discount for completing an approved driving or alcohol-education course. And as the violation ages, re-shop your rate, since the surcharge should ease over time.

A few longer-term habits help as well. Completing an approved defensive-driving or alcohol-education course can earn a discount in some states and may be required for reinstatement anyway. Raising your deductible lowers the premium if you carry full coverage and can cover the larger out-of-pocket cost after a claim. Comparing more than one nonstandard carrier also matters, because two insurers can price the same DUI very differently. If you are not sure how this applies to your situation, contact GoAuto to talk through your options.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does car insurance go up after a DUI?

On average, a DUI raises full-coverage rates by about 90 percent, to a median of about $4,469 a year, based on NerdWallet’s August 2026 analysis. With an SR-22 attached, full coverage after a DUI averaged about $3,744 a year in NerdWallet’s January 2024 SR-22 analysis. Your own price depends on your state, record, and vehicle, all factors the Insurance Information Institute lists among what sets your premium.

Can I still get car insurance after a DUI?

Yes. A DUI makes you a high-risk or nonstandard driver, and nonstandard insurers still write policies for those drivers. Coverage costs more, and it remains available, and choosing state-minimum liability keeps the price down.

How long does a DUI affect my insurance?

Usually about three to five years, sometimes longer, depending on your state. In California, a DUI conviction stays on your driving record for 10 years. The surcharge generally fades as the violation ages. Confirm the timeline for your state with your state DMV.

Do I need an SR-22 after a DUI?

In many states, yes. A DUI is a common trigger for an SR-22, which your insurer files with the state to prove you carry the required coverage. It usually lasts about three years. Filing timelines vary by insurer and state. Confirm your requirement with your state DMV.

What is the difference between a DUI and a DWI?

Both describe impaired driving. DUI means driving under the influence and DWI means driving while intoxicated or impaired. States vary in which term they use and how they define each one, and insurers treat both as serious high-risk violations. Confirm the specific charge with your state DMV or the court handling your case.

Does a DUI suspend my license?

In most states, yes, at least for a period. Getting the license back usually means completing a waiting period, paying reinstatement fees, filing an SR-22 or FR-44, and sometimes finishing an education program or installing an ignition interlock. Your state DMV lists the exact reinstatement steps for your situation.

Will my insurance be canceled after a DUI?

A standard insurer may non-renew you, and that does not leave you uninsurable. Nonstandard insurers write policies for high-risk drivers, so you can move to a policy suited to your situation rather than going without coverage.

Car Insurance After a DUI: What to Remember

A DUI raises your rate, and it does not have to keep you off the road or break your budget. Expect a higher premium, keep coverage continuous, carry state-minimum liability if that fits your situation, file any required SR-22 once your policy is active, and re-shop your rate as the violation ages. Those steps are what actually get and keep you legal while the surcharge eases over time.

About GoAuto

GoAuto Insurance writes auto coverage across its licensed states, and considers drivers with a range of records, including a DUI. GoAuto focuses on state-minimum liability coverage, the lowest coverage level the law allows, and can handle SR-22 filing once your policy is active. Down-payment and payment options vary by state and situation. Eligibility, coverage, filing timelines, and pricing depend on your state and your individual circumstances, so to see what applies to you, get a quote.

This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal or insurance advice. Coverage, pricing, eligibility, and SR-22 or state-minimum requirements vary by state and by driver. GoAuto Insurance is available in TX, LA, GA, FL, NV, OH, AL, and TN. Confirm requirements with your state DMV and get a quote for terms specific to you.