Compare Best Car Insurance Companies That Accept DUI [2023]
Progressive, State Farm, and Esurance are the most affordable car insurance companies that accept a DUI. USAA is also a great option if you or an immediate family member is a retired or active-duty veteran. Most major car insurance companies won't refuse to renew your policy after a DUI, but they will increase your rates. These increased rates typically last from three to five years. Owning a safe vehicle and completing a defensive driving course can make your personal and company vehicle insurance with a DUI less costly.
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Joel Ohman
Founder & CFP®
Joel Ohman is the CEO of a private equity backed digital media company. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, author, angel investor, and serial entrepreneur who loves creating new things, whether books or businesses. He has also previously served as the founder and resident CFP® of a national insurance agency, Real Time Health Quotes. He has an MBA from the University of South Florida. Jo...
Founder & CFP®
UPDATED: Jun 17, 2023
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Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Jun 17, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- Progressive, State Farm, Esurance, and USAA are the most affordable car insurance companies that accept a DUI
- Car insurance companies may refuse to renew your policy after you get a DUI, but more often, they’ll greatly increase your rates instead
- The amount of time a DUI will stay on your driving record varies from state to state, but expect to wait at least 3 – 5 years before your rates go back down
- You’re not always required to disclose a DUI to your insurance provider but are obligated to inform them if an agent requests that information from you directly
There’s no getting around the fact that having a DUI on your record will drive up your car insurance rates. That said, just how much more you could end up paying varies greatly from one provider to the next.
With this guide, we’ll help you compare car insurance companies, so you can find the most affordable car insurance companies that accept a DUI on your driving record.
We’ll also take a look at some other common questions about buying car insurance after a DUI, including how long a DUI affects your rates and when you need to inform your insurance provider about a DUI charge.
After you’ve gotten a handle on how to buy insurance after a DUI, try using our free quote tool to compare car insurance quotes from companies that accept a DUI.
What car insurance companies accept a DUI?
While your rates could be many times higher than those of someone of a similar background with a clean driving record, most major car insurance companies will insure you with a DUI.
That said, there are cases where car insurance companies don’t accept a DUI, and this is even more likely if you have multiple DUIs or other risk factors on your record.
If you find yourself in a situation where you’re unable to obtain car insurance from a large provider like Geico or State Farm, the Insurance Information Institute recommends taking one of two immediate options:
- Join a state assigned risk pool
- Look for an insurance company for “high risk” drivers
State assigned risk pools are expensive and provide minimal coverage, but they are guaranteed to insure you regardless of your driving history. Contact a local insurance agent for more information on your state’s risk pool or equivalent program.
Likewise, insurance companies for “high risk” drivers are generally more costly than mainstream options. However, if you need more comprehensive coverage than risk pools can provide, this may be your only option in the short term.
What are the most affordable car insurance companies that accept a DUI?
Depending on where you live, the most affordable car insurance option for drivers with DUIs may be a local insurance provider. Be sure to look into local insurance businesses alongside national options.
With the above in mind, we consider the four companies listed below to be the best options for most drivers with DUIs living in the United States:
- Progressive
- State Farm
- Esurance
- USAA
Progressive is an affordable option for drivers with a DUI for two main reasons. First, this insurer only raises rates by about 13% on average for drivers with a single DUI. Second, Progressive’s rates are on the lower end to begin with. If you’re looking at car insurance price alone, Progressive is the best option for many drivers with a DUI.
State Farm can be even less expensive than Progressive if you bundle home and auto policies as they offer a discount for customers who do so. State Farm’s DUI rate increase is also modest compared to most other car insurance providers. Additionally, many customers appreciate the option to meet agents in person which State Farm provides.
Esurance, which is owned by Allstate, is one of the less expensive options for those with DUIs because it is based primarily online. Although their DUI rate increase is greater than Progressive or State Farm’s by percentage, their low baseline rates make it so they’re still worth considering.
Although this last provider isn’t available to everyone, USAA is one of the most affordable car insurance companies that accept a DUI if you or an immediate family member has served in the military.
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How long does a DUI affect my insurance?
Exactly how long a DUI can affect your insurance depends on the state you live in. For example, a DUI in Arizona is removed from your driving record after five years, while in Florida a DUI remains on your record for a full seventy-five years.
Other states will never remove a DUI from your driving record, but that doesn’t mean insurance companies will always charge you increased rates. In general, insurers will look at the past 3 – 5 years, and if you haven’t had a DUI in that time, you may not see a rate increase.
Keep in mind that even though a DUI may be removed from your driving record (and thereby stop affecting your car insurance rates), it could remain on your criminal record.
How does company vehicle insurance with a DUI work?
As with personal car insurance, your commercial car insurance rates could go up after a DUI. Since insuring a company vehicle is often more expensive than purchasing personal insurance in the first place, this could mean a considerable increase in your transportation expenses.
If you drive a vehicle for business purposes and you have a DUI on your record, consider purchasing a safer vehicle and/or taking a state-approved defensive driving course to reduce your car insurance costs.
Is not telling my insurance provider about DUI an option?
This is a question with an answer that tends to change depending on the exact circumstances of a particular DUI. In general, if you get into an accident and have to make a claim, expect a claims adjuster to ask you about the accident. In this situation, always be honest about the DUI.
On the other hand, if you’re pulled over while under the influence and are charged with a non-accident DUI, your insurance provider may not be notified depending on the state.
If you lived in Utah, for example, your insurer would need to request a copy of your driving record in order to find out about a DUI that wasn’t related to an accident. Depending on how far off your policy renewal date is, your insurer may not increase your rates based on your DUI for a number of months.
Of course, this shouldn’t be viewed as a foolproof DUI insurance trick since your state may require you to contact your insurance provider about any DUI charge—and it’s always possible that an insurer will demand additional payment for any months where you had a DUI on your record but neglected to notify them about it.
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What to do Before You Buy Car Insurance from Companies that Accept a DUI
Let’s recap: Before you decide where to buy car insurance from if you have a DUI, see what local options are available to you. For many drivers, Progressive, State Farm, and Esurance will be the most affordable car insurance around. If you or an immediate family member is a retired or active-duty veteran, USAA is also a great choice.
If you have multiple DUIs and are unable to purchase insurance from any of the companies listed above, decide if a state assigned risk pool or a “high risk” driver insurance policy is better for you.
And regardless of how your driving record looks right now, it probably wouldn’t hurt to purchase a safe vehicle and take a defensive driving course to lower your rates for both personal and commercial insurance.
To help you start your search for insurance companies that people with DUIs can afford, use our free quote tool to compare car insurance quotes from companies that accept a DUI.
Frequently Asked Questions
What car insurance companies accept a DUI?
Most major car insurance companies accept drivers with a DUI, although rates may increase. Some companies specialize in providing coverage for high-risk drivers.
What are the most affordable car insurance companies that accept a DUI?
Progressive, State Farm, Esurance, and USAA (for military members) are considered affordable options for drivers with a DUI.
How long does a DUI affect my insurance?
The duration varies by state. Insurers typically look at the past 3 to 5 years of your driving history, and if you haven’t had a DUI in that time, rates may not increase.
How does company vehicle insurance with a DUI work?
Company vehicle insurance rates can increase after a DUI. Choosing a safer vehicle and completing a defensive driving course can help lower costs.
Is not telling my insurance provider about a DUI an option?
It is generally not advisable to withhold information about a DUI. Consult your state’s requirements and insurance provider for specific guidelines.
Free Car Insurance Comparison
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.
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Joel Ohman
Founder & CFP®
Joel Ohman is the CEO of a private equity backed digital media company. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, author, angel investor, and serial entrepreneur who loves creating new things, whether books or businesses. He has also previously served as the founder and resident CFP® of a national insurance agency, Real Time Health Quotes. He has an MBA from the University of South Florida. Jo...
Founder & CFP®
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.