Cheapest DUI Car Insurance

Getting a DUI makes it harder to find car insurance and can raise your rates significantly. In fact, NerdWallet’s 2022 analysis of third-party data found that a DUI increases auto insurance rates by 93% on average.

But while finding cheap DUI insurance may seem impossible, the trick is shopping around. For instance, out of the nation’s four largest insurers, NerdWallet found that Progressive is the cheapest on average for full coverage insurance if you’ve had a DUI. Policies with full coverage include comprehensive and collision insurance, which pays for damage to your own car from most causes.

» MORE: DWI vs DUI: understanding the difference

But averages aren’t always a good predictor of the price you’ll pay: Your rates are determined by individual factors like your age and location, and smaller regional insurers might offer better rates than more well-known companies. Getting cheap DUI insurance will take diligence, but comparing quotes can help.

DUI insurance from large companies

To find the lowest prices for drivers with a recent DUI, we looked at large companies that are available in many states and can serve the most consumers.

Here are average monthly rates from the nation’s four largest auto insurance companies for drivers with a recent DUI, ranked from cheapest to most expensive:

1. Progressive: $184.

2. State Farm: $205.

3. Geico: $245.

4. Allstate: $247.

Note that USAA has even cheaper average rates than Progressive, but wasn’t included in our analysis because it is available only to members of the military, veterans and their families.

» MORE: Allstate, Geico, Progressive or State Farm: Which one is best for you?

DUI insurance from smaller companies

But big companies aren’t your only options. Out of the insurers we have rates for, American National had the cheapest rates on average after a DUI, with drivers paying only $77 a month.

And in many areas, smaller statewide and regional insurers have the cheapest rates. For instance, Indiana Farmers has the second cheapest rates after a DUI in the nation, costing drivers $80 a month on average. However, the company sells policies in only Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.

Our analysis found that in 34 states and Washington, D.C., the lowest rates for a driver with a DUI come from an insurer that doesn’t make the list of the nation’s 10 largest auto insurance companies. So after a DUI, it’s vital to compare car insurance rates and find the cheapest company for you.

» MORE: Get the cheapest car insurance

The cheapest car insurance company in one area may not be the cheapest in another.

For instance, in NerdWallet’s analysis:

• Geico was the cheapest insurer for drivers with a DUI in Florida, Maryland, Oklahoma and Utah — but the most expensive option in North Carolina and North Dakota.

• Farm bureaus: North Carolina and Virginia drivers can find the cheapest insurance on average at their respective state’s farm bureaus, but Texas Farm Bureau was the costliest option in Texas.

• Travelers was the cheapest for drivers with a DUI in Delaware, but the most expensive in Massachusetts.

In a majority of states, the least expensive insurer for a driver with a clean record isn't the cheapest after a DUI. In North Carolina, for example, Geico was the cheapest for a driver with no violations but the most expensive company after a DUI, with prices more than five times as much as before.

Check the table below to see which companies have the lowest rates after a DUI where you live.

You’re unlikely to escape a rate hike for DUI insurance even with minimum required insurance coverage, which is typically a third of the price of full coverage. Average rates for both types go up 93% or more after a DUI.

While buying only the minimum required insurance coverage in your state is one way to keep rates low after a DUI, it’s not an option for everyone. Auto loans and leases typically require full coverage.

Additionally, minimum coverage insurance often has relatively low liability limits. If you cause a crash and don’t have enough insurance to pay for damage, you’ll have to pay out of pocket.

• Full coverage car insurance for a driver with one DUI costs about $262 a month, on average. That’s $126 more a month than a driver with no violations would pay.

• For a driver with one DUI, minimum coverage costs $95 a month, on average — $48 a month more than someone with a clean driving history would pay.

» MORE: How much liability insurance do I need?

After a DUI, your car insurance company considers you a high-risk driver, or more likely to file an insurance claim than most people, for several years. Your premium will almost certainly increase, and your carrier might even decide to drop you. Here’s what you can do:

• Start your car insurance search quickly. The threat that your policy might be canceled means you should start getting auto insurance quotes immediately after a DUI. This gives you time to compare rates.

• Disclose your DUI status when you shop around. An insurer might not be aware of your recent DUI if you compare quotes right away. To get the most accurate rate, you’ll need to share any recent traffic infractions, including DUIs.

• Use comparison tools. Factors such as where you live, your age and your credit score will affect your premium. NerdWallet’s car insurance comparison tool can help you weigh your options.

• Get multiple quotes. Companies vary greatly in how they price policies. The only way to find the cheapest rate is to get car insurance quotes from several competitors.

• Shop again three and five years later. Rates after a DUI tend to drop after these milestones, and other insurance companies might be cheaper than yours at those points.

• Avoid any other traffic violations. Although you have a DUI, it won’t affect your insurance rates forever. Avoid any other DUIs, accidents or speeding tickets to keep your car insurance bill down now and in the future.

• Consider nonowner car insurance. If you don’t own a car and occasionally drive someone else’s vehicle, you can get nonowner car insurance and still meet your state’s liability insurance requirements. Liability insurance pays for damage you cause to another person (or their car) in an at-fault accident.

If you’re still struggling to find insurance, you may need to get coverage from a specialty insurer (see below).

Many big insurance companies serve high-risk drivers, and some smaller companies cater specifically to this market. After a DUI, it’s a good idea to get rates from these nonstandard carriers as well as from the big ones, if possible.

If you can’t find a company willing to insure you because of your driving record, you can turn to your state’s “high-risk insurance pool.” These programs exist to provide coverage to people who have trouble buying auto insurance through normal channels. To start, find your state in the directory of the Automobile Insurance Plan Service Office.