If you’ve been arrested for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), you’re likely concerned about more than just the legal consequences—you may be wondering how it’s going to affect your car insurance. And unfortunately, the answer isn’t great: a DWI can have a dramatic impact on your insurance premiums, your ability to get coverage, and even your eligibility to drive at all.
Let’s break down what you can expect from your car insurance company after a DWI arrest or conviction, how rates are typically affected, and why it’s so important to have the right legal support from the beginning.
Once a DWI shows up on your driving record, your insurer is going to take notice. Whether you’re convicted or plead guilty to a lesser offense like a DWAI (Driving While Ability Impaired), your insurance company willFIT likely view you as a high-risk driver. As a result, your rates will go up, sometimes drastically.
In some cases, your insurer may even decide to cancel your policy altogether. Others may choose not to renew when your term is up. And if you’re shopping for a new policy, you may find yourself with fewer options and significantly higher premiums.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here because rates vary by provider, state, your driving history, and other personal factors. But to give you an idea, many drivers see their premiums double or even triple after a DWI conviction. In New York, for example, you could be paying $2,000 to $5,000 more per year, depending on your age, insurance provider, and whether this was your first offense.
Some key factors that will influence your rate increase include:
Depending on your state and the severity of the offense, you may be required to file an SR-22 or FR-44 form before your license can be reinstated. These are not insurance policies themselves, but they are a certificate of financial responsibility proving that you have the minimum amount of insurance coverage required by law.
In New York, SR-22 filings are not required, but your insurer will still notify the DMV if you’re convicted of a DWI. However, if you move to another state, you may have to file one there before being allowed to drive again.
A DWI will generally stay on your driving record for several years, depending on your state’s laws. In New York, a DWI conviction remains on your record for 10 years, and insurance companies can consider it for as long as it affects your risk profile, often three to five years.
During this time, you’ll pay much higher premiums and may have to work with insurers that specialize in covering high-risk drivers. After that period, you may gradually see your rates drop if you maintain a clean driving record.
Yes, you can still get insurance, but it will be more expensive and harder to find. Some drivers turn to non-standard or high-risk insurance providers, which specifically cater to drivers with DWI convictions or other serious offenses.
These policies typically come with:
Still, having some insurance is better than none at all, especially because driving without insurance in New York is illegal and comes with its own steep penalties.
While there’s no magic fix, here are some things you can do to gradually improve your insurance situation:
The best way to protect your driving record—and by extension, your insurance rates—is to fight your DWI charge from the beginning. The legal system can be complicated, and the consequences of a conviction can follow you for years.
An experienced DWI attorney can help you:
Even if you think the evidence against you is strong, there may be defenses available that you don’t know about. And even a minor reduction in charges can mean significant savings when it comes to your insurance.
A DWI can have a serious impact on your life, especially your finances. Insurance rates can skyrocket, and finding a provider willing to cover you can become a major challenge. But with the right legal help, you may be able to reduce the consequences or even avoid a conviction altogether.
If you’ve been charged with a DWI in Long Island, don’t wait. I’m Ed Palermo, and I’ve spent over 30 years helping people just like you fight DWI charges and protect their future. Call today for a free consultation, and let’s get to work on your defense.