{"id":314,"date":"2022-12-23T13:36:09","date_gmt":"2022-12-23T18:36:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/totalautomotive.ca\/?p=314"},"modified":"2022-12-23T13:36:11","modified_gmt":"2022-12-23T18:36:11","slug":"how-a-dui-charge-can-affect-your-car-insurance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/totalautomotive.ca\/insurance\/how-a-dui-charge-can-affect-your-car-insurance\/","title":{"rendered":"How a DUI Charge Can Affect Your Car Insurance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Did you know that impaired driving causes more than 1.35 million deaths<\/a> around the world each year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the extreme end, driving while under the influence can cost you your life or the life of someone else – but it can also cost you when it comes to your car insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the ways a DUI charge can affect your car insurance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is a DUI?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

DUI stands for \u201cdriving under the influence\u201d and refers to any form of impaired driving in which the driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In some provinces, this can even include prescribed or over-the-counter medications that impair your ability to drive safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And even though cannabis is now legal in Canada, it is still considered a substance that can impair driving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppose you are caught driving under the influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In that case, you will face a conviction in court and additional consequences depending on your age, license type, the amount of alcohol\/drugs in your system, and how many convictions you have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One guaranteed penalty you will face is an increase or cancellation of your insurance policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s look at how a DUI charge can affect your car insurance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Insurance Provider Will Likely Cancel Your Policy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once your insurer finds out that you have a DUI on your record, they have the right to cancel your policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some will allow you to keep your coverage, but they will significantly raise your rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, most insurance companies will decline to provide you with coverage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DUI convictions don\u2019t stay on your record forever (the length depends on where you live), so you can obtain car insurance at some point in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019ll Be Difficult to Find New Insurance Coverage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Not many insurance companies are willing to take on a high-risk driver with a DUI on their record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, you may be able to find a provider that specializes in insuring high-risk drivers – just expect to pay extremely higher rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Insurance Premiums Will Increase Significantly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you are convicted of a DUI, your insurance premiums will increase, whether or not you stay with the same provider or look for a new one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And it doesn\u2019t matter if your DUI resulted in an accident or not – the insurance company will raise your rates because you are high risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overall, you can expect your insurance to cost at least 3 to 5 times more than the average cost of car insurance<\/a> following a DUI conviction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Insurance Premiums May Go Down in the Future<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is possible that your insurance company may lower your premiums in the future if you maintain a clean driving record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Insurance companies base their premiums on risk. The longer you drive without any issues (no tickets<\/a>, no accidents, no claims, etc.), your risk decreases, and so can your rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, with a DUI on your record, this could take several years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You Can Lower Your Rates In the Meantime<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are ways you can lower your insurance rates following a DUI, although you will probably not return to your previous rates for a few years:<\/p>\n\n\n\n