What Happens to Your Car Insurance After You Are Convicted of a DWI?
Depending on the severity of the defendant’s case and the various facts involved, a defendant’s car insurance rate will probably increase after a DWI conviction. The premiums could increase as much as 100 percent or more. This is also dependent on whether or not the defendant has other driving-related offenses.
Some defendants’ insurer may drop them from their coverage or they will have difficulty finding and obtaining coverage. If a defendant is dropped from his current car insurance and needs to find a new carrier, prospective insurance companies will see the DWI conviction on his record.
If a defendant’s car insurance is cancelled or raised substantially in response to his DWI conviction, the defendant might be able to get coverage from an insurer that specializes in covering high-risk drivers. The defendant may also get coverage from the high-risk division of a larger insurance company. This kind of coverage is called a nonstandard policy and usually has relatively high premiums.
