The best cheap car insurance after a DUI

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If you’ve been convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI), it may be harder to get auto insurance and more expensive if you do.

You may also have to file a certificate of financial responsibility (called an SR-22 or FR-44) to reinstate your driving privileges.

We’ve chosen the best insurance companies for drivers with DUI convictions, based on rates, coverage and more. (See our methodology for details on how we made our selections.)

The best car insurance after a DUI

Best for affordability: State Farm

State Farm Auto Insurance

  • Cost

    The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote

  • App available

  • Policy highlights

    One of the largest auto insurers in the U.S., State Farm has an excellent reputation for customer satisfaction and offers over a dozen discounts, including for safe driving, bundling and good students.

Pros

  • High customer satisfaction
  • Largest car insurance company in the U.S.
  • Accident forgiveness

Cons

  • High volume of complaints
  • Doesn’t offer gap insurance
  • Premiums higher than average

Who’s this for? State Farm has some of the lowest premiums we’ve seen for drivers with DUI convictions. it also has affordable rates if you have at-fault accidents or speeding tickets on your record.

Standout benefits: State Farm’s Drive Safe and Save app can monitor your acceleration, braking and other driving habits. Not only will it encourage safe behavior behind the wheel, it could save you up to 30%.

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Best for availability: Progressive

Progressive Auto Insurance

  • Cost

    The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote.

  • App available

  • Policy highlights

    Progressive offers several lines of insurance to allow for bundling and convenient tools to help you keep your policy within your budget.

Pros

  • Available in all 50 states
  • Low rates for drivers with DUIs
  • Non-owner car insurance and SR-22 certificates available
  • Offers vanishing deductible as well as accident forgiveness

Cons

  • Below-average customer satisfaction ratings from J.D. Power
  • Above-average number of complaints
  • Snapshot safe-driving discount program could result in rates going up

Who’s this for? Progressive offers car insurance in all 50 states and you can get rate quotes or buy a policy in minutes on the highly-rated website or mobile app. The company’s rates after a DUI are significantly lower than the industry average.

Standout benefits: Progressive offers three tiers of accident forgiveness, covering smaller and bigger collisions.

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Best if you’ve been denied car insurance: Dairyland

Dairyland Auto Insurance

  • Cost

    The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote

  • App available

  • Policy highlights

    Founded in 1953, Dairyland offers auto insurance in 38 states and specializes in high-risk drivers. Offerings include non-owner car insurance policies, coverage for motorcycles and off-road vehicles and limited Mexico coverage on all California policies.

Pros

  • Insures high-risk drivers
  • Offers coverage for motorcycles and off-road vehicles
  • Limited Mexico coverage included with California policies
  • Lower volume of complaints

Cons

  • Not available in all 50 states
  • Higher-than-average rates
  • Limited number of discounts

Who’s this for? Dairyland specializes in non-standard insurance for drivers with DUIs and other violations or who have bad credit.

Standout benefits: Dairyland provides non-owner coverage and all California policies come with limited coverage for travel in Mexico.

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Best for non-owner insurance: Geico

Geico Auto Insurance

  • Cost

    The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote

  • App available

  • Policy highlights

    Geico auto coverage is available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. It offers 16 discounts and a variety of optional add-ons, such as emergency roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement and mechanical breakdown insurance.

Pros

  • Low average rates
  • Can buy and manage policies online
  • Available nationwide

Cons

  • No gap insurance or rideshare insurance
  • Fewer branches for in-person services
  • Pay-per-mile car insurance not available

Who’s this for? If you don’t own a car but drive frequently, Geico issues non-owner insurance, which provides liability insurance, as well as UM/UIM, PIP and MedPay coverage. It’s also less expensive than a standard policy.

Standout benefits: Geico has more than a dozen discounts, including for good driving, bundling and taking a defensive driving course. If you insure more than one car with Geico, you can save up to 25%.

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Best for military members or veterans: USAA

USAA Auto Insurance

  • Cost

    The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote

  • App available

  • Policy highlights

    USAA auto insurance is available to service members, veterans and their families in all 50 states and Washington D.C.. In addition to low rates, USAA offers discounts if you are deployed or store your vehicle on base.

Pros

  • Cheapest insurer for liability-only coverage
  • Stellar customer satisfaction scores
  • Track record of financial strength
  • Available in all 50 states

Cons

  • Limited to military families and veterans
  • No brick-and-mortar offices 
  • Customer service is not available 24/7
  • Safe-driver discount not available in every state

Who’s this for? Active military, veterans and their families enjoy low rates and widespread availability with USAA.

Standout benefits: If you’re deployed and not using your car, you could get up to 60% off your premiums. If you store your car on base, you could save up to 15% on comprehensive coverage.

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More on our top car insurance companies after a DUI 

Progressive

State Farm

The largest auto insurer in the U.S., Bloomington, Indiana-based State Farm had close to $58 billion in direct premiums in 2023. It’s routinely among the highest-ranking insurers on J.D. Power customer surveys, although it has a slightly higher-than-average volume of complaints and received a C- from the Better Business Bureau.

Nationwide availability: Available in all U.S. states except Massachusetts and Rhode Island

J.D. Power claims satisfaction rating: Above average

NAIC complaint index: Slightly greater than expected

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Dairyland

In business since the early 1950s, Dairyland specializes in nonstandard insurance for motorists unable to get insured elsewhere because of a poor driving record, bad credit or lapse in coverage. Policies are underwritten by Sentry Insurance Group.

States where available: Available in all U.S. states except Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Rhode Island

J.D. Power claims satisfaction rating: Not rated

NAIC complaint index: Greater than expected

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Geico

Formerly the Government Employees Insurance Company, Geico is the third-largest auto insurance company in the U.S., with nearly $40 billion in premiums. Founded in 1936, it became a subsidiary of Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway in 1996.

Nationwide availability: Available in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia

J.D. Power claims satisfaction rating: Below average

NAIC complaint index: Fewer than expected

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USAA

Membership in USAA is limited to active-duty service members, veterans, the National Guard and Reserves, ROTC cadets and family members. While J.D. Power gave USAA high scores for both customer satisfaction and the claims experience, it has a higher-than-expected volume of complaints.

Nationwide availability: Available in all U.S. states except Massachusetts and Rhode Island

J.D. Power claims satisfaction rating: Above average

NAIC complaint index: Greater than expected

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How much is car insurance with a DUI?

insurance companies will classify you as a high-risk driver after a DUI, but the amount your rates will go up depends on the provider, where you live and whether its your first violation or a repeat offense.

According to an analysis of Quadrant Information data by Bankrate, a DUI conviction raises premiums by an average of $190 a month. In some states, however, the increase can be hundreds of dollars.

Depending on where you live, your insurance company may also have to file an SR-22 certificate of insurance to prove you have the minimum coverage required by law. There is typically a fee involved, usually about $25.

What is SR-22 insurance?

SR-22 insurance is somewhat of a misnomer: It’s not actually insurance, but a form your insurer files with the state confirming you have the required minimum coverage. (It may also be referred to as a “certificate of financial responsibility” or, in Florida and Virginia, a FR-44.)

An SR-22 form is typically required to reinstate your driving privileges after a DUI or other serious infraction.

All the companies we selected file SR-22 forms, but not every insurer does. Be sure to check before buying a policy if you’ve been notified that you need one.

How to save on car insurance after a DUI

5 ways to lower your rates

Be a safe driver

The mark on your record won’t last forever but additional DUIs or other violations will raise your rates even more. Plus, many insurance companies reward safe driving: New State Farm customers can save as much as 25% for remaining free of at-fault accidents and violations for three years.

Explore discounts

Beyond a good driver discount, insurance companies often lower rates for homeowners, customers who switch insurers, insure multiple cars and many other categories.

When shopping for quotes, ask what discounts are available in your state and if they can be combined.

Bundle your insurance

One of the biggest ways to shrink your insurance bill is to buy car and home insurance from the same provider. Known as bundling, it can save you more than 20%.

Improve your credit score

In most states, insurance companies are allowed to consider your credit history when determining your rates. Raising your credit-based insurance score is a lot like raising your FICO score — pay credit card bills on time, keep your ratio of outstanding debt to available credit low and check your report for errors.

Shop around for car insurance

Dings on your driving record are considered differently by different insurers. If your current provider has raised your rates too high, getting quotes from three of four insurers will let you see if you can find a competitive alternative.

If you’re denied insurance after a DUI

Not all car insurance companies will accept drivers with a DUI conviction, especially more than one.

High-risk insurers

If you’re turned down by several companies, you can try insurers that specialize in non-standard coverage for high-risk drivers, like Dairyland, Kemper and The General.

State-assigned car insurance

If you can’t get coverage through the voluntary market, you may need to turn to your state’s assigned risk pool. Insurers licensed in your state are required to provide coverage through these programs, regardless of an applicant’s driving history.

Rates are significantly higher, however, and you may be limited to liability coverage.

FAQs

How much does car insurance go up after a DUI conviction?

A DUI or DWI conviction raises premiums by an average of $190 a month, according to Bankrate. In some states, however, the increase can be hundred of dollars more — especially if it’s not your first violation.

How long does a DUI stay on your driving record?

Depending on your state, a DUI can stay on your record for as little as three to five years or for as long as 15.

What’s the difference between a DUI and a DWI?

Many states use DUI (“driving under the influence”) and DWI (“driving while intoxicated”) interchangeably to refer to someone operating a vehicle while drunk or otherwise impaired. Some states classify them as separate offenses: In Texas, for example, a DUI is a Class C misdemeanor that applies to minors, while a DWI is a more serious Class B misdemeanor for adults.

Why trust CNBC Select?

Our methodology

To find the best insurance companies for drivers after a DUI, CNBC Select looked at dozens of insurers offering coverage to those with this on their driving record.

When selecting and ranking these companies, we focused on the average premium data from Bankrate, since the cost of insurance after a DUI is often higher than for the average driver. Quoted premiums were based on a 40-year-old with an otherwise clean driving record and a 2022 Toyota Camry, commuting five days a week for a total of 12,000 miles, and including the following coverage:

  • $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $50,000 property damage liability per accident
  • $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
  • $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
  • $500 collision deductible
  • $500 comprehensive deductible

We also reviewed customer satisfaction ratings from J.D. Power, the Better Business Bureau and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, as well as financial strength ratings from A.M. Best. We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.

After reviewing these factors, we sorted recommendations by the best for affordability, availability, for drivers who have been denied coverage, for non-owner insurance and for military members and veterans.

Premiums and policy structures cited for car insurance companies may change in accordance with company policies.

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Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.





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