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How much will my insurance go up if I get a DUI?

On Behalf of | Jun 23, 2021 | DUI |

If you are convicted of a DUI, you will face several possible consequences. These can include suspension of your license, an ignition interlock device, attending an alcohol education program and jail time. 

Yet there is one penalty you may not have considered: Your auto insurance bill can become astronomical.

A DUI in Kentucky could increase your vehicle insurance by almost 68%

When a court convicts you of a DUI, your auto insurer will take note and use the charge as grounds to increase your premium. A recent survey by ValuePenguin looked at how much the cost of insurance rises in different states. Kentucky had the seventh-largest increase in the country.

The survey found the average cost of insuring a car in Kentucky was $2,907. If you pick up a DUI charge that could rise to $4,874, which is an increase of $,1968. This equates to a rise of almost 68%. To put it another way, you would be paying just under five months extra insurance every year. If you pick up further DUIs or other driving offenses your policy would likely increase again. It will take several offense-free years for your policy to drop to previous levels.

Fighting a DUI charge can be cheaper than the consequences

There are many ways to defend a DUI charge, yet despite this, many people accept the charge without any effort to contest it. They think the chances of success are low, or that the time and money involved are not worth it. 

Once you understand the full consequences a DUI can have on your life and finances, you will see the value in mounting a defense. Remember that if you pick up one DUI conviction, it will make the consequences for any further ones within 10 years even more severe.