Orange County DUI and Car Insurance

after a DUI in Orange County

Car insurance carriers use potential risk to calculate their rates.  A driver’s risk of getting into an accident, having his or her car stolen, or colliding with an uninsured driver are some of the factors that will affect insurance rates.  For example, living in an area with higher crime rates will cost more for insurance than a lower crime area. Unfortunately, among all the other negative consequences of a Orange County DUI conviction, a drunk driving conviction usually causes an insurance carrier to raise a driver’s rates substantially, or cancel the policy altogether.  A conviction for a DUI tells the insurance carrier that the driver has already engaged in risky behavior.

Drivers arrested on suspicion of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) / Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) may wonder whether they should immediately report the arrest to their insurance company.  However, there is no obligation to report an arrest.  Because individuals are innocent until proven guilty, there is no need to contact an insurance company unless convicted of drunk driving.  An experienced California DUI / DWI attorney can aggressively defend a driver in a criminal case and give advice on how to communicate with an insurance company.

Many large national insurance companies will cancel a DUI driver’s policy immediately upon learning about a conviction.  Anyone facing a drunk driving charge or who has already been convicted of DUI can contact DUIAutoInsurance.com for a free, no-obligation quote.
In addition to facing the possibility have having insurance canceled or rates raised, another issue facing convicted DUI / DWI drivers is the need to file an SR-22 form, or formal certificate of insurance, in the wake of a drunk driving conviction or a DMV administrative per se license suspension.  Because SR-22s are only required of DUI drivers, requesting one from an insurance company is like waving a red flag to announce a drunk driving arrest.  It’s critical to consult with a California lawyer who focuses on drunk driving criminal defense to learn the best way to approach the filing of an SR-22 form and other insurance issues in the wake of DUI / DWI arrest.