Sunday, March 29, 2009

Can You Find Cheap Car Insurance After A DUI?

By John Anderson

If you are reading this article, chances are you or someone you know has gotten a DUI or DWI. Now, the question really is, can you afford keeping or finding car insurance? There are many options available to you, but you must be prepared to pay more than before the DUI or DWI.

Searching around online or by calling through your phone book can be trying at best. So, what do you need to look for when searching for car insurance? Just know ahead of time that many car insurance companies might not insure you depending upon your previous driving record.

After a conviction of a DUI or DWI, you will be grouped into a high risk driver category. This is normal, but the cheap car insurance premiums you might have enjoyed are gone. By being classified as a high risk driver, you can expect to pay at least probably 50 percent more than you used to.

People make mistakes during life. It is the lesson that you learn during that mistake that can help or hurt your future. Car insurance is very similar as a DUI or DWI will reflect directly to your insurance rates.

The car insurance premium that you pay after your DUI/DWI will be higher than what you expected. You will be able to eventually lower your premium with no other incidents, but your previous driving history is also a factor. If your previous driving record was great, you might not pay as much. If your previous driving record has claims, speeding tickets or more, your rates will be even higher.

When you have a DUI/DWI conviction, you need to be honest with your insurance company. If you have a claim after a DUI/DWI conviction and have failed to notify the insurance company, expect to be dropped. As soon as you have a conviction on your record, you really should call your agent and explain the situation and see what will happen to your rates and policy coverage.

If you have been dropped by your previous insurance carrier, you will need to be upfront and honest with any company you are checking with about coverage. Car insurance companies can check your driving record and will check with your previous insurer about claims history and records. If you are honest up front, you might be lucky and find a good car insurance company to deal with.

Sometimes your current car insurance company will still continue to insure you after a DUI/DWI conviction. Your rates will be higher, however. This is when you should go ahead and shop around and see if you can find the insurance cheaper elsewhere. Sometimes you can find great deals online and even have car insurance quotes delivered to your email account.

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