Meet the Attorney
Ian Pancer focuses his practice on
DUI Defense to give his clients the
very best defense possible.
What to do after a DUI Charge
Ian Pancer focuses his practice on
DUI Defense to give his clients the
very best defense possible.
Impact of Drunk Driving on Your Insurance
Having a drunk driving conviction on your record has a negative impact in many areas of your life, not the least of which is your car insurance. Your current car insurance company may raise your rates astronomically or cancel you altogether if you have a DUI conviction. Contact DUI attorney Ian Pancer to help ensure the best possible solutions for your situation. In most cases a conviction of DUI will also come with suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, either with the criminal case, or on a separate administrative DMV case. The question of insurance premiums will once again be on the table when you have your driving privileges restored.
Current Insurance Company
There is little doubt that your current insurance company will in some way respond to the DUI conviction. If they decide to keep you on as a client, it is likely your insurance premiums will go up, sometimes double, sometimes more. If you have other strikes against you, it is a possibility that your insurance company will either cancel or decline to renew your policy entirely.
High-Risk Driver’s Insurance
Having insurance is required by state law, so what options do you have if your insurance company has dropped you? Besides driving illegally without insurance, you have the option of turning to a private insurance company that specializes in high-risk drivers. This type of company will issue a nonstandard policy to those in high-risk categories, such as a history of drunk driving, at-fault accidents, or otherwise considered too high risk for a traditional insurance company. It is fortunate that there are companies designed to help those in this type of situation, but you can expect that the policy premiums will be much higher than you are used to.
SR-22 Proof of Financial Responsibility
Because having a DUI conviction automatically puts you in the category of high-risk driver, California state law requires that you complete an SR-22 form issued by your insurance company to prove that you are insured. The law also requires the insurance company to inform the DMV if your insurance lapses or is otherwise canceled. In the case of losing your insurance, the DMV will immediately suspend your license once again. The SR-22 form is required for three years after reinstatement of your license due to a DUI suspension, but the original form will stay valid if you continue to pay the premiums and have no other problems with your license.
Conclusion
Having a DUI conviction and losing your license is a major inconvenience on its own. After getting your license reinstated, California state law requires an SR-22 to be kept on file at the DMV to ensure financial responsibility. Because having a DUI on your record puts you into a high-risk category, you may have to purchase private insurance especially created for high-risk drivers. Insurance premiums will likely be much higher, even double, what they were before the DUI conviction. In order to help manage your insurance situation, it is important to have a knowledgeable DUI attorney such as Ian Pancer on your side helping you to make the best choices in your situation.