How can I Get Cheap Auto Insurance in Florida with a Past DUI?

Everyone makes mistakes. Yours are well documented, in the form of a past arrest for driving under the influence (DUI). Now, it's tough to get auto insurance in Florida. It's even more difficult for that auto insurance to be affordable! After a DUI, car insurance rates typically go up more than 75% according to data. That can mean hundreds of dollars more out of your pocket each year.

If you’ve been caught drinking and driving, you may think finding cheap auto insurance is impossible. While it is more difficult, it isn't unrealistic to find. This is good news for drivers like you! The next move is to do a bit of comparison shopping. Getting cheap car insurance with a DUI on your record will take diligence, but comparing quotes can help you find the best insurance options for you.

Shopping around is the trick to finding affordable insurance after a DUI. You’re almost certain to pay higher prices for auto insurance after a DUI, but the amount of the increase isn’t always easy to predict. Car insurance rates depend on many factors, including your driving history, what type of coverage you have and which insurance company you choose. In the state of Florida, the average annual rate for full coverage with clean driving history is $2,532. The average rate for full coverage with one DUI gets bumped up to $3,681. That is a difference of $1,329, or just over an extra $100 a month. This is one of the states on the higher end of the spectrum, but far from the highest. In Michigan, your annual rates go up $3,476!

It's important to note that the car insurance company that was cheapest for you before your DUI may not be the cheapest one for you afterward. That is why it's best to shop around for auto insurance in Florida at this time of your life. In a majority of states, the least expensive insurer for a driver with a clean record is no longer cheapest after a DUI. And this is true sometimes by a wide margin. In one state, for example, a certain large nationwide insurance company was the cheapest for a driver with no violations but most expensive after a DUI, with prices more than six times as much as before! Clearly, it is time for you to start getting some online quotes.

You know that your DUI was a mistake and it will never happen again, but auto insurers will consider you “high risk” for several years. You’ll have to endure higher car insurance rates after a DUI because they see you as more likely to file an insurance claim than most people. Your premium will almost certainly increase. These higher rates will last for at least three to five years in most cases, and possibly longer. During that time, you will not be able to earn a good driver discount.