Saturday, March 13, 2010

DWI Convictions and Insurance Rates - A Negative Relationship

We all know that when we are given a speeding ticket or get into a car accident our insurance rates will go up. A DWI or DUI conviction works in the same way except has a larger effect on the rates a person is charged. An individual that is convicted of a DWI or DUI can expect their pocketbook to take a hard hit from insurance rates, on top of the fines and penalties imposed by the state.

Before an individual that has been convicted of a DWI can get his or her license back, the driver is required to show an SR-22 form. This is not a type of insurance as much as proof that a driver has the various types of insurance required by the state. The SR-22 is filed by an insurance company and states that the driver in question has auto liability insurance and it is in effect. This procedure is frequently required when insurance is provided to an individual who was in an accident or was convicted of a traffic offense and was unable to show financial responsibility at the time of the offense.

The majority of auto insurance carriers will be able to provide an SR-22 form and may be able to insure your vehicle(s) as well. Unfortunately, the minute a person requests an SR-22 form, he or she is considered a high-risk driver by the insurance companies. Considering that this form is required after a traffic offense conviction, this might not be completely off the mark.

Once an individual is a high-risk driver, he or she can expect the insurance premiums paid to possibly double, maybe even triple. If a person had previous discounts for a safe driving record and no claims on their insurance, the increase in insurance premiums can be even worse.

An individual who has been convicted of a DWI or DUI (the term depends on the state) may find it quite beneficial to shop around for the best rates possible. There are a variety of insurance companies that specialize in providing high-risk policies. Another option is to insure one vehicle on a high-risk policy and put all other vehicles and drivers on a different policy.

It is important to remember that not all insurance companies will provide insurance after a DWI conviction and they will not provide the SR-22 form. When a driver is convicted of a DWI, if the insurance company does not provide SR-22 forms, there is a good chance that the company will cancel or not renew the convicted driver's current policy. A cancellation on a person's claims history will drive up the price of future premiums.

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