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Los Angeles DUI Car Insurance Lawyers

DUI and Car Insurance

If you have been charged with a DUI in California, you likely have many questions as to what happens next. While there are many issues that will need to be dealt with, such as hiring a Los Angeles drunk driving defense attorney, there are also certain aspects to consider in relation to your car insurance.

Notifying Your Insurance Company After a DUI

Depending on the circumstances, you may have to report your DUI to your insurance company. If you have to obtain SR-22 coverage, you will have to report the offense. SR-22 coverage gives the DMV confirmation that you meet the minimum requirements set by the state for insurance liability coverage. After your driver’s license has been revoked or suspended (likely due to losing the DMV hearing or getting convicted in court of DUI), in order to have your driving privileges reinstated, the DMV will require that you obtain SR-22 coverage. In order to be given such coverage, you will have to get it from your insurance company, who then forwards it to the DMV. As a result, it is likely your insurance will be adversely affected as you will be labeled a “high risk” driver.

If you do not have to obtain SR-22 coverage, you are not required to immediately notify your insurance company of a DUI. However, there are a few ways your insurance provider may learn about your DUI. Typically, your DMV record will only be checked if your policy is up for a renewal or if you are applying for new coverage. However, if your record is checked by your insurance company, they will be able to see if you have been convicted of DUI during the last 10 years. In addition, any failure to appear (FTA) that is connected to a conviction of DUI will also appear on your record for 10 years, meaning even if your insurance provider somehow did not see the DUI, it is likely they will catch the FTA, subsequently resulting in them learning about your DUI.

Car Insurance Premium Increases Related to a California DUI

In California, insurance companies are prohibited from taking any action against your policy in the middle of your term, meaning if your DUI occurs during that time, the insurance company is not allowed to cancel your policy or immediately raise your premiums. Your insurance provider is only able to make any changes to your policy when you are first applying for coverage or at the time of renewal. However, if your criminal charges are pending and you are applying for coverage during that time, it is likely an insurance company will not issue a policy to you.

If you are convicted for drunk driving in Los Angeles, it is likely your premiums will increase significantly when you are up for renewal. There are other factors an insurance company will consider, however, before deciding to increase your premiums or cancel your policy. These include age, gender, driving history, and more.

While it is difficult to determine how much your premiums will actually increase, as many factors need to be considered, you can expect your premiums to increased by up to 30 percent. Additionally, if you have to obtain SR-22 coverage, you will be considered a "high-risk" driver and will have to pay additional costs while you maintain SR-22 status.

Quality, Effective Legal Representation

It is important to remember that a DUI conviction stays on your driving record for 10 years, which means you will more than likely spend many years paying high insurance costs. These reasons, as well as taking other DUI-related fines and penalties you will face into consideration, make it all the more important you have the legal guidance of a skilled Los Angeles drunk driving lawyer. Our LA DUI defense attorneys at Takakjian & Sitkoff, are former DUI prosecutors, providing us with a unique advantage of California drunk driving cases. For many years, we have aggressively defended clients who been accused of drunk driving. To learn how we can help defend your legal rights, call 888-579-4844 today.

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