Buying Auto Insurance After a Drunk Driving Charge

Buying auto insurance after you’ve been charged with a DUI can seem like a daunting task. Many auto insurance companies will not cover because you’ve now become a greater risk and if you do find an auto insurance company that will cover you, they’ll charge higher premiums. Many first-time drunk driving offenders think that this kind of system isn’t fair, however if you currently have auto insurance, which in most states it’s illegal if you don’t, there’s the slight chance that your auto insurance rates may not go up at all. Many auto insurance companies look at your driving record every few years. However, if or when they do find out, these companies could raise your premiums or even cancel your auto insurance.

There are quite a few things auto insurance companies look at when deciding to give you an auto policy. The majority of auto insurance companies look over your driving history while there are other auto insurance companies that will check your credit report to see if you are responsible and financially stable. Other companies will also look at your claims history reporting to see how many accidents you’ve had in the past. All of these factors are combined to produce an “insurance score”, much the same way credit bureaus come up with a credit score.

An SR-22 is a Department of Motor Vehicles form that you fill out to show proof of car insurance. This SR-22 is a requirement for those who have been arrested or convicted for drunk driving and want to get a restricted license. An SR-22 also notifies the DMV that the car insurance company has given you a minimum liability coverage for your vehicle.

When shopping around for car insurance, you should get several rate quotes from various companies before making a decision on buying car insurance. Your drunk driving defense lawyer can probably recommend a few insurance companies that can help you with your SR-22 filing and offer a decent rate.

Article Source:
http://www.articlesbase.com/insurance-articles/buying-auto-insurance-after-a-drunk-driving-charge-378046.html

About the Author:
Maria Palma is a freelance writer dedicated to helping people find San Diego DUI lawyers.