Having a conviction for driving under the influence on your Tennessee record can have a significant impact on many areas of your life, potentially affecting everything from your bank account to your ability to find and hold down a job. On the financial side, you will need to pay fines relating to your charge, and you may, too, need to pay to have an ignition interlock device installed on your car once you get your license back, among related expenditures.
While these expenses can add up quickly, Insure.com reports that a DUI conviction will also undoubtedly have a serious impact on your automotive insurance rates. Across the country, DUI convictions generally raise drivers’ insurance rates by anywhere between 28 and 371 percent, with the exact percentage varying based on insurance policies, geography and so on. So, how much can the typical Tennessee motorist expect to have to pay for car insurance following a DUI conviction?
Without having DUIs on their records, most Tennessee drivers pay about $1,339 annually in auto insurance costs. After a DUI conviction, though, this figure rises an average of 67 percent to $2,230, which is a difference of $891 per year.
While the extra money you will need to pay for auto insurance coverage can place a strain on your wallet, you may, in some cases, find it difficult to find a company to cover you at all after a conviction for drunk driving. In some cases, your existing insurer may choose not to cover you anymore, and this can serve as a deterrent to other potential insurers who see that one company already passed on extending your coverage.
This information about how a DUI can impact insurance rates is meant for educational purposes, only, and is not a substitute for legal advice.
