Being arrested and charged with a DUI is a scary and challenging thing. While you may be focused on the immediate penalties of this charge, such as significant fines, loss of your license and jail time, you can’t overlook the long-term impact this conviction may have.
Even after you have paid the fines and served the time in jail you are sentenced to (if any), you will have to deal with the impact this conviction will have on your insurance rates.
After a DUI, your insurance rates will increase
When you’re charged with driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the insurance companies will assume that if you did it once, you would do it again – even if this isn’t the case. Because of this, you are viewed as a bigger risk.
Even small amounts of alcohol will impact your ability to drive safely. Any insurance company you try to get insurance coverage from will see the DUI conviction on your record and automatically view you as a bigger risk – no matter the circumstances of the arrest or conviction.
Because of this, your rates will increase significantly, while some insurance providers will deny coverage completely. Some drivers in Maryland have seen their rates increase by 78% or more after a DUI conviction. Even though this seems like a lot, it is below the national average of 99%.
Fighting DUI charges is your best option
If you are charged with DUI, you need to fight. You can build a strong defense, which can help you avoid all the consequences listed above. Even if you don’t think you can afford to fight, fighting the charges will likely be the more affordable option if you consider the long-term cost of a DUI conviction.