DUI Auto Insurance
When you are convicted of DUI, your whole life changes. From heavy fines to possible jail time, the effects of a DUI can be devastating even long after your conviction. Of course these are just the penalties you’ll face inside the courtroom. Outside of court, you could face problems with your auto insurance, which is just as bad as losing your driver’s license. After all, even if you can keep your license, you cannot drive without insurance. As soon as your insurance company is made aware that you have a DUI conviction on your record, one of two things will happen. They may decide to keep you as an insured driver, however they will skyrocket your rates and will label you as a high-risk driver.
The other decision they can make is to cancel your policy altogether. However, if it’s in the middle of your policy term, some states do not allow insurance carriers to drop your coverage like that. For more information, speak with your DUI attorney on your state’s laws regarding auto insurance.
Since there is a good chance that your insurance policy will be cancelled, many department of motor vehicle operations will want proof that your insurance carrier is keeping you on their policy should they decide to do that. This proof of insurance is an SR-22 form, which will be sent from your insurance carrier to your state’s DMV. Once the DMV receives this information they will lift your license suspension. The unfortunate thing is that not all insurance carriers offer an SR-22 form, which means that your license cannot be reinstated because you cannot provide proof that you have insurance.
However, if your policy is cancelled you can find another insurance carrier. Your DUI attorney may be able to help you with this step or at least provide you with information on someone who can assist you.
A DUI conviction can remain on your driving record from five years to the rest of your life depending on your state. That’s why it’s imperative that you hire an experienced DUI defense attorney to prevent your charge from turning into a conviction!
