The best cheap car insurance after a DUI

If you’ve been convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI), it may be harder to get auto insurance and more expensive if you do.

You may also have to file a certificate of financial responsibility (called an SR-22 or FR-44) to reinstate your driving privileges.

We’ve chosen the best insurance companies for drivers with DUI convictions, based on rates, coverage and more. (See our methodology for details on how we made our selections.)

Who’s this for? State Farm has some of the lowest premiums we’ve seen for drivers with DUI convictions. it also has affordable rates if you have at-fault accidents or speeding tickets on your record.

Standout benefits: State Farm’s Drive Safe and Save app can monitor your acceleration, braking and other driving habits. Not only will it encourage safe behavior behind the wheel, it could save you up to 30%.

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Who’s this for? Progressive offers car insurance in all 50 states and you can get rate quotes or buy a policy in minutes on the highly-rated website or mobile app. The company’s rates after a DUI are significantly lower than the industry average.

Standout benefits: Progressive offers three tiers of accident forgiveness, covering smaller and bigger collisions.

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Who’s this for? Dairyland specializes in non-standard insurance for drivers with DUIs and other violations or who have bad credit.

Standout benefits: Dairyland provides non-owner coverage and all California policies come with limited coverage for travel in Mexico.

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Who’s this for? If you don’t own a car but drive frequently, Geico issues non-owner insurance, which provides liability insurance, as well as UM/UIM, PIP and MedPay coverage. It’s also less expensive than a standard policy.

Standout benefits: Geico has more than a dozen discounts, including for good driving, bundling and taking a defensive driving course. If you insure more than one car with Geico, you can save up to 25%.

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Who’s this for? Active military, veterans and their families enjoy low rates and widespread availability with USAA.

Standout benefits: If you’re deployed and not using your car, you could get up to 60% off your premiums. If you store your car on base, you could save up to 15% on comprehensive coverage.

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The largest auto insurer in the U.S., Bloomington, Indiana-based State Farm had close to $58 billion in direct premiums in 2023. It’s routinely among the highest-ranking insurers on J.D. Power customer surveys, although it has a slightly higher-than-average volume of complaints and received a C- from the Better Business Bureau.

Nationwide availability: Available in all U.S. states except Massachusetts and Rhode Island

J.D. Power claims satisfaction rating: Above average

NAIC complaint index: Slightly greater than expected

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In business since the early 1950s, Dairyland specializes in nonstandard insurance for motorists unable to get insured elsewhere because of a poor driving record, bad credit or lapse in coverage. Policies are underwritten by Sentry Insurance Group.

States where available: Available in all U.S. states except Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Rhode Island

J.D. Power claims satisfaction rating: Not rated

NAIC complaint index: Greater than expected

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Formerly the Government Employees Insurance Company, Geico is the third-largest auto insurance company in the U.S., with nearly $40 billion in premiums. Founded in 1936, it became a subsidiary of Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway in 1996.

Nationwide availability: Available in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia

J.D. Power claims satisfaction rating: Below average

NAIC complaint index: Fewer than expected

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Membership in USAA is limited to active-duty service members, veterans, the National Guard and Reserves, ROTC cadets and family members. While J.D. Power gave USAA high scores for both customer satisfaction and the claims experience, it has a higher-than-expected volume of complaints.

Nationwide availability: Available in all U.S. states except Massachusetts and Rhode Island

J.D. Power claims satisfaction rating: Above average

NAIC complaint index: Greater than expected

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insurance companies will classify you as a high-risk driver after a DUI, but the amount your rates will go up depends on the provider, where you live and whether its your first violation or a repeat offense.

According to an analysis of Quadrant Information data by Bankrate, a DUI conviction raises premiums by an average of $190 a month. In some states, however, the increase can be hundreds of dollars.

Depending on where you live, your insurance company may also have to file an SR-22 certificate of insurance to prove you have the minimum coverage required by law. There is typically a fee involved, usually about $25.

SR-22 insurance is somewhat of a misnomer: It’s not actually insurance, but a form your insurer files with the state confirming you have the required minimum coverage. (It may also be referred to as a “certificate of financial responsibility” or, in Florida and Virginia, a FR-44.)

An SR-22 form is typically required to reinstate your driving privileges after a DUI or other serious infraction.

All the companies we selected file SR-22 forms, but not every insurer does. Be sure to check before buying a policy if you’ve been notified that you need one.

Not all car insurance companies will accept drivers with a DUI conviction, especially more than one.

High-risk insurers

If you’re turned down by several companies, you can try insurers that specialize in non-standard coverage for high-risk drivers, like Dairyland, Kemper and The General.

State-assigned car insurance

If you can’t get coverage through the voluntary market, you may need to turn to your state’s assigned risk pool. Insurers licensed in your state are required to provide coverage through these programs, regardless of an applicant’s driving history.

Rates are significantly higher, however, and you may be limited to liability coverage.

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every car insurance review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of insurance products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best car insurance for high-risk drivers.

To find the best insurance companies for drivers after a DUI, CNBC Select looked at dozens of insurers offering coverage to those with this on their driving record.

When selecting and ranking these companies, we focused on the average premium data from Bankrate, since the cost of insurance after a DUI is often higher than for the average driver. Quoted premiums were based on a 40-year-old with an otherwise clean driving record and a 2022 Toyota Camry, commuting five days a week for a total of 12,000 miles, and including the following coverage:

• $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $50,000 property damage liability per accident
• $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
• $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
• $500 collision deductible
• $500 comprehensive deductible

We also reviewed customer satisfaction ratings from J.D. Power, the Better Business Bureau and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, as well as financial strength ratings from A.M. Best. We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.

After reviewing these factors, we sorted recommendations by the best for affordability, availability, for drivers who have been denied coverage, for non-owner insurance and for military members and veterans.

Premiums and policy structures cited for car insurance companies may change in accordance with company policies.

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