"Sometimes the big national companies have stricter underwriting policies, while smaller providers might be more flexible with risk assessment."
That's definitely true from my experience. Had a client last year who got hit with a DUI, and initially, his insurer nearly tripled his premium. He shopped around and ended up switching to a smaller regional provider—saved him a good chunk of money. Didn't erase the pain entirely, but made things a bit more manageable... Always worth checking out lesser-known options.
"Didn't erase the pain entirely, but made things a bit more manageable... Always worth checking out lesser-known options."
Yeah, I've seen similar situations play out quite a few times here in CA. A DUI can really sting your wallet, especially with the big national insurers. They tend to have rigid underwriting guidelines and often lump DUI cases into a high-risk category automatically. Smaller or regional companies sometimes look at the bigger picture—like your overall driving record, how long you've been insured, or even your credit history—and might offer more reasonable rates.
A couple of things I've noticed from experience:
- **Timing matters**: Right after a DUI, premiums spike dramatically, but after about three years (sometimes sooner), you might see some relief. It's not forever, thankfully.
- **Shopping around helps**: Even if you've been loyal to one insurer for years, loyalty doesn't always pay off after a DUI. I've had clients who saved hundreds by switching to smaller providers who specialize in higher-risk drivers.
- **SR-22 filing**: Remember, in California, you'll need an SR-22 form filed with the DMV after a DUI conviction. Not all insurers handle this equally smoothly. Some smaller providers actually specialize in SR-22 filings and can make the process less of a headache.
- **Discounts and bundling**: Even with a DUI, don't assume you're automatically disqualified from discounts. Some insurers will still offer multi-policy or defensive driving course discounts, which can soften the blow.
One client I worked with had a DUI about two years ago. His major insurer nearly doubled his premium, and he was pretty stressed out. After shopping around, we found a smaller provider that considered his otherwise spotless driving history and offered him a much better deal. He still paid more than before, but it wasn't nearly as devastating.
Bottom line, a DUI isn't great news for your insurance rates, but it's also not the end of the world. With some patience and research, you can usually find a manageable solution.
Had a friend go through this exact thing last year. His insurance practically doubled overnight, and he was pretty freaked out at first. But after shopping around a bit, he found a smaller local company that didn't hammer him as badly. Still pricey, but way better than the initial quotes. Definitely pays to look beyond the big names and see what's out there...
Did your friend mention if he had to get an SR-22 filing too? From what I've heard, that's usually required after a DUI in CA, and it can really jack up your rates. Curious if the smaller companies handle that differently or if it's pretty much the same across the board... Definitely agree about shopping around though—big names aren't always the best deal, especially after something like this.
"Curious if the smaller companies handle that differently or if it's pretty much the same across the board..."
From what I've seen, SR-22 filings are pretty standardized across CA—big or small company, doesn't matter much. A buddy of mine had a DUI a couple years back, and he thought going with a smaller insurer might help him dodge the worst rate hikes. Unfortunately, it didn't pan out that way... premiums jumped significantly either way. But you're right about shopping around; sometimes smaller insurers can still offer slightly better deals overall, even with the SR-22 requirement.
