Hypothetically, say someone gets a DUI in Idaho...how much would their car insurance jump up? Like, would it double or triple, or is it more subtle? Just curious if anyone has experience or knows someone who went through this.
From what I've seen, a DUI in Idaho can definitely cause a significant jump in insurance premiums, though the exact increase varies quite a bit. Doubling isn't uncommon, especially if the driver previously had a clean record. I've even heard of cases where it nearly tripled, depending on the insurer and other factors like age, driving history, and vehicle type.
One thing to keep in mind is that insurers typically view DUIs as high-risk violations, so the spike isn't subtle at all. It usually stays elevated for at least three to five years, sometimes longer. Also, some companies might even refuse to renew your policy altogether, forcing you to shop around for new coverage—which can be pricey.
I haven't personally dealt with Idaho specifically, but from my experience handling claims in neighboring states, it's safe to say the impact is pretty severe. Curious if anyone else has more direct experience with Idaho specifically...
A friend of mine in Boise got a DUI about two years back, and he said his premiums pretty much doubled overnight. He'd been with the same insurer for years, clean record, no tickets—nothing. Still, they hit him hard. He ended up shopping around and found slightly better rates elsewhere, but still way higher than before. Makes me wonder if smaller local insurers might be more forgiving than the big national companies...anyone have insight on that?
- Had a similar experience myself—premiums shot up like crazy after my DUI.
- Tried a couple smaller local insurers; honestly, didn't see much difference.
- Still, worth checking out...you never know, might get lucky with one.
Yeah, I've heard similar stories from friends. One buddy said his rates nearly doubled overnight after a DUI. He ended up taking a defensive driving course to shave off some points and lower the premium slightly. Might be worth looking into something like that—could help offset the spike a bit. But yeah, seems like no matter what, it's gonna sting for a while...
