I get what you’re saying, but honestly, I’ve seen it swing both ways. My cousin got hit with a DUI in Idaho a couple years back and his rate shot up way more than 50%—closer to double, and that was after calling around for quotes. Maybe it depends on the company or even the agent you get? Either way, it’s a huge financial headache. I’m super careful about stuff like this because one slip-up can haunt your wallet for years. The inconsistency with late payments drives me nuts too... you’d think there’d be some standard rules by now.
Maybe it depends on the company or even the agent you get? Either way, it’s a huge financial headache.
Yeah, that tracks with what I’ve seen. There’s no real “standard” penalty, which is frustrating. Some insurers seem to have a hair-trigger for rate hikes after a DUI, while others are more forgiving (if you can call a 50% jump forgiving). I wonder if rural vs. city zip codes in Idaho play into it too... My buddy up in Coeur d’Alene got hammered with his premium after a DUI, but someone else in Boise said theirs barely budged. Maybe it’s all just luck of the draw—or bad luck, really.
I wonder if rural vs. city zip codes in Idaho play into it too...
Definitely noticed that. My cousin in a tiny Idaho town got slammed way harder than my coworker in Boise. Seems like rural areas get hit with bigger hikes, maybe because there are fewer options? That, or the risk pools just work out differently.
Yeah, rural zip codes in Idaho can really get the short end of the stick when it comes to insurance after a DUI. I’ve seen it play out with clients more than once. One guy from a small town near Salmon got quoted almost double what someone in Meridian did, even though their records were pretty similar. It’s partly because there just aren’t as many carriers competing for business out in the sticks, so you don’t get those price breaks you might see in Boise or Coeur d’Alene.
Another thing is, rural areas sometimes have higher accident rates per capita, or longer response times for emergencies, which can bump up the risk factor in the eyes of insurers. It’s not always fair, but that’s how the math shakes out. If you’re in a rural area and get a DUI, brace yourself for a steeper hike—sometimes 2-3x your old rate, depending on the company. Shopping around helps, but options are just thinner out there.
That’s interesting, but I wonder—do you think the higher rates in rural areas are really justified by the accident stats, or is it more about the lack of competition? I’ve seen some pretty safe drivers get hammered just because of their zip code.
