Yeah, seems pretty consistent with what I've heard. Curious though—does anyone know if taking those defensive driving courses actually makes a big difference, or is it more of a minor discount kinda thing?
From what I've seen, defensive driving courses usually just shave off a small percentage—like 5-10% tops. Might help a bit, but don't expect miracles, especially after something serious like a DUI... Have you checked directly with your insurer?
"Might help a bit, but don't expect miracles, especially after something serious like a DUI..."
Yeah, gotta agree here—defensive driving courses are nice, but after my DUI in Idaho, the insurance hike was pretty brutal. Checking directly with your insurer is key; mine offered a payment plan that softened the blow a little. Worth asking about...
Yeah, payment plans can be a lifesaver in these situations. Just wanted to throw in that every insurer handles DUIs a bit differently—some are harsher than others. I've seen some carriers spike premiums by 60-80% or even double them, depending on your previous driving record and how long you've been insured. Idaho tends to be pretty tough, but shopping around after something like this can sometimes help. A friend of mine switched insurers after his DUI and found a slightly better deal elsewhere, even though he lost his safe driver discount. Also worth noting that the biggest hikes typically happen in the first renewal after the DUI hits your record—usually within the first year or two—and then gradually ease off as time passes without additional incidents. Hang in there, it does get better eventually...
Yeah, that's pretty spot-on advice. I mean, insurers definitely vary a lot, and Idaho isn't exactly known for being lenient. But honestly, it's not the end of the world—my cousin went through something similar a few years back. His rates jumped pretty high at first, but after shopping around and keeping his record clean afterward, things gradually improved. Just gotta be patient and proactive about it... eventually, it'll ease up.
