Gotta agree on shopping around, but honestly, from what I've seen, classic car insurers can be pretty strict about DUI stuff. Had a friend with a '69 Camaro and after his DUI, his specialty insurer dropped him like a hot potato. Took him forever to find someone else willing to cover him at a half-decent rate. It's doable, but don't be surprised if you need to settle for mainstream coverage for a while...at least until you've got some clean driving history under your belt again.
Yeah, specialty insurers can be pretty harsh about DUIs. I'm new to the whole insurance thing myself, but I remember my older brother had a similar experience a few years back. He had this pristine '72 Mustang that he babied like crazy, then got a DUI after a friend's wedding. His classic insurer dropped him right away, and he ended up having to go mainstream for coverage. The rates were definitely higher, but it wasn't impossible to manage. He said the hardest part was just finding someone willing to cover him again without charging an arm and a leg. From what he told me, after about three years of clean driving, things started looking better—he eventually found another specialty insurer that gave him decent rates again. It sounds like patience and careful driving are key... but yeah, brace yourself for some sticker shock in the short term.
I get your point about specialty insurers being tough, but honestly, mainstream insurers can sometimes be even harsher after a DUI. My cousin went through something similar—he thought switching to a big-name company would help, but the quotes he got were astronomical. He ended up going with a smaller regional insurer instead, and surprisingly, they offered him better rates than the big guys. Might be worth checking out some local options rather than assuming mainstream is always the safer bet...
You're right that smaller, regional insurers can sometimes surprise you with better rates after something like a DUI. However, I'd advise caution before assuming they'll always be cheaper. I've seen cases where local companies initially quote lower premiums but then hike rates significantly at renewal. It's smart to shop around broadly—both mainstream and regional—and carefully review policy terms and renewal conditions. Sometimes the devil really is in the details...
Definitely agree about checking the fine print. After my cousin's DUI, he found a smaller insurer that seemed like a great deal at first. But when renewal time rolled around, the premium jumped way higher than expected. If you're in Idaho, I'd suggest getting quotes from at least three or four companies—both big names and smaller ones—and ask specifically about renewal rates after the first year. Better safe than sorry...especially when it comes to insurance bills.
