Can confirm, the spike is brutal. Had my DUI about two years ago and here's my experience in a nutshell:
- First renewal after DUI: nearly doubled my premium (ouch).
- Thought about switching immediately, but decided to wait it out.
- Second renewal: slight drop, nothing amazing but trending better.
- Learned that adding defensive driving courses or similar can shave off a bit too.
Honestly, patience is key...and shopping around every year helps. Hang tight, it does ease up eventually.
I'm actually shopping around for my first policy right now, and hearing this makes me wonder... does anyone know if starting with a DUI already on record makes the initial quotes even worse, or is it about the same spike either way?
"does anyone know if starting with a DUI already on record makes the initial quotes even worse, or is it about the same spike either way?"
From what I've seen, starting fresh with a DUI already on your record usually makes the initial quotes pretty rough. Insurance companies typically see new drivers as riskier anyway, and throwing a DUI into the mix right from the start definitely doesn't help. But honestly, the spike isn't always consistent—I've had clients who got hit harder renewing after a DUI than others did starting out with one already there. It seems to depend a lot on the insurer and how aggressively they price risk.
You might want to shop around more than usual, because some companies specialize in higher-risk drivers and could offer slightly better rates. Also, consider checking smaller regional insurers—they sometimes have more flexibility than the big national brands. Just my two cents...
I dealt with something similar a few years back in Idaho. Got a DUI when I was younger and then had to get my own policy shortly after. The quotes were pretty brutal right off the bat. I remember thinking, "There's no way this can be right..." but yeah, it was. I tried a bunch of different companies, and the differences were pretty surprising. One big-name insurer quoted me nearly double what a smaller local company offered, even though both were still high.
What I noticed is that some insurers seem to penalize a DUI harder if you're already their customer renewing your policy. A friend of mine had a clean record, got a DUI, and when his renewal came up, his rates skyrocketed even worse than mine had been as a new customer with the DUI already on my record. It's almost like they figure they've already got you locked in, so they don't hold back on the price hike.
One thing that helped me was looking into non-standard insurers or companies that specifically deal with higher-risk drivers. They weren't cheap by any means, but definitely less painful than some of the bigger companies. Also, after about three years, the rates started dropping noticeably as long as I stayed clean. So, there's light at the end of the tunnel if you keep your record clean afterward.
Bottom line, it's gonna sting either way, but how much can vary a lot depending on who you go with. Definitely worth putting in the time to shop around and compare.
Yeah, your experience lines up pretty closely with what I've seen too. Had a buddy who went through a similar mess—he was shocked when his renewal came around after his DUI. His insurer jacked up his rates like crazy, way worse than the quotes he got from other companies as a new customer. Honestly, I think you're onto something about insurers hitting existing customers harder because they think you're less likely to switch.
One thing I'd add is that bundling policies can sometimes soften the blow. My friend ended up moving his home and auto to a smaller company that specialized in higher-risk drivers, and the bundle discount actually made a noticeable difference. Still expensive, but at least manageable.
Also, it's worth checking every year or two even after your rates start dropping. Companies adjust their risk calculations all the time, so you might find a better deal sooner than you'd expect. It's a pain, but staying proactive can save you a decent chunk of cash in the long run.
