Yeah, I get your point about waiting a bit before shopping around. But honestly, in my experience, insurers tend to jack up rates pretty drastically right after a DUI anyway—so sometimes waiting it out just means paying through the nose longer. I wonder if anyone here has tried negotiating directly with their current insurer right after something like this happened...did it help at all, or was it just a waste of time?
"I wonder if anyone here has tried negotiating directly with their current insurer right after something like this happened...did it help at all, or was it just a waste of time?"
I haven't personally dealt with a DUI, but a good friend of mine went through something similar a couple years back. He was pretty stressed about the insurance spike too, and he decided to call his insurer directly to see if there was any wiggle room. Surprisingly, they didn't exactly lower his rate, but they did offer him some advice on how he could gradually bring it down—like taking a defensive driving course and installing one of those monitoring devices. It wasn't a huge immediate relief, but it gave him a bit of hope and direction.
So, while negotiating might not drastically cut your rates right away, it could still be worth a shot. At the very least, you'll get a clearer picture of what you're dealing with, and maybe some tips to ease the pain a bit. Hang in there...this stuff is stressful, but it does get better with time.
"Surprisingly, they didn't exactly lower his rate, but they did offer him some advice on how he could gradually bring it down—like taking a defensive driving course and installing one of those monitoring devices."
That's pretty much what happened to my cousin after his DUI. He didn't get any immediate discounts either, but the insurer pointed him toward a safe driving class that eventually helped lower his premiums. Took a while, but it did help. Wonder if anyone's noticed if certain insurers in Idaho are more forgiving than others with this stuff...
My brother-in-law went through something similar a couple years back. His insurer didn't budge at first either, but they nudged him toward one of those monitoring gadgets. He hated it at first—called it his "car babysitter"—but after a few months of good behavior, his rates did ease up a bit. Seems like most Idaho insurers play it cautious after DUIs, but maybe some smaller companies are a tad more flexible?
"Seems like most Idaho insurers play it cautious after DUIs, but maybe some smaller companies are a tad more flexible?"
Interesting thought... I've always stuck with the bigger insurers because of the whole luxury vehicle thing—figured they'd have better coverage options for pricier repairs. But now I'm curious: has anyone here had experience switching to a smaller or local insurer after something like a DUI or even just a speeding ticket? Wondering if they handle claims differently, or if they're less strict with rate hikes. I'm all for saving money, but I'd hate to find out later they don't cover certain high-end parts or specialized repairs. Would be great to hear some first-hand experiences before making any moves.
