"Guess it depends on luck and how much legwork you're willing to do..."
Yeah, that's pretty spot-on. I've always wondered how much those smaller insurers actually factor in personal stories versus just crunching numbers. Seems like there's a bit of both going on. A friend of mine had a similar issue—not DUI, but a reckless driving ticket after a road trip went sideways—and his insurance jumped quite a bit too. He shopped around and ended up with a smaller local outfit that at least seemed interested in the details of what happened. Still expensive, but definitely better than the big-name quotes he got initially.
Makes me curious though—does Idaho have any state-specific programs or incentives for drivers who've had a DUI? Some states offer defensive driving courses or rehabilitation programs that can help ease the insurance pain a little bit. Might be worth checking into if you're in that boat...
"Seems like there's a bit of both going on."
Yeah, totally agree with this. Smaller insurers can sometimes surprise you—they're not always just number-crunching robots. Had a buddy who got hit with a DUI here in Idaho, and his insurance nearly doubled overnight. He ended up taking some state-approved alcohol awareness class (think it was court-ordered?), and that actually helped him negotiate a slightly better rate later on. Still pricey, but every little bit helps...
Had a similar experience with my cousin—he got a DUI in Idaho about two years back, and his rates went through the roof. He switched insurers thinking it'd help, but honestly it didn't make much difference. He also did one of those alcohol classes, but from what I saw it barely nudged his premium down. Seems like insurers vary a lot on this stuff, but either way you're gonna feel it in your wallet for a while...
"Seems like insurers vary a lot on this stuff, but either way you're gonna feel it in your wallet for a while..."
Yeah, that's pretty much spot-on. Did your cousin shop around right after the DUI or wait a bit? A lot of people jump ship immediately, but insurers usually pull driving records anyway, so switching doesn't always help as much as you'd think. Also curious—did he bundle policies or raise deductibles to offset costs? Sometimes tweaking coverage details can ease the sting...at least a little.
My older brother went through something similar last year. He tried switching insurers right away, but like you said, they pulled his record anyway. He ended up raising his deductible and dropping some optional coverage...it helped a bit, but still pricey.
