"He ended up raising his deductible and dropping some optional coverage...it helped a bit, but still pricey."
Yeah, sounds about right. My coworker had a DUI a couple years back, and he said even after tweaking his policy it still felt like highway robbery. Guess insurers don't let you off easy once they see that record...
Yeah, insurers definitely don't mess around once a DUI hits your record. Adjusting deductibles and dropping optional coverage is a smart first step—good call there—but unfortunately, there's only so much wiggle room. Usually, the best you can do is shop around every renewal period, since some companies weigh DUIs differently. Hang in there though... premiums do gradually improve if you keep things clean moving forward.
"Usually, the best you can do is shop around every renewal period, since some companies weigh DUIs differently."
That's definitely true. I haven't had a DUI myself, but even as a first-time insurance buyer with a clean record, I noticed substantial differences in quotes from different providers. It really pays off to compare options carefully—especially after something major like a DUI. A friend of mine went through this recently, and the spike was pretty steep at first... thankfully, it did gradually decrease after a few years of careful driving.
"thankfully, it did gradually decrease after a few years of careful driving."
Yeah, that's been my experience too—not personally, but a coworker had a DUI a while back. He said the first renewal was brutal, nearly double his original rate. After about three or four years, though, things started to ease up. Makes me wonder if certain insurers are more forgiving sooner than others... anyone know if smaller local companies handle this differently from big national ones?
I've noticed something similar with clients I've worked with. Big national insurers tend to have pretty rigid guidelines—they'll spike your rates significantly right after a DUI, and it usually takes at least three years of spotless driving before they ease up. Smaller, local companies can sometimes be more flexible, especially if you have a good relationship with an agent who knows your situation personally. They might look beyond just the numbers and consider your overall driving history or even your community reputation.
That said, it's not always predictable. I've seen smaller insurers who are actually stricter because they can't absorb risk as easily as the big guys. It really depends on the company's underwriting philosophy and how much they're willing to gamble on someone with a recent DUI. If you're shopping around, it's definitely worth checking out both types of insurers—sometimes you'll find surprising differences in how they handle these situations.
