"Sometimes insurers offer it temporarily, and then you're stuck with the device longer than the savings justify."
Yeah, that's a good heads-up. I've seen a few cases where folks jumped at the interlock discount without reading the fine print... ended up paying more in the long run. If you're considering it, definitely ask your insurer directly how long that discount sticks around. And honestly, from what I've heard, installing and maintaining those devices can be a bit of a headache—just something to keep in mind.
If you're considering it, definitely ask your insurer directly how long that discount sticks around.
I get the caution about interlock devices, but honestly, if your insurance spike after a DUI is steep enough, the temporary hassle might still be worth it. My cousin had one installed after his DUI, and yeah, he complained about it plenty—but he said the monthly savings on his premium were pretty significant. I guess it depends on your insurer and how much they're hiking your rates. I'd crunch the numbers carefully before ruling it out completely...
Had a buddy who went through the same thing, and honestly, the savings weren't as impressive as he expected. Sure, it knocked a bit off his premium, but after installation fees and monthly charges, he barely broke even. I'd double-check those hidden costs first...
"Sure, it knocked a bit off his premium, but after installation fees and monthly charges, he barely broke even."
That's interesting, but I'd say it really depends on the individual situation. From what I've seen, sometimes the savings can be more substantial if you're dealing with a major hike after a DUI, especially in Idaho. Installation fees can sting at first, yeah... but spread over a year or two, they might still beat paying the higher premiums outright. Did your buddy shop around or just go with the first provider he found? Sometimes a bit of comparison shopping makes all the difference.
Yeah, that's a fair point about spreading the fees out over time. Honestly though, from what I've heard from a few friends who've dealt with this in Idaho, it really depends on how much your insurance company decides to punish you. My buddy had a DUI a couple years back and his premium shot up like crazy—felt like highway robbery, haha. He did the whole ignition interlock thing too, but even after shopping around a bit, he ended up just barely ahead of breaking even after two years.
Did your friend see his premium drop noticeably after a year or two, or was it pretty steady? Seems like some insurers ease off gradually once you prove you're not gonna repeat your mistakes, but others... not so forgiving. Either way, good on him for trying to make the best out of a rough situation—insurance hikes are never fun.
