From what I've seen, sticking with the same insurer after a DUI isn't always the best move. A buddy of mine went through something similar a couple years back, and here's what he noticed:
- His original insurer jacked up his rates significantly—like almost double. Loyalty didn't seem to count for much in that scenario.
- Shopping around actually helped him find a smaller, regional insurer that specialized in high-risk drivers. It wasn't cheap by any means, but it was definitely better than staying put.
- After about three years, he revisited his original company, and surprisingly, they offered him a much better rate than before. Seems like insurers have short memories once you've proven you're not a repeat offender.
Also, patience is definitely important, but I'd argue being proactive matters just as much. Waiting around for your current insurer to lower rates might not pay off. It could be worth it to spend an afternoon calling around or checking online quotes. You might find a better deal sooner rather than later.
On a side note—does anyone know if classic car insurance providers handle DUIs differently? I mean, I know they're usually strict about driving records, but maybe they have different criteria or forgiveness policies... Just curious if anyone's had experience with that.
Classic car insurers can be pretty picky, honestly. From my experience, they're usually stricter about driving records because they're insuring something special (and pricey). But it's not impossible—I've seen cases where they might consider you if enough time has passed and your record's clean since the DUI. Definitely worth a quick call or two... worst they can say is no, right? Also agree on shopping around—loyalty doesn't always pay off in insurance, unfortunately.
Yeah, classic insurers can be tough cookies for sure. Honestly though, even regular insurance companies get pretty jumpy after a DUI—especially with luxury or high-value cars. I had a buddy who went through something similar, and his premiums shot up like crazy at first. But after a few years of squeaky-clean driving, he managed to negotiate it back down. Definitely shop around and don't settle on the first quote you get... patience pays off in these situations.
"Definitely shop around and don't settle on the first quote you get... patience pays off in these situations."
Yeah, patience is key, but honestly, even shopping around might not save you much right after a DUI—especially in Idaho. Insurers see it as a huge red flag, and they'll charge accordingly. My cousin had a similar issue; he downgraded to an older, less flashy car for a couple years to soften the blow. Not ideal, but it did help him save some cash until his record improved. Might be worth considering if budget's tight...
"My cousin had a similar issue; he downgraded to an older, less flashy car for a couple years to soften the blow."
Yeah, that's actually pretty solid advice. A buddy of mine went through something similar a few years back—not Idaho, but still a state that really cracks down on DUIs. He was driving a newer SUV at the time, and his insurance basically skyrocketed overnight. He ended up selling it and picking up an older sedan—nothing fancy, just reliable transportation. It wasn't exactly his dream ride, but it made a noticeable difference in his monthly payments.
I get the skepticism about shopping around, though. After something like a DUI, insurers pretty much have you cornered, and they know it. Still, I wouldn't completely dismiss the idea of checking multiple places. Even if most quotes are high, sometimes you'll stumble onto one that's at least somewhat reasonable. My friend did find one insurer who was slightly less harsh than the others—still expensive, but every little bit counts when you're trying to get back on your feet.
Also, don't underestimate the power of time. I know it sounds cliché, but after a year or two of clean driving, things do start to ease up. My friend was pretty discouraged at first, but he stuck with it, kept his record clean, and eventually saw his rates drop significantly. It wasn't overnight, but it did happen.
Hang in there—it's definitely rough at first, but you're not alone in this. Plenty of folks have navigated through similar situations and come out okay on the other side.
