Honestly, downgrading your car is probably the smartest move you can make right now. I had a coworker who got hit with a DUI a while back, and his insurance almost tripled overnight. He switched from a newer truck to an older Civic, and it definitely softened the blow. Like you said:
"nothing fancy, just reliable transportation."
I do think shopping around can help a bit, but don't expect miracles... insurers know they've got you cornered. Still, worth a shot.
Triple sounds rough, but honestly, I've seen worse. Did your coworker shop around much, or just stick with his current insurer? Some companies specialize (well, sorta) in high-risk drivers and might offer slightly better rates. And yeah, downgrading cars helps—insurers see a Civic and think "less damage potential" compared to a big shiny truck. Ever thought about defensive driving classes? They're boring as heck, but sometimes they'll shave a bit off your premium...every little bit counts, right?
Gotta disagree slightly on the defensive driving class thing...in Idaho, some insurers won't even blink at that after a DUI. Better off just biting the bullet and shopping around aggressively. Seen folks save more just by switching insurers than sitting through those snooze-fests, honestly.
Yeah, good point—defensive driving classes aren't always the magic bullet. Couple things to keep in mind though:
- Idaho insurers typically jack rates by around 60-80% after a DUI, sometimes even doubling.
- Shopping around aggressively is key; some smaller companies or regional insurers might offer better deals.
- Also, don't overlook bundling policies or tweaking coverage limits...small adjustments can add up.
Wondering if anyone's actually had luck with bundling after a DUI? I mean, seems like insurers might hesitate giving discounts after something like that...or am I just being overly skeptical here?
