I’m curious if certain companies are more forgiving, or if it’s just a blanket policy hike across the board.
I wish I could say there’s a secret handshake or something, but my buddy got a DUI in Boise and his rates basically doubled overnight. He tried calling around, but everyone just saw the DUI and quoted him sky-high. Has anyone actually seen a company cut some slack if you take a defensive driving course or something? Or is that just wishful thinking?
I’ve actually heard of a couple companies that’ll knock a bit off if you do a defensive driving course, but it’s not a magic fix. When I got a ticket (not DUI, but still bad), my agent said it helped a little, mostly with smaller violations. With a DUI, it’s like they all just see dollar signs. Maybe if you stick with the same insurer for years and have a spotless record otherwise, they might show some mercy... but I wouldn’t count on it.
Yeah, I’ve heard the same thing—defensive driving can help a bit, but with a DUI, it’s a whole different ballgame.
That pretty much nails it. I had a friend in Boise who saw his rates jump by 2.5x after his first DUI, and that was with a not-so-bad record before. He tried shopping around, but nobody was offering anything close to what he paid before. Even after a few years, it barely dropped. It’s rough, honestly.With a DUI, it’s like they all just see dollar signs.
With a DUI, it’s like they all just see dollar signs.
That’s a fair take, but I’ve seen a few cases where the spike wasn’t quite as brutal—depends a lot on the carrier and how long ago the DUI happened. Some companies are more forgiving after 3-5 years, but yeah, the first couple years are rough. Did your friend have to get an SR-22 filed too? That can add another layer of hassle and cost. Curious if anyone’s actually seen rates go back to “normal” after enough time passes, or is it always just higher from then on?
I’ve actually seen rates drop back down after about five years, but it’s never quite as low as someone with a spotless record. The SR-22 part is annoying—my cousin had to get one and his insurance doubled at first, then slowly crept down. Some insurers just won’t touch you for a while, but shopping around definitely helps. It’s wild how much it varies by company and even where you live in Idaho.
