If you’ve ever been cited for a DUI, then low cost car insurance may seem out of reach. In reality, although you may have to jump through a few more hoops than you did before you had the DUI on your record, there are ways to find car insurance with low costs. There are also a few tricks you can use for landing lower cost car insurance.

Car Insurance Hurdles after a DUI

Most traffic violations increase your insurance costs, but insurance companies tend to treat DUI charges more seriously than other violations. After you get a DUI, the first thing you need to do is check your policy. There may be a clause that says your provider can cancel your coverage, effective immediately, if you receive a DUI. If your policy isn’t cancelled, you will need to find out how much your premium will increase. This rate of increase is likely to be pre-determined and listed in your policy agreement. There are no federal or state regulations preventing your insurance company from increasing your rate to whatever they want, so be prepared for a potentially large change in your premium.

Aside from possible policy cancellation or huge premium increases, there are a few other hurdles to face:

- If your license is suspended, you may be considered a new driver when you try to get a new policy. This can make your rate higher.

- If your license is restricted, your premium will be higher.

- You may be required to have an SR-22 form, proving that you have a high rate of liability insurance. The amount of liability insurance you have to prove on your SR-22 form varies from state to state, but all SR-22 forms represent an extra cost on your insurance.

Getting Low Cost Car Insurance after a DUI

Even with these hurdles, there are still things you can do to get lower cost car insurance policies. To find lower costing car insurance, consider the following:

- Get several quotes to help you find the best rate

- Take driver’s education courses and present a certificate of completion to your insurance company.

- If you have had a clean record in the past, try to leverage that to convince your insurance company to give you a break.

- If you have several DUIs on your record, your insurance company may reduce your rate if you show you are taking alcohol education classes/attending a program for alcohol issues.

Compare prices and find out what your insurance provider would like to see from you to reduce your premiums. Continually check in with your insurance provider to hammer home your new, clean record.  Once you convince them that you’re a safe driver again, you may return to normal insurance rates.