Getting behind the wheel of a car after a night of drinking not only wreaks havoc on the lives of everyone involved, but it can also destroy your finances. Being convicted of a DUI/DWI can have both fleeting and long-lasting effects on your financial situation.
A DUI conviction will immediately leave you responsible for:
- Fines associated with the incident.
- Suspension of your driver’s license.
- Reinstatement fees.
- Time in jail.
Even after you have paid the above costs and served jail time, the expenses don’t stop there. You can expect to have to pay high car insurance premiums over a long period of time, as well as file for proof of financial responsibility.
The Consequences Of Getting A DUI/DWI
It’s common sense that driving drunk isn’t a smart move and poses a serious risk to you and other drivers on the road. Death is the gravest outcome, but there are also others that can upset your life.
Here is what you can expect after getting a DUI:
- The fines for getting a DUI can cost anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. Certain convictions can result in additional fees getting tacked on, tripling the total.
- Once convicted of a DUI, most states will require you to complete follow-up classes and possibly an alcohol/drug treatment program that you will have to pay out-of-pocket for.
- Those convicted of a DUI will have their license suspended and will be required to pay reinstatement fees to get it back.
- Most people convicted of a DUI will have to file an SR-22 or FR-44 filing requirements.
- Depending on how serious the incident was, you may need to serve time in jail or be on probation.
- You will need to pay for all court costs out of pocket.
- Some states will require you to install an ignition interlock device in your car.
- Paying for a DUI attorney will likely cost thousands of dollars.
While these are just the initial costs associated with getting a DUI, there are long term expenses to be aware of too. Having a DUI conviction on your driving record can cause your insurance premiums to fly through the roof.
It can also be difficult to find an insurance company to work with you once you’ve been convicted of a DUI. The insurance industry thrives on their ability to assess the potential risks of the drivers they insure. Once a driver has been convicted of a DUI, they will be viewed as a “high risk” driver. A lot of car insurance companies simply refuse to insure drivers with a DUI or DWI on their record altogether.
Drivers who are unable to find a company to insure them will have to go through their state’s automobile insurance plan, which is more expensive than buying insurance on the open market.
Filing For Proof Of Financial Responsibility After Getting A DUI
After getting a DUI, most states will require you to file proof of financial responsibility to ensure that you will be covered before you are allowed to get behind the wheel again. You will see these certificates in the form of an SR-22 or an FR-44.
You may have heard of the term “SR-22 insurance,” but an SR-22 is not insurance at all. Instead, it is simply a guarantee that your car insurance company will cover you with your state’s legal insurance limits for a certain amount of time.
Your state will inform you if you are required to file. The car insurance company that covers you will be responsible for filing the certificate for you.
An FR-44 is similar to an SR-22, except it is more involved and requires you to have liability insurance coverage that is higher than the minimum state limits.
How To Keep Your Driving Record Clean
Fortunately, you can prevent bearing the financial burden of a DUI or DWI by being a safe driver. Don’t ever get behind the wheel of a car after having a few drinks or being under the influence of drugs. The costs of getting convicted of a DUI are so much more expensive than calling a rideshare service or a taxi.
If you want to keep your car insurance premiums low, you will need to have a clean driving record. Follow the driving laws in your state and avoid unnecessary distractions while driving to prevent being involved in an accident.