According information given by the California Department of Motor Vehicles, as of January 1, 2007, if you request an out-of-house / public driving record printout, any DUI offense on your record will appear for 10 years from the violation date.
Under this new law, DUI’s that had previously been taken off a person’s driving record have now been put back on. For example if you had a DUI back in 1998 and had it removed from your record 2005, and had since received a good driver discount, under the new law, the DUI would be back on your driving history and you may not qualify for a good driver discount again until 2008.
Many insurance companies check your motor vehicle record only once every three years or when you’re applying for a new policy. Sometimes, accidents, tickets, and drunk-driving convictions can escape your insurer’s attention or don’t end up on your motor vehicle record. However, if your insurer does find out about a driving under the influence (DUI) conviction, you’re likely to feel the pinch of higher rates and possibly policy cancellation or non-renewal. Shopping around will definitely yield the lowest rate, as they vary greatly.
There are two ways insurance companies generally deal with customers convicted of DUI. First, your insurer will likely raise your car insurance premiums and label you a high-risk driver if it finds out you’ve been convicted of DUI.
Second, your auto insurer may cancel your insurance mid-term or terminate the policy at the end of the term because of your DUI conviction, especially if you are currently in a preferred class. Your company will send you a notice stating why you’ve been canceled, and then you’ll have to find another insurer while having a cancellation on your claims history and a DUI on your driving record.
Most state laws require DUI convicts to get an SR-22 from their insurers, so you can’t hide. Your insurance company may have to provide the DMV with an SR-22 form, which removes your license suspension by providing the state with proof of your insurance. An SR-22 also means your insurance company is required to notify the DMV if it cancels your auto insurance for any reason. In this case, you’ll likely have to file proof of insurance for three – sometimes five – years with your state’s department of motor vehicles. Some insurance companies don’t offer SR-22 policies, so you may also be non-renewed or canceled because your company can no longer provide what you need.
Certain states don’t allow insurance companies to drop you in the middle of the policy term even for a DUI, so make sure There are two ways insurance companies generally deal with customers convicted of DUI. First, your insurer will likely raise your car insurance premiums and label you a high-risk driver if it finds out you’ve been convicted of DUI.
Second, your auto insurer may cancel your insurance mid-term or terminate the policy at the end of the term because of your DUI conviction, especially if you are currently in a preferred class. Your company will send you a notice stating why you’ve been canceled, and then you’ll have to find another insurer while having a cancellation on your claims history and a DUI on your driving record.
Most state laws require DUI convicts to get an SR-22 from their insurers, so you can’t hide. Your insurance company may have to provide the DMV with an SR-22 form, which removes your license suspension by providing the state with proof of your insurance. An SR-22 also means your insurance company is required to notify the DMV if it cancels your auto insurance for any reason. In this case, you’ll likely have to file proof of insurance for three – sometimes five – years with your state’s department of motor vehicles. Some insurance companies don’t offer SR-22 policies, so you may also be non-renewed or canceled because your company can no longer provide what you need.
Certain states don’t allow insurance companies to drop you in the middle of the policy term even for a DUI, so make you know the laws in your state.
By: Andy Taylor
Posts Tagged ‘Car Insurance Premiums’
Your Auto Insurance and a California DUI
January 19th, 2010Is Short-Term Car Insurance Right For You?
November 7th, 2009
Taking out car insurance on a year’s contract can be wasteful if you only need a policy for a few days a year. However, it is now possible to take out short-term car insurance which can give you the cover you want for just as long as you need it.
What is short-term car insurance?
Driving without insurance is a risky affair – the police have stepped up their efforts to clampdown on offending motorists by working in collaboration with the Association of British Insurers which has found that accidents involving drivers that are uninsured add around £40 a year to an honest motorist’s premiums.
That’s why it’s important to ensure you’re covered no matter how short the term may be that you need a vehicle for. However, most traditional policies need to be taken out for a year – which is why short-term cover was created.
With a short-term policy you can get cover for anything from one day to six months (periods vary depending on the insurer). As you’re only taking out insurance for a short period, it is comparatively low-cost.
Who is it right for?
There are many reasons why you may consider a short-term policy. Some of the most common include:
- Adding a named driver – Perhaps someone needs to use your car, such as a visiting friend or a child returning from university for the summer. Instead of adding them to a policy for the full year, you can take out a temporary policy.
- Car hire vehicles – You may need insurance to cover you while you use a car hire vehicle or a removal van, for example.
- Learner drivers – If the plan is for a teenager to buy their own vehicle as soon as they pass a driving test, then consider taking out short-term car insurance for their learning period so they don’t cause your car insurance premiums to rise substantially. Specific learner driver policies are available.
How can you get short-term car insurance?
Generally policies are defined as temporary (one-28 days) or monthly (one-six months). They are offered by a host of insurers in the UK so it’s well worth shopping around online before you buy.
By: Alex Gregory