If there is one thing that can drive up the costs of your car insurance, it is being charged with a DUI. When you receive a charge for driving under the influence, insurance companies see you as a higher risk to provide a policy to, so they must charge more money to assume those risks. While you may be regretful for having committed the crime, this spike in insurance rates can really crowd your budget, so you are bound to want to do whatever it is you can to save money. While there are going to be limits on what you can do to get cheaper auto insurance with a DUI, there are a couple of things you can and should try.
Shop around for high-risk auto insurance policies.
Just as there are home insurance companies who specialize in high-risk homes, there are auto insurance companies that specialize in high-risk drivers and automobiles. These companies are used to working with people who have negative marks on their driving records, so they can often finagle a little to get you a better rate than the average company. Not to mention, some insurers charge a higher rate because they don't necessarily want to keep you as a customer because you are a high-risk driver, so shopping around can be a good way to reap at least a small amount of savings.
Take advantage of drivers education, defensive driver, and other driving training courses.
If this was the first time you were charged with a DUI, your local court system will probably advise you to take drivers education courses to help you out with insurance costs. A lot of drivers in this situation choose to skip the court-recommended courses, but they really shouldn't. If the insurance company sees that you are taking the initiative to learn about safe driving practices, they may be able to get you a better rate in spite of the DUI on your record.
Consider trading in your vehicle for something cheaper to insure.
If you currently drive a vehicle that is higher to insure, it's not a bad idea to consider finding a vehicle that is cheaper to carry on your policy. For example, most sports cars are higher insurance premiums, but a regular family car or sedan is going to be less expensive. You may love your sporty ride, but having the insurance savings for a different type of vehicle can help make up some of what you are now being charged because of the DUI.
Visit a website like http://www.unitedsecurityagency.com to learn more.
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