Car insurance after a DUI: cost increase & SR-22 rules
What a DUI does to your premium, how long it follows you, and which insurers still quote you afterwards.
A DUI conviction is one of the few events that reliably reshapes an insurance bill for years, not months. It's not just the citation — it's what your insurer's underwriting model reads it as: a large jump in claims risk that gets priced immediately at your next renewal.
What an SR-22 actually is
An SR-22 is not a special policy — it's a form your insurer files with the state confirming you carry the state-required minimum coverage. Some states use an SR-22, others use an FR-44 with a higher required limit. Either way, it's the insurer's paperwork, not yours, and it typically attaches to a standard policy that then costs more because of the conviction, not because of the form itself.
Why quotes vary so much after a DUI
Some national carriers stop quoting a driver entirely after a DUI; others specialize in exactly this risk and price it more competitively than a mainstream insurer that's simply raising the standard rate. That's why the spread between quotes after a DUI is often wider than before one — it pays to compare more insurers, not fewer.
How long it follows you
Most insurers look back three to five years for a DUI when pricing a renewal, though the conviction itself may stay on your driving record longer. The surcharge doesn't disappear gradually — it typically drops at the renewal after the lookback window closes, so it's worth re-shopping the moment you cross that anniversary rather than assuming your current insurer will reprice you automatically.
Don't let the SR-22 filing lapse. If your insurer reports a gap in the filing to the state, it can trigger a license suspension on top of the insurance cost — a second problem stacked on the first.
This guide is general information, not insurance advice, and does not account for your state's specific regulations. Figures cited are industry estimates from published rate studies. VIP Car Insurance is a free comparison service and is not an insurer.