Received a DUI and wondering how it might affect your insurance? The truth of the matter is that the cost of car insurance can vary significantly after a driver receives a DUI. Cost can be affected by everything from your region to the nature and circumstances of your DUI. The one thing that’s true across the board is that insurance after a DUI can be expensive with a larger rate increase than an accident where you are the driver at fault.

And, to make matters even more complicated, rates can differ from provider to provider – even in the same state – so it can be difficult to determine what the best rate is for you.

In the state of Arizona, the average rates of car insurance – including car insurance after a DUI – are just under the national average at $1,470 without a DUI and $2,239 with a DUI. Getting a DUI in Arizona leads to a 52% increase in auto insurance costs on average; a pretty considerable number.

Those numbers alone should make you wary of drinking and driving. But what if you or someone you know has already received a DUI – what then?

First, let’s be clear about how the state of Arizona defines a DUI.

DUI Laws in Arizona

Arizona takes driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs incredibly seriously, with strict punishments that include significant fines and even jail time. The philosophy that supports this more rigorous approach is that, by having significant consequences, people will be less inclined to drink (or do drugs) and drive. Arizona preferred to implement these as preventative measures rather than simply punishing those guilty of driving while intoxicated. Because of these strict regulations, Arizona actually ranks second in the United States for the strictest DUI prevention efforts.

Past Arizona trend reports have indicated that as many as 24% of fatal crashes in the state were due to intoxicated driving, and arrests for drunk or intoxicated driving tend to spike during holiday weekends. This is a danger to not only the driver themselves, but to everyone on the road, which is why the punishments for DUIs increase dramatically with every new offense.

In order to be charged with a DUI, you must be guilty of having a blood-alcohol level of .08% or more (or .04% or greater if you’re driving a commercial vehicle), are under 21 and driving while intoxicated, or are driving while impaired (meaning you’ve had enough drugs or alcohol to negatively affect your physical and/or cognitive functions).

DUIs in Arizona are further broken down by type and level of “extremity.” The four classes are Basic DUI, Extreme DUI, Super Extreme DUI, and Aggravated DUI. These classes (or “categories”) break down as follows:

• Basic DUI: driver has a blood alcohol level between .08 and .14%
• Extreme DUI: driver has a blood alcohol level of .15% or greater
• Super Extreme DUI: driver has a blood alcohol level of .20% or greater
• Aggravated DUI: driver earns a DUI while their license is suspended (or revoked or cancelled), commits three DUIs in an 84-month period, refuses to give a sample for a blood alcohol test while using a Certified Ignition Interlock Device (CIID), or has a passenger under the age of 18 in the vehicle (at the time of intoxicated driving)

Arizona DUI Insurance and SR-22 Policy

After getting a DUI in Arizona, you must then get DUI auto insurance in order to have your license reinstated. This will very likely mean a spike in your car insurance costs. This is because insurance companies no longer view you as a “good driver.” Instead, you are categorized as high-risk, a liability, and so you will lose any and all discounts you may have earned in the past for having a good driving record, and you’ll be paying more annually for your car insurance.

In the state of Arizona, you will also need to apply for an SR-22 insurance policy in order to have your license reinstated after a DUI or DWI charge. This is an insurance document that indicates to the state that you are meeting the requirements for liability insurance. An SR-22 policy form stays on your file for three years. After the three years passes, the SR-22 will expire.

While this is court-mandated in order to receive your license back, keep in mind that being in possession of an SR-22 will cause your auto insurance rates to go up; sometimes significantly. It may also require you to find another insurance provider as there are some companies who do not provide this type of high risk coverage.

An SR-22 is also required for individuals who are caught driving without a license, without insurance, or for drivers who have received a significant amount of tickets within a short time frame.

In order to file for an SR-22, you will need to first find an auto insurance company that issues these forms. As we said, this may mean having to switch providers. From there, you have to make sure this insurance provider provides the state mandated minimum liability insurance. If your insurance does not meet this requirement, you will not qualify for the SR-22 and, therefore, cannot get your license reinstated.

The premium you pay will be determined by a combination of different factors, such as your past driving record, your credit score, and the type of vehicle you drive. Once you’ve paid the proper fees for the SR-22 form, you simply wait for approval and for the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to provide you with a copy of the form.

Other DUI Expenses

A Basic DUI, despite being the category of DUI that carries the fewest penalties, can have severe consequences, including 10 consecutive days in jail (or more!) and over $1,200 in fines. License suspension and community service are also frequent punishments.

The amount and severity of these punishments increases at a significant rate with every DUI committed by the driver (as well as the severity of the DUI charge itself). This is the natural result of a DUI being considered a violent crime in Arizona due to the risk it places on drivers and society as a whole.

Arizona requires all drivers who receive a DUI conviction to use a Certified Interlock Ignition Device (CIID) for at least a year – the exact time will, again, be determined by the type of DUI perpetrated. The CIID is a device that requires the user to pass a blood-alcohol test before being able to turn on the vehicle’s engine. These devices are meant to prevent intoxicated driving before it happens.

Drivers with CIID installed in their vehicles are often limited as to where they are able to drive; restricted to “essential” locations such as work, the grocery store, and home. And, to top it off, drivers must pay for the device out-of-pocket; an expense that is not exactly cheap. To install, the device costs an initial $100 plus an additional $80 every month to maintain it. This means an extra $2,000 in fees outside of fines and court costs.

Bottom line: getting a DUI is expensive and can do lasting damage to your legal and driving records. Have you or someone you know been arrested for a DUI in Arizona? You need the support of an attorney to walk you through the process, build a solid defense, and protect your rights in the process. Our team of highly experienced lawyers is here to help. Schedule a consultation today.