Washington Car Insurance Premiums After A DUI/DWI
(Quotes, Cost & Coverage)

Get Washington DUI/DWI car insurance quotes, cost & coverage fast. Find the best WA car insurance premiums after a DUI/DWI conviction.

WA Auto Insurance After DUI/DWI

Washington Car Insurance Premiums After A DUI/DWI ⋆ Quotes, Cost & Coverage

You were out at a work event or you were hanging out with friends and had one too many drinks. Against your better judgment, you decided to get behind the wheel of a car. You were wary of your decision, and as soon as you see those blue lights flashing in your rearview mirror, you know that you made a major mistake.

DUIs (driving under the influence) happen to the best of people. Unfortunately, while drinking alcohol may be fun and take the edge off, it also impairs judgment; even the most upstanding and law-abiding people have been arrested and charged with a DUI.

The ordeal of being arrested and charged is difficult, but the repercussions can affect you for a long time after the incident. Namely, it will affect your ability to drive. If you are granted permission to drive, you could find yourself facing difficulties when it comes to acquiring WA auto insurance. Here we will discuss Washington car insurance premiums after a DUI/DWI.

How a DUI Affects Your Car Insurance

Washington car insurance premiums after a DUI/DWI. Your past driving record plays a big role in determining how much you are going to end up paying for WA car insurance. A prior conviction of driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI) is an indication to insurance companies that you are a risk. As such, there is a greater chance that you could repeat the same behavior in the future, which will end up costing them more money. In turn, it will end up making your Washington car insurance premiums after a DUI/DWI higher.

Anyone who has been convicted of a DUI in WA is classified as a high-risk driver by auto insurance companies. This will end up having negatively impacting your insurance in a number of ways:

The Washington car insurance premiums after a DUI/DWI you pay will go up.
You will be required to purchase a more expensive "high risk" policy.
The WA auto insurance that you had at the time of the infraction will most likely be cancelled immediately.

Moreover, the more high risk an insurance company saw you before your DUI conviction, the more difficult it will be for you to find coverage. And, if you do get coverage, Washington car insurance premiums after a DUI/DWI is going to be quite expensive.

Why A Washington Car Insurance Policy Is Cancelled After A DUI

Many auto insurance providers will simply raise your Washington car insurance premiums after a DUI/DWI, instead of cancelling out your policy completely. However, there are instances when an insurance provider will determine that it is in their best interests to end your coverage.

Why would a WA insurance provider decide to cancel your existing coverage? There are several reasons, some of which include:

Your driving record before the DUI occurred was poor
You have received a DUI or a DWI in the past
You received a DUI or DWI before you were of legal drinking age (21)

In other words, if you were already deemed a high risk driver before your DUI, your WA car insurance provider might find that there is little reason to insure you because you are a serious risk to them.

Ignition Interlock Devices

In certain states, people who are charged with a DUI will be required to install an Ignition Interlock Device to be able to legally drive. Like a breathalyzer, an ignition interlock measures the alcohol in a person's system. If that amount exceeds a pre-programmed level, then the interlock temporarily locks the vehicle's ignition so the driver can't start the car and drive.

Many states now use ignition interlock devices as an alternative to revoking driving privileges. These devices prevent drunk driving while giving those with DUI convictions the opportunity to attend school, got to work and perform other daily tasks.

If you have been convicted of a first offense DUI in WA your license will be suspended for a minimum of six months. Depending on the circumstances of your arrest, you may be eligible to apply for restricted driving privileges right away.

If you have been convicted of a WA DUI your license will be suspended for two to three years depending on the circumstances of your arrest. You may be eligible to regain your restricted driving privileges within 90 days.

If you have been convicted of a third offense DUI in Washington your license will be suspended for three to five years depending on the circumstances of your arrest. You may be eligible to get back your driving privileges within six months.

The SR-22 Form

In most states, if you have been convicted of a DUI, you will be required to fill out an SR-22 following your charge. The SR-22 form is used by the DMV to find out if your insurance coverage is valid. If the SR-22 reveals that you do not have valid auto insurance, the DMV will force you to surrender your license.

Washington High Risk Insurance After A DUI

A lot of auto insurance providers will offer those who have been convicted of a DUI with insurance, but it will be considered high risk insurance. A driver is usually classified as high risk if the insurance provider believes that the probability that the individual will be involved in another risky behavior while driving; a traffic infraction or an accident, for example.

Once you are classified high risk, your Washington car insurance premiums after a DUI/DWI rates will go up. The good news is, however, that if you maintain a clean driving record for a few years, your insurance rates can go back down again. Progressive DUI insurance rates WA is a good place to start.

WA DUI/DWI Auto Insurance Quotes

Washington Insurance

Request a Washington Car Insurance With DUI/DWI quote in Auburn, Bainbridge Island, Bellevue, Bellingham, Bothell, Bremerton, Burien, Camas, Des Moines, Edmonds, Everett, Federal Way, Issaquah, Kenmore, Kennewick, Kent, Kirkland, Lacey, Lake Stevens, Lakewood, Longview, Lynnwood, Maple Valley, Marysville, Mercer Island, Moses Lake, Mount Vernon, Mountlake Terrace, Mukilteo, Oak Harbor, Olympia, Pasco, Port Angeles, Pullman, Puyallup, Redmond, Renton, Richland, Sammamish, SeaTac, Seattle, Shoreline, Spokane Valley, Spokane, Tacoma, Tukwila, University Place, Vancouver, Walla Walla, Wenatchee, Yakima and all other cities in WA.

Washington Insurance Rules & Regulations

In Washington State, there are certain types of insurance that you should be aware of. We will be covering the limits and regulations of insurance within the state. You should be aware of these because if you operate a business, there may be certain types of insurance that you are required to carry. In addition, even if you do not have a business, there may be certain types of insurance regulations that you should familiarize yourself with. We will be taking a close look at insurance regulations for both personal and commercial here.

WA Commercial Insurance

For business liability insurance, what you should be aware of is that Washington does not require businesses to carry business liability insurance in order to operate. Washington is a pure comparative fault state which means that an insurance adjuster must first assess fault and name the adjuster or a court will reduce the award proportionate to the fault of the plaintiff. Businesses may carry business liability insurance in order to protect themselves against these types of claims.

However, Washington does require anyone who employs at least one person full-time or part-time to carry Worker's Compensation insurance to protect them if they are injured on the job. Washington does not require any type of disability insurance for businesses nor do they require commercial vehicles to carry commercial auto insurance.

Washington Personal Insurance

There are two types of personal insurance that you should be aware of. The first is auto insurance requirements. In Washington State, you are required to carry $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in bodily injury coverage. You are also required to carry $10,000 in property damage as well as uninsured/underinsured bodily coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.

There are two life insurance regulations to be aware of in Washington State. First, be aware that there is no free look period like there is in most states. If you sign up for life insurance, you are not able to cancel within 10 days in order to get a refund on your policy premium. However, there is a law that requires timely payment on insurance claims in the state of Washington. In fact, the state requires that the beneficiaries account start accruing interest on the day of death. That means that insurance companies will have to pay more for each day that they fail to pay the benefit. There is also a misrepresentation law when it comes to life insurance in Washington.