The staggering cost California drivers pay for getting a DUI

Getting popped for a DUI in California doesn’t just land drivers in legal hot water — it also delivers one of the nation’s biggest insurance bill shocks.

A new study from LendingTree found California drivers face the second-steepest car insurance premium hike in the country after a DUI conviction, with annual rates soaring a staggering 136%.

Only North Carolina fares worse, where premiums skyrocket 284.1%.

In the Golden State, drivers see their average yearly insurance bill jump from about $2,600 to $6,135 after being convicted of driving under the influence, according to the report.

Nationwide, drivers see their annual auto insurance rates spike an average of 74.5% after a DUI, with yearly premiums jumping from about $2,130 to nearly $4,000, according to the study.

California drivers get hit especially hard.

While the state ranks second for the steepest percentage increase in premiums, it tops the list for the largest dollar increase, with annual insurance costs jumping an average of $3,535 — about $100 more than North Carolina, the report found.

The staggering costs do not even factor in what happens after the DUI conviction, with an average increase across the country in premiums of $135 every month, which adds up to close to $5,000 over a three year period, analysts said.

And that’s just for the increase in auto insurance, there’s still the price to pay for court fees, attorneys, and lost wages.

“Their data shows that people with a DUI are more likely to have a future car accident than a typical driver,” Rob Bhatt, LendingTree auto insurance expert and agent, explained as the reason for the massive spike in costs.

“Accidents cost insurance companies money in the form of claims payments. They factor these potential costs into the rates they charge after a DUI.”

The increase in premiums is also based on the age of the driver, with very young ones and elderly drivers facing the harshest financial consequences when it comes to largest dollar increases.

“Typical 20-year-olds pay an average of $2,532 more annually after a DUI, while 80-year-olds pay an average of $2,211 more,” the study noted.

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And for those over 60, the study found those drivers experience the largest premium percentage jump, an average of 101.1%, when arrested for driving while impaired.

“This shows that a DUI can have a sharp impact on a driver’s insurance rate at any age,” Bhatt said.

Bhatt offered a few tips if you do get a DUI, including enrolling in diversion programs, shop around for car insurance, and look into public transportation, to help manage the long-term financial impacts.

All states have laws which make it illegal to drive with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher, in California it is the same, per AAA.