Law Office of Michael L. Fell
900 Roosevelt Irvine, CA 92620
(949) 585-9055

Get Answers from a DUI Attorney in Laguna Beach CA: How Long Does It Take for Insurance Premiums to Go Down?

If you are convicted of a DUI then there are numerous things to consider – including the fact that your insurance premiums can go up significantly. The best way to prevent this from happening is to work with the best DUI attorney in Laguna Beach CA. Keep reading to find out more about the insurance consequences of a DUI conviction. If you need a free legal consultation, contact Law Office of Michael L. Fell at (949) 585-9055.

It takes ten years for insurance premiums to go down

In most cases, it will take a decade for a person who has been convicted of a DUI to see their insurance premiums go back down. This date begins at the date of the arrest on the charges – not on the date of the conviction. This ten-year period is the result of insurance codes in the stat and applies both to of-age adults and underage DUI charges.

The effect of a DUI conviction on insurance rates

When an insurance company is considering whether to sell or renew a policy, they are going to look at the driver’s DMV driving record and their criminal record. The insurer will then take that information into account when deciding what their risk is in insuring someone. If a driver has a DUI or numerous points on their record, then the insurance company will consider them to be a higher risk.

In some cases, an insurance company may decide not to offer an insurance policy at all if a person has a DUI on their record. In other instances, an insurance company will issue the policy but will charge higher rates. They can be as much as triple the rate a clean-record driver would pay.

An expungement does not affect insurance rates

Working with a DUI attorney in Laguna Beach CA to have a charge expunged can be a smart move for many reasons but it will not lower insurance premiums. Why? Because though the charge will be removed from the criminal record, it will not be removed from the DMV’s record.

Getting your rates lowered after ten years

When ten years have passed since your DUI conviction, it will no longer show up on criminal records or DMV records and you should no longer have to pay increased rates. However, it can take a month or more for the records to be updated. We recommend that you keep track of this ten-year anniversary and then request copies of both your criminal record and your DMV record to ensure the conviction has been removed.

Call a DUI attorney in Laguna Beach CA today

Of course, the best option is to simply not be convicted of a DUI. If you have been charged but not yet plead guilty or been convicted, then we strongly encourage you to contact a DUI attorney in Laguna Beach CA today. You can reach Law Office of Michael L. Fell at (949) 585-9055 for a free legal consultation.