DUI Car Insurance in California: Costs, Laws, and Cheapest Companies (2026)

Cheapest car insurance quotes after a DUI in California

The average cost of car insurance following a DUI in California is $129 per month for a liability-only policy and $270 for full coverage.

The table below shows the cheapest insurers for drivers with a DUI in California.

The below rates in California are estimated rates current as of: Wednesday, June 24 at 5:00 PM PDT. 

Insurance Company	Average Monthly Quote: Liability Only
USAA	$91
Aspire General	$92
Sun Coast	$98
GEICO	$99
National General	$101
Mercury	$109
Dairyland	$112
Root	$122
Direct Auto	$123
Allstate	$126
Farmers	$129
Anchor	$134
Kemper Special	$140
Bristol West	$140
State Farm	$140
Travelers	$147
21st Century	$154
Kemper Rsvp	$155
Nationwide	$198
Chubb	$249

Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time California car insurance quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual car insurance quotes in California may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

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How a DUI affects car insurance rates in California

Having a DUI on your record generally increases car insurance rates, but the extent of the increase depends on several factors. In California, you’ll pay an average of 32% more for car insurance after a DUI.

Several factors typically affect your car insurance rates following a DUI conviction:

• BAC level: The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will suspend your license for four months after an arrest if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08% or higher. If you’re convicted, you’ll lose your license for six to 10 months. If your BAC is over 0.20%, the state will automatically suspend your license for 10 months.^[1]

• Prior offenses: A first DUI offense results in a four-month license suspension, while a second or subsequent offense means you’ll lose your license for 12 months.

• Age: Drivers older than 21 with a BAC of 0.08% or higher face a license suspension. Drivers younger than 21 who have a BAC of 0.01% or more can lose their driving privileges for a full year.

• Coverage levels: Full-coverage car insurance costs more than liability-only coverage, and decreasing coverage amounts can also lower your premiums.

The following table shows average liability rates in California for drivers with a DUI and without a DUI.

Best car insurance companies after a DUI in California

The best car insurance company for you after a DUI depends on your individual circumstances. We’ve vetted several companies based on rates, coverage offerings, verified user reviews, and third-party industry ratings.

Below are our top picks.

Aspire General: Best for cheap rates after a DUI in California

cheap rates after a DUI in California

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User Reviews	4.0 149 reviews
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.	$68/mo
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.	$121/mo

Details

Driver Reviews

4.0

Best choice in CaliforniaBased on 149 verified driver reviews and ratings

	Aspire General's score	Industry average
Coverage options	3.7	3.2
Customer service	3.1	3.6
Discounts	3.7	2.9
Policy transparency	3.9	3.1
Value	3.7	2.9

Showing 7 reviews from California driversSee all 25 Aspire General reviews

John

Verified Purchase

Cheap and Legal

Reviewed in California on April 23, 2026

So far, so good. I hope I don't need them! It's a little tough to get a real agent on the phone, but once you do, they take care of business.

Phillip

Verified Purchase

Not good so far

Reviewed in California on February 12, 2026

Well, they said my auto-pay didn't go through when the money was in the account, so then for them to run my payment, I was charged a $6 fee. They also changed my address to my girlfriend's address when I only stay there 1 or 2 days a week, which raised my policy cost by almost $100 a month. So that was also troubling.

Karla

Verified Purchase

Amazing service

Reviewed in California on January 19, 2026

Amazing

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Our Advice

JD Power

J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.

Not rated

NAIC Index

Average amount of customer complaints relative to competitors on a 0-5 scale. A lower score represents fewer complaints.

Not rated

A.M. Best

A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).

B++

Why we picked this company

Aspire General is a small insurer that specializes in offering low rates to drivers with a DUI or another infraction that can increase premiums. Coverage through Aspire General is typically cheaper than the state average for drivers with a DUI, whether for full coverage or liability only.

Additionally, the company offers bilingual support, which benefits Spanish-speaking drivers in California.

Pros

• Low insurance rates for California drivers with a DUI

• Bilingual customer support

• 24/7 claims submission

Cons

• Not rated by J.D. Power

• Higher-than-average number of complaints with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)

• Low Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating

GEICO: Best for customer experience after a DUI in California

customer experience after a DUI in California

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User Reviews	4.0 19,021 reviews
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.	9.2 /10
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.	$71/mo
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.	$143/mo

Details

Driver Reviews

4.0

Best choice in CaliforniaBased on 19,021 verified driver reviews and ratings

	GEICO's score	Industry average
Coverage options	4.0	3.2
Customer service	4.1	3.6
Discounts	3.9	2.9
Policy transparency	4.0	3.1
Value	3.8	2.9

How drivers feel about GEICO

Customers appreciate the reliability and customer service but find the rates to be high and increase frequently, even without claims or accidents. The app has improved, but some find the claims process lacking.

Based on analysis of verified reviews collected by Insurify

---

Best in California for

Teen drivers

Cheap rates

Accident forgiveness

Showing 75 reviews from California driversSee all 7,851 GEICO reviews

David

Verified Review

Excellent

Reviewed in California on June 25, 2026

Never had any problems or shortcomings with GEICO in 15 years of service.

Dennis

Verified Review

I am a loyal customer and haven’t had any issues in 40 years. I had a slight fender bender, my fault - no damage to my car, but the other party got a crooked lawyer/doctor and made a large medical claim, which Geico paid off as a joke lawsuit. The downside is now my rates have gone up and no other insurance company will take me for 3 years. I would really appreciate it if Geico could find a way to help a poor senior living on social security.

Reviewed in California on May 28, 2026

I am a loyal customer and haven’t had any issues in 40 years. I had a slight fender bender, my fault - no damage to my car, but the other party got a crooked lawyer/doctor and made a large medical claim, which Geico paid off as a joke lawsuit. The downside is now my rates have gone up and no other insurance company will take me for 3 years. I would really appreciate it if Geico could find a way to help a poor senior living on social security.

Thomas

Verified Review

Don't trust GEICO

Reviewed in California on May 26, 2026

Read all legal documents. They classified my student as a Named Driver Excluded, and when she drove one day with my permission, she was in a low-impact collision at a stoplight, less than 10 mph. They denied the claim due to classifying her as Excluded when I requested she be marked as not living with me and attending school, which is an Inactive status. Now they have put me and my family in a difficult position as I'm now required to pay for the property damage.

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Our Advice

JD Power

J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.

626

NAIC Index

Average amount of customer complaints relative to competitors on a 0-5 scale. A lower score represents fewer complaints.

0.59

A.M. Best

A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).

A++

Why we picked this company

In addition to offering low rates for drivers with a DUI, GEICO scores well for customer service. The insurer has a high IQ Score, which signals excellent customer satisfaction, financial strength, affordability, and transparency.

GEICO also scores above average in the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Auto Insurance Study for overall customer satisfaction.

Pros

• High IQ Score

• Above-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating in California

• Low insurance rates for drivers with a DUI

Cons

• No new-car replacement coverage available

• Poor Trustpilot reviews

• No agent presence in California

USAA: Best for veterans after a DUI in California

veterans after a DUI in California

Compare Quotes

User Reviews	4.9 3,869 reviews
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.	9.1 /10
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.	$65/mo
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.	$144/mo

Details

Driver Reviews

4.9

Best choice in CaliforniaBased on 3,869 verified driver reviews and ratings

	USAA's score	Industry average
Coverage options	4.9	3.2
Customer service	4.8	3.6
Discounts	4.9	2.9
Policy transparency	4.9	3.1
Value	4.9	2.9

How drivers feel about USAA

Customers appreciate the insurer’s reliable customer service and claim handling but express concerns about high rates and frequent price increases. Some also find the insurer’s security protocols and communication methods frustrating.

Based on analysis of verified reviews collected by Insurify

---

Best in California for

Members of the military community

Outstanding customer service

Competitive rates

Showing 21 reviews from California driversSee all 1,603 USAA reviews

Kristina

Verified Review

You're the Only One Who Cares About You - Your Safety, Your Money, and Your Bottom Line

Reviewed in California on May 5, 2026

Move out of or stay out of California; it's an insurance rip-off and joke. It doesn't matter if you have a pristine driving record (like me, 30+ years as a licensed driver, zero tickets, zero accidents, zero claims - still screwed!). As long as there are people encouraged to break the law, you're going to foot the bill. First and foremost, be a responsible driver, drive defensively, pay attention, and keep your head on a swivel. Understand that no one else out there cares about you, your life, your vehicle, or your money, so you have to do right by yourself and your family alone. My next best advice to help ensure you can have your own back, because not everyone can even qualify for USAA (but if you do qualify for USAA, bar none, there is no better insurer out there, period!), is to figure out how to self-insure. Pay the premiums to yourself, invest in a no-touch type of account to accumulate your premiums and get an actual return on that investment. Then, if the worst-case scenario happens and you need to handle business, guess what - you can pay for it yourself. Your claim won't be denied, and your rates won't go up if, God forbid, you get in an accident, nor will you be denied coverage. These days, you're going to foot the bill, one way or another, most likely for you and the other party involved, so you might as well be your own insurer and quit paying premiums to another company who will forget that you've been footing the bill for all these years with no claims the moment you actually need them.

Courtney

Verified Review

USAA

Reviewed in California on April 21, 2026

Rates are too high for Tesla vehicles, otherwise excellent.

Richard

Verified Review

USAA Outstanding!

Reviewed in California on March 23, 2026

Outstanding. I have only had to use it once for an accident, but USAA was so helpful. I have been with them for 30+ years and lived in Rhode Island, England, as well as California.

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Our Advice

JD Power

J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.

747

NAIC Index

Average amount of customer complaints relative to competitors on a 0-5 scale. A lower score represents fewer complaints.

1.31

A.M. Best

A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).

A++

Why we picked this company

California is home to more than 1.8 million veterans and about 162,000 active-duty military personnel.^[2] USAA serves military members and offers some of the cheapest car insurance coverage after a DUI. The insurer also offers unique benefits to military members, including discounts for car storage while deployed and for garaging your car on base.

Pros

• Some of the cheapest rates for California drivers with a DUI

• High J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating

• Unique benefits for military members

Cons

• Available only to active-duty military, veterans, and qualifying family members

• No 24/7 customer phone support

• Fewer discounts than some competing insurers

How to get car insurance after a DUI in California

Getting affordable car insurance in California can be harder if you have a DUI, but it’s not impossible. Follow these steps to find the right coverage for you:

1. Compare quotes. Getting quotes from several insurers that cover high-risk drivers can help you find the right coverage at the best price.^[3]

2. Choose the right coverage. California requires drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance. You can purchase more than the state minimum or add comprehensive or collision coverage, but it’ll increase your premiums.

3. Buy a policy. Once you find the right coverage for your needs, you can buy your policy online, over the phone, or in person with an agent.

4. File an SR-22 form. An SR-22 form offers proof that you’ve met the state’s minimum liability insurance requirements. Ask your insurer to file an SR-22 with the California DMV for you.

5. Reinstate your license. Once your suspension ends, you can reinstate your license by paying a $125 fee and filing proof of insurance (SR-22).^[4]

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DUI laws in California

California has strict penalties for anyone arrested for or convicted of driving under the influence. Below, you can learn more about what to expect.

DUI penalties in California

The California DMV is required by law to suspend or revoke your license if you’re arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The length of your license suspension depends on your age, the number of offenses, and your BAC level.

• The state will suspend your license for four months if you’re arrested for DUI, it’s your first offense, you’re 21 or older, and your BAC is above 0.08%.

• If you’re convicted of a DUI, it’s your first offense, and you’re 21 or older, you’ll lose your license for six to 10 months.

• If your BAC was over 0.20% at the time of your arrest, it’s your first offense, and you’re 21 or older, you’ll face a 10-month license suspension. You’ll also need to complete a nine-month DUI program.

• For a second or subsequent offense if you’re 21 or older, or if you’re younger than 21 with a BAC of 0.01% or more, you’ll lose your license for 12 months.

If you refuse to take a chemical test to measure your blood alcohol level, you could face one of the following suspensions:

• First offense: One-year suspension

• Second offense within 10 years: Two-year revocation

• Third or subsequent offense within 10 years: Three-year revocation

By law, you can continue driving for 30 days after receiving a suspension or revocation order. Your suspension begins once those 30 days are up.

The court may also require you to install an ignition interlock device (IID) if you need to retain driving privileges to get to and from work. You must provide the court with proof of installation by an authorized installer.

How long does a DUI stay on your record in California?

A DUI conviction will stay on your record for 10 years in California.^[5] Any subsequent DUIs will increase the length of time the infraction stays on your record and can make it harder to find affordable car insurance.

SR-22 requirements in California

Once your license suspension ends, you can reinstate your license by providing the DMV with proof that you’ve completed a DUI program and by filing an SR-22 form. California law requires you to maintain an SR-22 for three years once you get your license back.

Minimum car insurance requirements in CA after a DUI

California’s minimum liability insurance requirements are as follows:

• $30,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person

• $60,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per accident

• $15,000 for property damage liability coverage

After a DUI, these requirements stay the same. But you must prove that you have minimum coverage by filing an SR-22 for three years following your license reinstatement. In California, a DUI stays on your driving record for 10 years.

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How to lower DUI insurance costs in California

After a DUI, a premium increase is unavoidable. But you can take several steps to lower your costs and find a policy that fits your budget.

• Compare quotes from at least three insurers. Check that each insurer is licensed to do business in California.

• Choose a higher deductible. If you have a full-coverage policy, increasing your deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage can lower your premiums.

• Drop full coverage. If you’re one of the 68.2% of Californians who own their vehicles, you don’t have a lender requiring you to maintain comprehensive and collision coverage. Dropping these can lower your premiums, though this isn’t always recommended.

• Consider a California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan (CAARP). This plan is intended for high-risk drivers with multiple incidents, such as DUIs, who can’t find standard car insurance. All insurers in the program must charge the same premiums and allow you to pay in installments.

DUI car insurance in California FAQs