Car Insurance After a DUI in Texas (2024)
Drivers in Texas with a DUI pay an average of $197 per month for liability-only car insurance.
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Written byStephanie Colestock
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Founder of personal finance site TomorrowsDollar.com
Candidate for CFP® certification
Stephanie is a DC-based freelance writer specializing in personal finance. Her work covers insurance, loans, real estate investing, retirement, and more.
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Edited byKatie Powers
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Licensed auto and home insurance agent
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
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Updated September 16, 2024
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Table of contents
Driving under the influence of alcohol can affect your reaction time and judgment behind the wheel. It’s illegal in Texas and throughout the U.S. to drive while buzzed or drunk. In almost every state, it’s illegal to have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or more. In Utah, the limit is 0.05 g/dL.[1]
DUI convictions result in penalties, fines, and increased auto insurance rates for several years. The average cost of liability car insurance for a Texas driver with a past DUI is $197 per month, which is higher than the state average of $119.
Here’s what you need to know about finding car insurance after a DUI in Texas.
Quick Facts
Drivers can receive a DUI or DWI conviction in Texas if operating a motor vehicle while impaired.
DUI and DWI convictions can affect your ability to keep or buy auto insurance.
In addition to paying higher rates, drivers with a past DUI may need to have their insurer file an SR-22 certificate on their behalf.
DUI insurance rates in Texas
It’s easy to see how a DUI can affect your driving costs when comparing the average liability insurance premiums after a DUI conviction to average insurance rates in Texas.
▲▼ | Clean Driving Record ▲▼ | With DUI ▲▼ |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | $119 | $197 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
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Cheapest DUI insurance in Texas
While you can expect to pay more for your auto insurance coverage after getting a DUI conviction, some car insurance companies offer lower premiums than others.
Here are some of the cheapest DUI insurance options in Texas.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Sunday, September 1 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Liability Only ▲▼ | Full Coverage ▲▼ | 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. ▲▼ |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $37 | $67 | 9.3 |
| GEICO | $40 | $73 | 9.0 |
| Allstate | $52 | $94 | 8.9 |
| USAA | $66 | $119 | 9.4 |
| Nationwide | $83 | $165 | 8.7 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Our editorial team spent more than 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. The team weighted criteria by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.
We rate each company on a 1 to 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.
- Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
- Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 28,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
- Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the U.S., as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
- Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
- Availability and reach: Insurify scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.
The basics of DUI insurance in Texas
Some states have a specified lookback period, which limits the length of time that someone, like a potential employer, can look back into your record and see offenses such as DUIs. But Texas has a lifetime lookback period.[2] This means that anyone authorized to check your driving or criminal record can see your DUI conviction, regardless of how long it’s been, unless you somehow get it expunged or sealed.
This will also affect the auto insurance-buying process because insurance companies can see your overall driving record and DUI conviction. It can be difficult to buy the coverage you want at the price you need, so you’ll likely need to shop around with multiple insurers before making a decision.
Even after you find an insurance company that will offer you a policy, you can expect to pay much higher car insurance premiums than Texas drivers with a clean record. Texas drivers with a past DUI pay $197 per month for liability insurance and $406 for full-coverage car insurance, compared to the national average costs of $104 for liability and $211 for full coverage.
How long will a DUI affect your car insurance premium?
Because Texas has a lifetime lookback period limit, insurance companies can potentially see your past DUI or multiple DUIs forever. This means a previous conviction has the potential to affect your insurance premiums for many years to come.
Insurance companies will charge you higher premiums to account for the added risk you may pose of future accidents and claims. But you’ll likely receive lower premiums over time if you remain free of repeat convictions.
DUI penalties for drivers in Texas
Potential penalties you can face for a DUI in Texas include license suspension, fines, and jail time, depending on the details of the conviction, your overall driving history, and how many prior DUIs you’ve received.
Learn more about penalties for a first, second, and third DUI or DWI conviction in Texas below.
First offense: You’ll lose your driver’s license for up to one year, pay a fine of up to $2,000, and can spend up to 180 days in jail upon conviction (three mandatory days).
Second offense: Upon conviction, you’ll lose your driver’s license for up to two years, pay a fine of up to $4,000, and may spend between one month and one year in prison.
Third offense: You’ll lose your driver’s license for up to two years, pay a fine of up to $10,000, and spend between two and 10 years in prison.
You may also have to pay state fines ranging from $3,000 to $6,000 upon sentencing.
If you have a child in the vehicle with you when driving under the influence, you’ll face even harsher penalties. Impaired driving with a minor child includes a child endangerment charge and an additional fine of up to $10,000. You could lose your driver’s license for another 180 days and also spend up to two years in jail upon conviction.[3]
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SR-22 certificate in Texas
Also known as a financial responsibility insurance certificate, an SR-22 form affirms that a high-risk driver carries at least state-minimum auto insurance coverage. Your insurance company will have to file it with the state for you. In addition to your liability coverage costs, many insurers also charge a small fee for filing an SR-22 form with the DMV.
Texas requires SR-22 insurance for some people with certain traffic violations, such as DUIs, multiple convictions for driving without insurance, or license suspension following an accident. When you hold an SR-22 certificate, your insurer will notify the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) of any insurance coverage changes, terminations, lapses, or cancellations.[4]
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Learn More: The Complete Guide to SR-22 Insurance
DUI car insurance in Texas FAQs
The following information can help answer your remaining questions about buying car insurance in Texas after a DUI.
How long does a DUI affect your insurance in Texas?
A DUI in Texas can theoretically affect your insurance premiums forever because the Lone Star State doesn’t have a maximum lookback period. An old conviction can still affect your car insurance rates and ability to shop for coverage — unless you have your DUI conviction expunged or your insurer only looks back at your driving record for a certain number of years. But the longer you drive without any other infractions, the more likely you are to see your rates begin to drop.
What is the best car insurance for a DUI in Texas?
The most affordable auto insurance company for Texas drivers with a past DUI is State Farm, which charges an average of $61 per month for liability-only coverage.
Do you have to tell your insurance company about a DUI conviction?
Most states don’t legally require drivers to inform their insurance company about a DUI. But an existing or new insurer will have access to your driving record when you buy or renew a policy. Insurance companies may even look into your driving record at regular intervals while you carry coverage. Even if you don’t tell your insurance company when it happens, the company will likely find out soon enough.
Can your insurer cancel your car insurance after a DUI?
Yes. Your insurer can choose to cancel your auto insurance policy mid-term or not renew it following a DUI conviction. If that occurs, you may have a difficult time finding replacement coverage, especially at an affordable price.
How much does DUI insurance cost in Texas?
Auto insurance in Texas following a DUI conviction will cost about $197 per month on average for liability coverage and $406 for full coverage. The actual premiums you’ll pay depend on factors like your age, your location, the vehicle you drive, your driving record, and more.
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 50+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
- Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
- No additional coverage
- Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
- Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
Sources
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. "Drunk Driving."
- Responsibility.org. "State Law: DUI Look-Back Periods."
- Texas Department of Transportation. "Impaired driving and penalties - DUI/DWI."
- Texas Department of Public Safety. "Financial Responsibility Insurance Certificate (SR-22)."
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Stephanie Colestock
Stephanie is a DC-based freelance writer and Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI). She primarily covers personal finance topics such as insurance, loans, real estate investing, and retirement. Her work can be found on CBS, FOX Business, MSN, Yahoo! Finance, Business Insider, and more. When she isn't helping people plan for their financial futures, she is traveling, hiking with her kids, or writing for her own website, TomorrowsDollar.com. She can be reached on Twitter @stephcolestock
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
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