Will my husband’s DUI affect my car insurance rates?

Car insurance companies base their rates on information gathered about the vehicle’s owner and any other drivers in the household. The age, gender and driving history of all people with access to a vehicle will play a role in determining the cost of the car insurance.

This means that the policyholder is not the only person whose driving record affects the cost of premiums, and an individual who lives with a high-risk driver may experience a rate increase as a result of it. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the cost of insurance and prevent bad drivers in your home from increasing the cost of your policy.

Excluded Drivers

Some insurance policies only cover people who are specifically listed as drivers. Most insurance policies, however, will extend to anyone who routinely drives the vehicle or has access to it. This includes everyone in the home including the insured’s spouse and children. If one of those drivers has a DUI or other major mark against their policy, they will cause the rates to increase because the insurance company assumes that they will have access to the vehicle and may drive it.

In order to remove this threat from your policy, you can exclude other drivers from your insurance. This means that those drivers will not have access to your vehicle and that their driving habits will not affect your premiums. It also means that if they get involved in any accidents in the vehicle that the claim will not be covered. You may also be charged with insurance fraud if you willfully allow excluded drivers to operate your vehicle.

If you do choose to exclude your spouse from your policy, be sure that you are the registered owner on the car. If you own the vehicle jointly, you may or may not be able to exclude them from the policy; check with the insurance company to make sure. In some cases, insuring a vehicle that you do not own and excluding the registered owner can cause problems with the insurance company and may lead to a policy cancellation or non-renewal.

What Happens if an Excluded Driver Wrecks a Car?

If the excluded driver does choose to drive a vehicle on the policy, any damage that they cause will not be covered by the auto insurance. The insurance company will deny the claim, and the vehicle’s registered owner will be responsible for paying any damage out of pocket. This could result in substantial lawsuits and may damage the individual’s credit as claims are paid off over time.

Allowing an excluded driver to use your vehicle may also be considered insurance fraud. This will cause your insurance policy to be canceled, and you may have criminal charges levied against you. Once your policy has been canceled for any reason, it can be difficult to get a new policy for an affordable rate. This is especially true for insurance fraud as many companies will not want to take the risk on someone who has committed fraud in the past.

What if an Excluded Driver Needs to Drive?

There is an option available for some households where a single driver’s bad driving history can cause rates to increase for everyone. If that person still has a license and needs to continue driving, their vehicle can be insured on a separate policy while they are excluded from the family’s main policy. This is especially helpful for teenagers when they receive their first car, but it can be used for spouses with a history of DUI or any other family member whose habits cause a rate increase.

Depending on the situation, carrying two separate policies may or may not save you money. If you have a large family policy with several vehicles, a separate policy for the high-risk driver may be the most cost-efficient option. On the other hand, if you only have two vehicles, it may be more affordable to carry both vehicles on the same policy even if one driver is high risk.

Living with a high-risk driver will not affect your driving history, but it will affect the cost of insurance for any vehicle they have access to. If you’re searching for ways to save money on your insurance, you can check with your company to see if there are any ways to reduce the cost of coverage without excluding your husband or other family member. You may also be able to find an affordable high-risk insurance policy with a different carrier by shopping around online.

Case Studies

Case Study 1: Excluding High-Risk Drivers from Your Policy

In this case study, we explore the scenario where a policyholder wants to prevent their car insurance rates from increasing due to their spouse’s DUI conviction. By excluding the high-risk driver from their insurance policy, they aim to mitigate the impact on their premiums. However, we discuss the potential consequences of this decision, including the denial of coverage for any accidents involving the excluded driver.

Case Study 2: Insuring High-Risk Drivers on Separate Policies

This case study examines an alternative approach for households with high-risk drivers. By insuring the high-risk driver’s vehicle on a separate policy, while excluding them from the family’s main policy, the policyholder seeks to maintain lower rates for other household members. We discuss the cost-efficiency of carrying separate policies and the potential benefits and drawbacks of this strategy.

Case Study 3: Long-Term Effects of a DUI Conviction on Car Insurance Rates

In this case study, we delve into the duration of the impact of a DUI conviction on car insurance rates. We explore how different insurance companies and states handle DUI convictions and provide a general timeline for the effects on premiums. However, we emphasize that specific timelines may vary, highlighting the importance of shopping around and comparing rates from multiple insurers.

Case Study 4: Seeking Alternative Insurance Providers for High-Risk Drivers

Here, we discuss the possibility of finding car insurance companies that do not increase rates for household members with DUI convictions. We acknowledge that while some providers may offer more lenient policies, it is crucial to conduct thorough research and compare rates from multiple insurers to find the best option for the particular situation.

Case Study 5: Obtaining Individual Car Insurance for a Driver with a DUI Conviction

In this case study, we explore the option of obtaining an individual car insurance policy for a driver with a DUI conviction. We highlight the potential higher costs associated with such policies and stress the importance of shopping around to find the most affordable coverage. Additionally, we provide insights into the process of obtaining insurance after a DUI conviction.