In most states, drivers face higher insurance premiums after a DWI conviction. However, North Carolina insurance companies charge a particularly steep premium, if they will insure you at all.
Why are insurance rates so high after a DWI conviction?
North Carolina insurance rates after a DWI conviction
The national average insurance rate for drivers without a DWI conviction is $1,674. That rate jumps to $3,336, an increase of 99%, after a DWI. While the starting premium for North Carlina drivers is lower than the national average at $1,325, the rate after a DWI increases 330% to $5,700. As you can see, a DWI conviction in North Carolina can cost you a lot of money in additional insurance premiums.
Why rates increase after a DWI
Auto insurance rates depend on several factors, such as age, gender, the type of car you drive and your driving history. Because one-third of all DWI offenders will get at least one additional DWI, insurance companies consider drivers with a DWI conviction to be a particularly high risk to insure. Additionally, drivers with a DWI conviction are more than four times as likely to die in a car crash than other drivers. Research also indicates that driving while intoxicated is one of the leading causes of car accident deaths.
The more likely your insurance company thinks you are to cause a serious accident, the more they will charge you in premiums. Additionally, some insurance companies may refuse to insure high-risk drivers, causing them to seek insurance in the high-risk market, which is typically more expensive.
