Getting a DUI is a serious offense. Not only will it cost you money in court fees and fines, you will also be left with a big black mark on your driving record. And, your license to drive will likely be suspended for some time.
When you get your license back, your troubles may still continue when it comes to your auto insurance. Your auto insurance company may decide to cancel your policy if you are convicted of a DUI, and if they don’t, they will probably hit you with sky-high rates. When you get a DUI, your insurance company automatically places you in the high-risk driver category.
If you and your spouse are on the same policy and your spouse gets a DUI, you may be wondering how you can keep your own insurance rates from rising. There are approaches to this situation, so let’s look at a few.
The Insurance Company’s Perspective
Most families have a multi-car, multi-driver policy that covers the family’s vehicles and drivers. IN this situation, insurance companies take into account every driver in the household when setting the rates for your vehicle. For each driver, the insurance company will consider the driver’s gender, age and of course, driving history.
So, if your spouse gets a DUI, your insurance rates will likely go up. However, there are some ways to help.
How To Exclude Your Spouse
One way is to exclude your spouse from the policy. As long as you are the registered owner of the insured vehicle, and you do not own it jointly with your spouse, you may be able to exclude your spouse. If you are not the sole registered owner, you may want to transfer the vehicle ownership to your name.
Here’s the catch though. If you exclude your spouse, they cannot, under any circumstances drive the vehicle you have excluded them from. If they do and are caught, this is actually considered insurance fraud and carries stiff penalties and a sure cancellation of your policy and maybe even an arrest.
How to Get Auto Insurance for a Spouse With a DUI
If you have excluded your spouse so that your own rate does not go up, you may still be faced with the dilemma of how to get insurance for your spouse (assuming their license is reinstated).
Many households simply take out a separate insurance policy for the spouse with a DUI. Just because they are excluded from your policy, does not mean they can’t get their own policy.
When a spouse gets a DUI, it can be difficult, but not impossible, to keep your car insurance premiums as low as possible. The InsuranceWins fast and easy form let’s you obtain quotes from major carries, no matter what your situation. So, compare quotes to find the best policy for you and your spouse after a DUI.
