The hidden financial consequence of pleading guilty to a DUI

On Behalf of | Jan 31, 2025 | DUI Defense

A driving under the influence (DUI) offense in Florida can be relatively expensive. Motorists can expect to pay fines in addition to court costs. Despite those potentially significant financial obligations, many motorists decide to plead guilty. They don’t want to take the case to trial and risk embarrassing themselves or increasing the expense that they have to cover.

Unfortunately, what seems like a reasonable solution may lead to worse financial consequences than people initially anticipate. Pleading guilty to a DUI can cost a driver thousands of dollars more than they expect because they may experience a major surge in their insurance costs.

A DUI makes a driver a source of risk

Insurance companies make money by collecting premiums on insurance policies and investing capital to generate returns on those premiums. The more they have to pay out for individual policyholders who cause crashes or make claims, the lower the profit margins for the company.

Insurance companies therefore tend to base policy premiums on the amount of risk that individual drivers pose. Factors including driving history and the value of a vehicle directly influence the cost of coverage. A DUI conviction is one of the most concerning blemishes a driver could have on their record. After pleading guilty, drivers can expect their policy costs to increase significantly.

According to an analysis of policy costs, the average policy in Florida costs $3,451 without any significant blemishes on the motorist’s record. After a DUI conviction, drivers can expect their costs to increase significantly. The average policy costs are $5,457 for a driver with a single DUI conviction. That is a 58% increase in annual insurance costs.

In some cases, insurance companies may not agree to underwrite a driver’s policy anymore after a DUI conviction. Especially if a motorist has a prior offense on their record, any subsequent DUI conviction might represent more risk than the company is willing to accept.

Learning more about the true costs of a DUI conviction may help those facing charges make informed choices about how they respond. Identifying hidden expenses, like insurance costs, can help drivers choose the best path forward after a DUI arrest.