Getting a DUI can be especially costly in these states, study shows

State Watch Getting a DUI can be especially costly in these states, study shows Comments: by Jeremy Tanner - 07/04/26 9:30 AM ET Comments: Link copied by Jeremy Tanner - 07/04/26 9:30 AM ET Comments: Link copied

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(NEXSTAR) – In time for the Fourth of July, one of the more DUI-prone days of the year, a recent study ranked states based on how much a violation will increase a driver’s average insurance cost.

Analysts from financial marketplace LendingTree found that, among the detrimental consequences of a DUI conviction, there are major financial penalties – even if the crash doesn’t injure or kill anyone.

Insurance premiums jump by 74.5% on average, the study found, with drivers in some states facing sharply higher increases.

The study found that the top three states when it comes to the greatest post-DUI insurance increase, are North Carolina, California and Delaware, respectively.

RankStateAvg. annual premium beforeAvg. annual premium after% increase1North Carolina$1,208$4,640284.1%2California$2,600$6,135136.0%3Delaware$2,542$5,694124.0%4West Virginia$1,502$3,216114.1%5Kentucky$2,066$4,354110.7%6Indiana$1,490$3,122109.5%7Connecticut$2,651$5,464106.1%8Georgia$2,489$5,079104.1%9Michigan$2,440$4,961103.3%10Minnesota$1,998$4,053102.9%(Credit: LendingTree)

See the LendingTree website for the complete list of states.

Within each state, the study’s authors found that two groups of people see the largest increases in premiums – the youngest and oldest. Part of the reason is that insurance premiums for a 20-year-old and an 80-year-old are already the highest by age group before a DUI raises rates.

“Insurance companies are pricing for risk. Their data shows that people with a DUI are more likely to have a future car accident than a typical driver. Accidents cost insurance companies money in the form of claims payments, and they factor these potential costs into the rates they charge after a DUI.”
Rob Bhatt, LendingTree auto insurance expert and licensed insurance agent

According to AAA, every state in the US has laws that prohibit drinking with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher, while Utah has the lowest limit – .05%.

For those drivers convicted of a DUI, Bhatt had the following advice: try to reduce a sentence through a diversion program, compare insurance plans, stay on top of all paperwork requirements to avoid additional penalties, consider public transportation and practice good driving habits.

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