For those individuals with a DUI, auto insurance is going to become even more costly starting this year. According to figures just being released, a single DUI charge could mean that you will have to pay up to $2500 or more for your automobile insurance coverage. This is only the beginning of the bad news because the rates are expected to go even higher in 2010.

No one should drink and drive and the higher premiums are being hailed as proof of how serious an issue driving under the influence has become. More law enforcement agencies are making a concerted effort to crackdown on drunk drivers and those that fail to obey the laws are going to have to pay the price.

Holidays and weekends are the times when DUI charges soar across the nation and this is when law enforcement is most vigilant about patrolling the roads. You do not have to be in an accident to rack up a charge of driving under the influence. If you have been drinking and come upon a routine license check you may find that the officers suddenly become very interested in learning more about you. A simple 1st offense can raise your insurance rates, even though there was no accident involved. If you are involved in a motor vehicle mishap and you have been drinking, the charges and penalties are going to mount quickly.

You can rest assured that your insurance company is going to find out about your driving activities. They access those DMV records on a routine basis. A license suspension for a DUI guarantees that your premiums will skyrocket. In fact, DUI auto insurance coverage is not something that every insurance company will even handle. Your insurance may disappear right along with that suspended license.

Many states currently require a special type of DUI auto insurance in instances where a driver has been charged with “operating a vehicle while under the influence”. This type of coverage is called SR-22 and it has to be filed and verified before you can have any hope of driving your car legally in the future. SR-22 auto insurance is usually mandatory for a period of 36 months following a conviction such as DUI.

If the insurance company that presently provides you with auto coverage does not offer SR-22 you must find a provider that will insure you. This type of auto insurance is very costly to obtain. Unfortunately, you have no other alternative and you cannot simply wait it out for 3 years. Even if you could deal with the inconvenience and problems of not having a car and driver’s license for 36 months, you would still have to file for SR-22 insurance before getting your license reinstated. This is a non-negotiable part of the price you have to pay for a DUI offense.