Auto Insurance After a DUI in Georgia

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Drivers in the Peach State already pay more than the national average for full coverage car insurance, and drivers with DUI convictions pay even more. On average, Georgia drivers face an 84 percent increase in their annual premium for a full coverage policy following a DUI. Aside from paying higher insurance rates for at least three years, a Georgia DUI can get even more expensive when you account for additional fines and penalties imposed by the state. Bankrate’s insurance editorial team examines what you need to know about the cost of car insurance after a DUI in Georgia.

DUIs in Georgia

Driving under the influence, whether it is from alcohol or other intoxicating substances, is a danger to yourself and other drivers, passengers and pedestrians. In 2022, there were 507 alcohol-impaired fatalities in Georgia, where drivers had blood alcohol content at or above 0.08. The consequences of receiving a DUI conviction are long-lasting, impacting the ability to maintain your driver’s license and increasing the rate of your car insurance for years. 

DUI laws in Georgia

Many people associate DUIs with drinking and driving, but Georgia DUI law 40-6-391 shows that DUI convictions extend to additional substances that also alter your state of mind. Drivers may receive a DUI for any of the following:

• Driving under the influence of alcohol
• Driving under the influence of prescription or non-prescription drugs (including marijuana)
• Driving under the influence of glue, aerosol, or other toxic vapor
• Driving under the combined influence of two of the previously mentioned substances
• Driving with a BAC of 0.08 or higher 

DUI penalties in Georgia

A Georgia DUI conviction may result in multiple penalties, which increase in severity with each subsequent infraction. Below is a breakdown of how DUI penalties increase with additional infractions. 

First DUI conviction:

• Possible jail sentence of up to one year
• A fine ranging from $300 to $1,000
• A license suspension of up to one year and a $210 fee for reinstatement
• 40 hours of community service 

Second DUI conviction within five years of the first offense:

• A minimum of 48 hours of jail
• A possible jail sentence between 90 days and a year
• A fine of at least $600, up to $1,000
• A license suspension for up to three years plus the reinstatement fee
• At least 30 days of community service
• Mandatory clinical evaluation and possibly a treatment program at the offender’s expense.

Third DUI conviction within five years of the second offense

• A minimum sentence of 15 days in jail
• A fine of at least $1,000, up to $5,000
• A license suspension for five years
• At least 30 days of community service
• Clinical evaluation and completion of a treatment program at the offender’s expense
• Drivers must pay to have their name, picture and address published in the local newspaper
• Habitual violators will have their vehicle seized and sent to the Department of Motor Vehicle Safety 

In addition to the above-mentioned penalties, drivers with two or more DUI convictions will also have an ignition interlocking device installed in their vehicle at their own expense for at least six months.  

DUI penalties for underage drinkers in Georgia

Drivers between the ages of 15 and 21 fall under Georgia’s zero-tolerance policy and much tighter restrictions. The BAC limit for underage drivers is 0.02. If caught driving with a BAC of 0.02 or higher, underage drivers will likely be charged with a DUI. 

Penalties can be slightly different for drivers under 18 than for drivers between the ages of 18 and 21. Drivers convicted of a DUI under 18 must delay obtaining their graduate driver’s license for 12 months. Drivers over 18 who already have driver’s licenses will likely have their licenses suspended for at least six months. 

As a part of the zero-tolerance policy, drivers under 21 are not eligible for a license suspension exception to drive to work or school.  

How does a DUI affect car insurance in Georgia?

To an insurance provider, a DUI can be indicative of future reckless behavior. If you get a DUI in Georgia, car insurance companies apply surcharges and reevaluate the overall rate of the policy, which usually creates a steep premium increase. On average, drivers in Georgia with a single DUI conviction pay $4,988 per year for full coverage of car insurance — an increase of 84 percent. 

Cheap auto insurance after a DUI in Georgia

Finding cheap car insurance after a DUI can be challenging. Not all carriers will write policies for someone who has been convicted of a DUI, so Georgia drivers with DUIs may need to seek out high-risk auto insurance. To help give you an idea of what you might pay for coverage following a DUI, Bankrate’s insurance editorial team compared average post-DUI rates from some of the nation’s top auto insurance companies.

How to find affordable car insurance in Georgia after a DUI

With the average cost of car insurance already busting the monthly budget of most Americans, the increase to your auto insurance rate from a DUI may be difficult to manage. The average time an insurance policy is surcharged for a DUI in Georgia is three years, and the rate will usually decline slightly each year during the policy surcharge period. However, there are steps you can take to lower the cost of your car insurance in the meantime. 

• Look for discount opportunities: Work with your agent to acquire any car insurance discounts that you may be eligible for. Drivers with DUI aren’t usually eligible for the standard defensive driver discount, but that stipulation varies between carriers — it doesn’t hurt to ask. Other discounts to consider are telematics, professional affiliation discounts or a bundling discount if you keep your auto and home policy with the same carrier.
• Shop rates with other carriers: Not all carriers rate driving activity the same. Comparing rates with multiple carriers may help you find an auto company with more competitive pricing.
• Improve your credit score: In states that use credit-based insurance scores, drivers with poor credit pay drastically higher rates even without a DUI on their record. Improving your credit score isn’t fast or easy, but it can save you hundreds of dollars on car insurance in the long run.
• Strive to be incident-free: Having a clean driving record is one of the best ways to earn lower insurance rates. Most carriers offer safe driving discounts for policyholders who are incident-free for at least three years. Depending on the carrier, other benefits for drivers who have been incident-free for a certain period are free accident forgiveness or diminishing deductibles.

Frequently asked questions

• What happens if you get a DUI in Georgia?
  

  A DUI in Georgia as a first-time offender can be punishable with up to one year of jail time, fines up to $1,000, a maximum one-year license suspension and 40 hours of community service — not to mention a potentially substantial increase in your insurance rates as a result of being labeled a high-risk driver by providers. You may also need to find an insurer that will file an SR-22 on your behalf with the state, proving you carry the required minimum insurance coverage.

• How will a DUI in Georgia impact my criminal record?
  

  If you are convicted of a DUI in Georgia, that information will be given to the Georgia Crime and Information Center. It will also be noted in your Motor Vehicle Report (MVR). It will remain there permanently and may have a profound impact on you in the future if anyone, such as a potential employer or landlord, does a criminal background check on you. However, car insurance companies typically only consider DUIs from the past 10 years when determining rates, so maintaining a clean driving record might bring your rates back down over time.

• Is a DUI a felony in Georgia?
  

  Most of the time, a DUI is considered a misdemeanor. However, there are certain situations where a DUI could be regarded as a felony — such as having multiple previous DUI arrests or a DUI that resulted in the death or injuries of others.

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze April 2024 rates for ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:

• $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $50,000 property damage liability per accident
• $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
• $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
• $500 collision deductible
• $500 comprehensive deductible 

To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2022 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.

These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.

Incidents: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base) and single DUI conviction.