Updated: October 16, 2024
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The best insurer for minimum or full coverage is State Farm. It is also the cheapest for both coverage options. Travelers takes the second spot as the best insurer, while Progressive is the second cheapest for full and minimum coverage.
BestAuto InsuranceAfter a DUIBest Companies for DUI Insurance in 2023
As private companies, U.S. insurers can lawfully refuse to offer you insurance after a DUI conviction. If a company does offer car insurance after a DUI, the policy will be more expensive, because the driver is now considered high-risk. In Delaware, car insurance for drivers with DUI convictions is 74.66% more expensive than insurance for drivers without a DUI.
DUI convictions carry legal consequences as well. Delaware imposes license suspension and revocation, ignition interlocks and heavier penalties for repeat offenders.
State Farm and Progressive are the most affordable car insurance companies after a DUI nationwide. In Delaware, both firms offer the cheapest car insurance policies for drivers with a DUI on their records.
The following are the cheapest insurers for full coverage after a DUI in Delaware:
USAA is also one of the most affordable choices in Delaware. A full-coverage policy from USAA costs $1,110 per year. However, only U.S. military members, veterans and their families qualify.
| 1 | USAA | $1,110 |
| 2 | State Farm | $1,351 |
| 3 | Progressive | $1,940 |
| 4 | Nationwide | $2,198 |
| 5 | Travelers | $2,278 |
The cheapest companies for minimum coverage in Delaware after a DUI are the following:
Overall, USAA offers the cheapest rate ($615 per year), but its services are only available to members of the U.S. military, veterans and their families.
| USAA | $615 |
| State Farm | $874 |
| Progressive | $1,085 |
| Allstate | $1,311 |
| Travelers | $1,395 |
| Nationwide | $1,628 |
| GEICO | $1,774 |
| MetLife | $2,830 |
Each state has its own set of minimum coverage standards. While a policy with the minimum standards is the cheapest choice, it may not include valuable coverages. Increasing your car insurance coverage provides additional protection in the event of a liability claim.
In choosing car insurance coverage, you need to consider different factors, such as the state requirements, your finances, and how much insurance you need, among other considerations.
MoneyGeek compared the scores of several insurance companies in terms of affordability, customer satisfaction, financial stability and other factors. Based on our methodology, we found that State Farm is the best company for full and minimum coverage policies.
State Farm and Travelers are the best insurers for a full coverage policy in Delaware after a DUI. A full coverage policy offers more financial protection if a driver needs to make a claim in the future. It can also come with additional protections and bigger financial coverages that can benefit a high-risk driver.
A State Farm full coverage insurance policy for a person without a DUI costs $1,229 per year. With a DUI, the rate increases to $1,352, a 9.97% spike.
State Farm provides ridesharing insurance and other common coverages. It also offers discounts, such as student and excellent driver discounts. Young drivers may find that State Farm is one of the cheapest options for car insurance.
A full coverage Travelers policy costs $1,353 per year for persons without a DUI. The same coverage with a DUI costs $2,278 per year, a 68.43% increase.
Travelers offers unique discounts and add-on coverages, like roadside assistance, accident forgiveness, new car replacement and gap insurance. However, consumers cannot modify their deductibles or their better car replacement coverage.
State Farm and Travelers are the best companies for a minimum coverage policy after a DUI in Delaware. A minimum coverage policy may be the most cost-effective alternative, but it has significant drawbacks. For example, it may not cover a substantial portion of your financial liabilities in case of an accident.
A minimum coverage policy from State Farm costs $791 per year without a DUI, and $874 per year with a DUI, an average increase of 9.97%.
State Farm ranks well for financial stability, customer satisfaction, claims and affordability. While it offers common coverages, it lacks unique ones.
Without a DUI, a Travelers minimum coverage policy costs $820 per year. The cost increases to $1,395 per year with a DUI, a difference of 68.43%.
Travelers has an excellent score for financial stability and customer satisfaction and is a great option if you want additional coverages. Customers can also get discounts for new and hybrid vehicles.
Wherever you are in the country, insurance costs more if you’ve had a DUI. A full coverage car insurance in Delaware costs an average of $1,377 per year before a DUI. After a DUI, this price increases to $2,406 per year, a hefty 74.66% difference.
How long does a DUI affect the cost of your car insurance?
The look-back period is the time needed before a DUI is erased from a driver’s record. Some states, like Delaware, have multiple look-back periods.
In Delaware, the look-back period for a second offense is 10 years. This period increases to the driver’s lifetime for third and subsequent offenses, which means the DUI will permanently stay on a driver’s record.
Full Coverage
$1,377
Full Coverage
$2,406This is 75% more expensive.
Insurance companies consider drivers with DUI convictions high-risk drivers. They charge these drivers more for policies since they’re more likely to be involved in a future accident.
MoneyGeek’s auto insurance calculator below can give you an idea of insurance costs based on your particular needs.
MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator will give you a customized estimate of your auto insurance cost. It's free to use, requires no personal information and we won't send you any spam.
Rates updated:
Nov 19, 2024
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In addition to paying more for insurance, persons convicted of a DUI incur expenses, such as:
Privately-held insurance companies can legally refuse to offer drivers with DUI convictions car insurance. Delaware’s look-back period can make it even more difficult for drivers with DUIs to get insurance because their records will reflect the offense for years or even their lifetime.
Although it might be hard to find an insurer, drivers still need to do their research and compare quotes from different companies. Since car insurance after a DUI is more expensive, it’s particularly important to find the best rate possible.
Drivers with traffic violations, DUI convictions and a history of accidents are considered high-risk drivers. Other factors insurers look at when determining whether to offer a driver high-risk car insurance include the customer’s age, level of experience, car model and credit score.
The legal consequences of a DUI conviction vary between states. Delaware has increased penalties for drivers with a BAC of 0.15% or higher. Drivers with a DUI also face license suspension and revocation, incentivized ignition interlocks and repeat offender laws.
Penalties depend on the number of times a driver has been charged with a DUI. The list below enumerates the laws and penalties in Delaware for a DUI conviction.
Driving with a BAC of 0.08% and above is considered a DUI
In Delaware, driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% and above is enough for a DUI conviction. BAC measures the percentage of alcohol in your bloodstream. A BAC of 0.02% is considered a DUI for drivers under 21 years. In addition, an officer can arrest you even if your blood alcohol level is below the legal limit but you're unable to drive safely.
Driving with a BAC of 0.15% will result in increased penalties
First offense drivers with a BAC of 0.15% to 0.19% will lose their license for 12 months. Those with a BAC of more than 0.20% lose their license for 24 months. Subsequent offenses with higher BACs incur longer periods of license revocation.
Three months of administrative license suspension on first offense
A driver’s license is suspended for three months following a DUI. An officer can also confiscate a driver’s license upon failure or refusal to conduct an alcohol test.
Ignition interlocks are highly incentivized for all offenders
An ignition interlock device is highly incentivized for all DUI offenders in Delaware. This device connects to the car’s ignition and disables the engine when it detects alcohol on the driver’s breath.
Repeat offender laws
Penalties depend on the number of offenses that a driver has committed. A first offense can result in license revocation for three months, while a third or subsequent offense can result in 18 months.
The following are frequently asked questions about car insurance after a DUI in Delaware:
Your insurer can refuse to insure you if you get a DUI. Insurers are usually private institutions that are not legally required to provide insurance for all their customers. However, some companies grant insurance for drivers with a DUI at a higher price.
In Delaware, car insurance increases by 74.66% after a DUI. A full coverage car insurance costs $1,377 per year before a DUI, while the same coverage costs $2,406 per year after a DUI.
The best and cheapest car insurance company in Delaware after a DUI is State Farm. It offers a full coverage policy for $1,351 per year and a minimum coverage policy for $874.
This will depend on your look-back period. The look-period is the length of time a DUI stays on your driver’s record. In Delaware, the look-period is 10 years for the second offense and the driver’s lifetime for the third and subsequent offenses.
Since you’ll pay more for car insurance after a DUI, it’s important to compare rates and coverages between companies to find the best option for you.
To determine the top companies for individuals with DUIs in Delaware, MoneyGeek analyzed each company’s financial stability, customer satisfaction, claims and affordability based on data and information obtained from state insurance departments and Quadrant Information Services. The rates above are based on a 40-year-old male with and without a DUI driving a 2010 Toyota Camry LE with 12K annual mileage.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.
