By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Next Gen Econ
  • Home
  • News
  • Personal Finance
    • Credit Cards
    • Loans
    • Banking
    • Retirement
    • Taxes
  • Debt
  • Homes
  • Business
  • More
    • Investing
    • Newsletter
Reading: Auto Insurance After a DUI in Pennsylvania
Share
Subscribe To Alerts
Next Gen Econ Next Gen Econ
Font ResizerAa
  • Personal Finance
  • Credit Cards
  • Loans
  • Investing
  • Business
  • Debt
  • Homes
Search
  • Home
  • News
  • Personal Finance
    • Credit Cards
    • Loans
    • Banking
    • Retirement
    • Taxes
  • Debt
  • Homes
  • Business
  • More
    • Investing
    • Newsletter
Follow US
Copyright © 2014-2023 Ruby Theme Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Next Gen Econ > Homes > Auto Insurance After a DUI in Pennsylvania
Homes

Auto Insurance After a DUI in Pennsylvania

NGEC By NGEC Last updated: September 2, 2025 15 Min Read
SHARE

Alcohol-impaired driving carries steep costs that extend far beyond the initial fine. A single DUI conviction in Pennsylvania drives up the average cost of car insurance by 103 percent — and DUI surcharges could remain on your record for years. To help drivers understand what happens if you get a DUI in Pennsylvania, Bankrate’s insurance editorial team reviewed the laws and the data, including our best picks for affordable coverage in Pennsylvania after a DUI.

DUIs in Pennsylvania

The total cost of a Pennsylvania depends on various factors, including which legal penalties you’re subject to. 

DUI laws in Pennsylvania

Since 2003, the state of Pennsylvania has recognized three tiers of DUI offenses based on the individual’s blood alcohol content (BAC): 

  • General impairment: .08 to .099 percent
  • High BAC: .10 to .159 percent
  • Highest BAC: .16 percent and above 

If you’re caught driving with a BAC of .08 percent or more, you could be charged with driving under the influence (DUI) and face the penalties outlined below. The state will also consider any previous offenses when assigning penalties or treatment. 

DUI penalties in Pennsylvania

In most cases, the penalties that come with a Pennsylvania DUI conviction include fines, possible prison time, suspension of driving privileges, alcohol safety school and requiring the driver to install ignition interlock devices in all owned vehicles. The table below shows Pennsylvania’s penalties for drivers with no prior DUI offenses.

Penalty General impairment High BAC Highest BAC
Fine $300 $500 to $5,000 $1,000 to $5,000
Prison time None; 6 months probation 48 hours to 6 months 72 hours to 6 months
License suspension None 12 months 12 months
Alcohol highway safety school Required Required Required
Ignition interlock device (IID) 1 year 1 year 1 year
Treatment When ordered by a court When ordered by a court When ordered by a court

If you’ve had one or more DUI offenses already, the penalties for subsequent DUIs become more steep. For example, the ungraded misdemeanor charge attached to a first DUI offense could be upgraded to a second or first-degree misdemeanor for subsequent charges. In some cases, repeat offenders are also subject to steeper fines and longer jail sentences — up to $10,000 and five years. 

A few exemptions exist for these penalties. For instance, drivers can apply for a financial hardship exemption from the ignition interlock device requirement, which would allow them to install the device on only one vehicle. First-time offenders may also be eligible for an occupational limited license that allows driving for work, school and other essential functions after serving 60 days of their license suspension. 

DUI penalties for underage drinkers in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s Zero Tolerance Law imposes penalties for individuals under 21 years of age who operate a vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .02 percent or higher. If convicted, underage drinkers can be sentenced to penalties similar to those for High BAC DUI offenses:

  • 48 hours to six months in jail 
  • Fines from $500 to $5,000
  • License suspension for 12 to 18 months 

Keep in mind that drivers under age 25 are already considered a high-risk cohort for auto insurance, so the insurance consequences of an underage DUI could be significant. 

How does a DUI affect car insurance in Pennsylvania?

A DUI conviction can double your cost of car insurance in Pennsylvania, inflating your annual full coverage premiums by 103 percent on average. For drivers who only carry the minimum insurance required by Pennsylvania’s insurance laws, the average increase is higher — 109 percent. 

Insurance companies raise rates for drivers with DUIs because they signal a high risk of future accidents and claims. For Pennsylvania drivers with a single DUI conviction, full coverage car insurance costs an average of $4,835 per year, compared to the statewide average of $2,386. If you have prior DUIs or other high-risk factors, like poor credit or minimal driving experience, you may pay even more.

Cheap auto insurance after a DUI in Pennsylvania

Bankrate’s analysis of average quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services found that Auto-Owners, Progressive and Geico are some of the best companies in Pennsylvania for cheap auto insurance after a DUI. The table below compares average full coverage rates before and after a DUI in Pennsylvania. Keep in mind that the rates shown here are averages — your own driver profile may return different rates based on other risk factors.

Company Avg. rate before DUI Avg. rate after DUI % increase
Auto-Owners $768 $1,320 72%
Geico $1,257 $3,102 147%
Nationwide $1,348 $3,529 162%
Erie $1,876 $3,370 80%
Progressive $2,155 $2,596 20%

How to find affordable car insurance in Pennsylvania after a DUI 

While rate increases can add to the cost of a DUI in Pennsylvania, you may not be stuck paying a high premium forever. Smart savings strategies could help you secure more affordable coverage after a conviction — and even help you reduce the odds of another rate hike. 

  • Shop around: Before anything else, it may be a good idea to compare rates from a wide range of insurers to find a company willing to work with your record. While almost any insurance provider will charge high rates for customers with DUIs, some carriers don’t penalize this offense as harshly as others.
  • Ask your insurer about a defensive driving course: Some insurance companies may allow you to complete an approved defensive driving course in exchange for a discount on your policy.
  • Look into payment discounts: Making small changes, like paying your annual premium in full, setting up autopay or enrolling in paperless billing, could help to lower your rates.
  • Build your credit: While it might seem unrelated, your credit could be key to getting lower rates after a DUI. In Pennsylvania, drivers with poor credit pay, on average, 96 percent more for full coverage than drivers with good credit.
  • Adjust your policy: Dropping optional insurance coverage types or raising your deductible can lower your insurance premium, but be aware, both of these options expose you to more risk if you were to be involved in an accident. If you’re considering making adjustments, it’s advised that you discuss your policy with an agent first.

Frequently asked questions

  • You can expect a DUI conviction to affect your auto insurance cost for at least three years in Pennsylvania. The surcharge attached to your policy will often decrease over time before the conviction falls off your record. However, any DUI conviction will stay on your official Pennsylvania driving record for life.

  • On average, we found that the cheapest Pennsylvania car insurance company for drivers with a single DUI conviction is Progressive. However, every driver’s profile and coverage needs are different, so it’s worth comparing rates from several companies before settling on a policy following a DUI.
  • In Pennsylvania, all first offense DUI convictions count as an ungraded misdemeanor. If you’ve been charged with DUI in the past, any subsequent DUIs could be counted as a second- or first-degree misdemeanor. However, if your DUI caused serious injuries or death, you could be charged with a felony.

  • No, Pennsylvania is one of the few states that doesn’t require SR-22 insurance verification forms after DUIs. Instead, you’ll need to comply with ignition interlock device requirements to reinstate your driving privileges.

  • There is no single best car insurance company in Pennsylvania for every driver. Your personal risk factors (age, credit and more), along with your vehicle, location and coverage needs, all influence which carriers may be best for you. If you’re not sure which insurance provider is right for you, compare rates from some of Pennsylvania’s top-rated auto insurers or speak with a licensed insurance agent.
  • For first-time offenders, a Pennsylvania DUI can cost $300 to $5,000 depending on your BAC at the time of the citation. However, on top of paying your fine, there are severe second-order costs that follow your DUI. One of these is several years of insurance surcharges, since providers will raise your rates to compensate for your risky driving behavior. Additionally, the criminal offense, jail time and license suspension that can come with a DUI could impact your employment eligibility or your method of transportation — limiting your earning potential.

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze August, 2025 rates for all 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 single, 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 2023 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually. Bundling and paperless billing discounts are applied.

These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes. Your quotes will differ.

If otherwise specified, the base profile has been modified with the following driver characteristics:

  • Rates were calculated based on the following insurance credit tiers assigned to our drivers: “poor, average, good (base) and excellent.” Insurance credit tiers factor in your official credit scores but are not dependent on that variable alone. Four states prohibit or limit the use of credit as a rating factor in determining auto insurance rates: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan.

  • Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base), at-fault accident, single speeding ticket, single DUI conviction and lapse in coverage.

  • Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following differences in mileage: 2K, 5K, 12K (base), 15K and 20K.

  • Unless otherwise stated, rates are for 2023 vehicle models. For new vs. used vehicles, we included the following year in our calculations: 2013.

  • Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the ages 18-70 (base: 40 years) applied. Depending on age, drivers may be a renter or homeowner. Age is not a contributing rating factor in Hawaii and Massachusetts due to state regulations. For teen drivers, rates were determined by adding a 16- or 17-year-old teen to their 40-year-old married parents’ policy. The rates displayed reflect the total cost of a driver this age added to their parents’ policy.

  • The following states do not use gender as a determining factor in calculating premiums: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania.

  • Rates were evaluated based on the following marital/family status: single (base), married, 40-year-old married man and woman. Marital status is not a rating factor in Hawaii and Massachusetts.

Did you find this page helpful?

Why we ask for feedback
Your feedback helps us improve our content and services. It takes less than a minute to
complete.

Your responses are anonymous and will only be used for improving our website.

Help us improve our content


Thank you for your
feedback!

Your input helps us improve our
content and services.

Read the full article here

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
What do you think?
Love0
Sad0
Happy0
Sleepy0
Angry0
Dead0
Wink0
Previous Article Insurance Deserts Emerge As Rising Rates Threaten Housing Market
Next Article Don’t Shortchange Investments To Buy A House
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

FacebookLike
TwitterFollow
PinterestPin
InstagramFollow
TiktokFollow
Google NewsFollow
Most Popular
10 Social Situations Where Seniors Are Being Financially Cornered
September 2, 2025
Why Are More Seniors Filing Cyberbullying Reports Than Ever Before?
September 2, 2025
New Car Replacement Insurance | Bankrate
September 2, 2025
Don’t Shortchange Investments To Buy A House
September 2, 2025
Insurance Deserts Emerge As Rising Rates Threaten Housing Market
September 2, 2025
What Can Happen If You Let an Adult Child Move Into Your Retirement Property?
September 1, 2025

You Might Also Like

Homes

Why AI Doesn’t Make a Trustworthy Student Loan Counselor

11 Min Read
Homes

High-Yield Savings Rates Today: September 1, 2025

8 Min Read
Homes

Did You File A Tax Extension? 4 Tips To Prepare For Oct. 15 Deadline

10 Min Read
Homes

How Personal Loans Help Achieve Financial Freedom

16 Min Read

Always Stay Up to Date

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Next Gen Econ

Next Gen Econ is your one-stop website for the latest finance news, updates and tips, follow us for more daily updates.

Latest News

  • Small Business
  • Debt
  • Investments
  • Personal Finance

Resouce

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Newsletter
  • Contact

Daily Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Get Daily Updates
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?