Teen DUI Car Insurance in Pennsylvania
Reader’s Question:
I am under 18 and I receive a DUI in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. If I go through the ARD program, will my car insurance go up at all?
John
Philadelphia, PA
They permit for an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) for first time DUI offenders in Pennsylvania. When a DUI offender is accepted into an ARD program the state will then suspends their charges however they will require that certain court ordered conditions are met. These conditions may include community service, drug and alcohol counseling, etc. In addition to a probationary program the ARD program requires a period of supervision.
The ARD is a one-time alternative to a conviction, trial, and possible mandatory jail sentence for the conviction of driving under the influence in Pennsylvania. There is a $500 processing fee and you can expect to pay a fine, a fee for alcohol safe driving class, court costs,and a probation supervision fee.
The Pennsylvania Insurance Department states that if you are convicted of a DUI, whether or not you complete an ARD program, your license will be revoked or suspended. This alone is a valid reason for insurance providers to increase insurance rates, cancel or non-renew your policy.
How Much Does SR22 Or DUI Insurance Cost?
Filed under: SR22 Pennsylvania, SR22 Philadelphia, Teen insurance Pennsylvania
Q: I’m going to have to get an SR22 for DUI conviction…how much can I expect to pay?
A: According to MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) a whole lot. On average, the least amount you’re looking at paying for SR22 for DUI in one year is $3600, up to around $6000 dollars. Once you’ve picked your jaw up off the floor, there’s more where that came from. Car insurance isn’t the only cost of a DUI. Not only will your license be suspended for six months before you can even try to get it back, but you will have to pay a mountain of fees and fines. The average amount a first time DUI offender pays in all is close to $11,000. And that’s before insurance.
You also risk being unable to get insurance from many places if you have to file an SR22 for DUI conviction. Your current car insurance provider may cancel your policy and every other car insurance provider may say there’s no room at the inn for you. If that happens, you’ll have to get insured through the Pennsylvania assigned-risk pool, which is even more expensive.
Paying for an SR22 for DUI is no walk in the park, but it isn’t impossible either. If you look up car insurance discounts, compare rates, and keep your record clean, then you can save money and possibly look forward to cheaper car insurance rates in the future.
