Drinking, Driving And Your Insurance…Don't drink and drive. It's a message you hear loud and clear.
Drinking and driving kill. Everyone knows the reasons not to drive
under the influence of drugs or alcohol and the legal penalties
associated with it. But most people don't know how drinking and
driving affect your car insurance.
Physical damage costs
Accident benefit costs
Increase in future auto insurance premiums
The bottom line…
Physical damage costs
If you drive or operate your vehicle under illegal circumstances,
your insurance is no longer valid. Specifically, this means if you
drive drunk and get in an accident, not only will you have to face
the penalties of the law, but you are potentially liable for all
damages to your own car as well as any damages to anyone else's
vehicle.
Accident benefit costs
And don't forget accident benefits if you injure another person.
The injured person's insurance will provide him/her with the
immediate coverage he/she needs for his/her medical expenses, but
his/her insurance company can then sue you for compensation. Claims
where people have been even mildly injured can run into the
millions of dollars.
Increase in future auto insurance premiums
So you got caught drinking and driving, paid your fine, escaped
without an accident, but now it's time to renew your auto policy.
That one DUI (Driving under the influence) charge will cost you for
years to come.
Your driving record is automatically wiped out after a DUI charge
and you have to start from scratch earning the trust of an
insurance company. This means your rates could double or triple for
the first year alone, and your rates will remain higher than normal
for at least 6 to 10 years following the charge. This can add up to
thousands of dollars over the years.
The bottom line…
There are hefty financial implications of drinking and driving, but
those effects pale in comparison to pain you can cause other
people. If you are going to be drinking, please use a designated
driver. |
