Missouri Car Insurance with a DUI

If you happen to receive a DUI in Missouri, your car insurance policy will get more expensive — it's a matter of how much you'll end up paying.

How does a DUI impact car insurance costs in Missouri?

In Missouri, a DUI will boost your annual auto insurance cost by an average of $596. That’s 84% less than the nationwide average premium jump after a DUI.

AUTO INSURANCE AFTER A DUI IN MISSOURI — AVERAGE ANNUAL COST

Location	Avg. Annual Rate — no DUI	Avg. Annual Rate — with DUI	Avg. Increase After DUI
Missouri	$1,736	$2,332	+34%
United States	$1,548	$2,556	+65%

Getting car insurance in Missouri with a DUI violation

Purchasing cheap car insurance after a DUI conviction is anything but simple. In fact, a DUI generally triggers a larger cost increase than any single driving infraction — more than an at-fault accident, racing, or reckless driving. Missouri is a somewhat benign place in which to commit a DUI: its auto insurance rate raises are some of the nation's least stringent.

Best car insurance after a DUI in Missouri

If you’re convicted of a DUI or DWI violation in Missouri, it’s crucial to mull over all possible insurance choices thoughtfully. Car insurance rates in the wake of a DUI may vary widely depending on the insurer. For instance, the cheapest car insurance company after a DUI in Missouri, State Farm, offers annual rates 46% less than the statewide average insurance rate with a DUI. The next-most affordable choice for auto insurance with a DUI in Missouri is American Family, while the most expensive insurer is GEICO, with premiums 36% above average.

CAR INSURANCE RATES WITH DUI IN MISSOURI — BY PROVIDER

Insurance Company	Avg. Annual Rate — After DUI
State Farm	$1,271
American Family	$1,664
Progressive	$1,992
Farmers	$2,265
Shelter	$2,797
Liberty Mutual	$2,831
AAA	$3,009

There’s no auto insurer in particular offering cheap DUI auto insurance. The recommended strategy to save money post-DUI citation is to look at multiple options.

Compare car insurance quotes online or reach out to an insurance agent to assess your choices and discover a cost-effective plan.

Learn more about car insurance and DUI infractions.

Missouri DUI laws

Driving under the influence is commonly referred to as driving while intoxicated, or DWI, in Missouri.

You are DWI in Missouri if your blood alcohol concentration measures 0.08% or higher. Commercial drivers are DWI if their BAC reads 0.04% or higher. Missouri is a zero-tolerance state and considers those under 21 years old to be DWI if their BAC measures 0.02% or higher.

You may also be charged with DWI in Missouri if your BAC is less than the legal limit, but you are demonstrating other signs of impaired and unsafe driving.

DWI penalties in Missouri

Some DWI offenses result in harsher penalties if they occur within five years of a previous DWI offense in Missouri. For others, prior lifetime convictions are taken into account. Repeated offenses subject offenders to harsher penalties and fines.

First-time DWI offenses in Missouri lead to:

• Up to six months in prison
• Up to $500 in fines
• A 90-day license suspension
• Possible requirement to use an interlock ignition device for at least one month
• Possible requirement to complete an alcohol evaluation or treatment program

A second DWI offense in Missouri results in:

• Up to one year in prison
• Up to $1,000 in fines
• License suspension for one year
• License cancellation for five years if DWI is within five years of a prior offense
• Possible requirement to use an interlock ignition device for at least one month
• Possible requirement to complete an alcohol evaluation or treatment program

Third-time DWI offenders in Missouri are declared “persistent offenders” and are subject to:

• Up to four years in prison
• Up to $5,000 in fines
• License cancellation for 10 years
• Possible requirement to use an interlock ignition device for at least one month
• Possible requirement to complete an alcohol evaluation or treatment program

Those who commit a fourth DWI offense in Missouri are declared “aggravated offenders” whose penalties are:

• Up to seven years in prison
• Up to $5,000 in fines
• License cancellation for 10 years
• Possible requirement to use an interlock ignition device for at least one month
• Possible requirement to complete an alcohol evaluation or treatment program

A fifth offense will result in the violator being labeled a “chronic offender” and leads to:

• Five to 15 years in prison
• License cancellation
• May not be eligible for license reinstatement after release

DWI penalties for underage drinkers in Missouri

Those under 21 years old in Missouri and found with a BAC between 0.02% and under 0.08% are DWI. The penalty for an underage DWI is mandatory completion of a substance abuse traffic program and a license suspension of 30 days for the first offense, a 90-day suspension for the second, and one-year license revocation for subsequent offenses.

Sources and references:

https://dor.mo.gov/drivers/dwiinfo.php

https://www.dmv.org/mo-missouri/automotive-law/dui.php

https://www.edgarsnyder.com/drunk-driving/driving-alcohol-laws/Missouri.html