By Marisol Vega · Research Writer
Published · Updated
Answer in brief
Premiums after a DUI typically step down at year three (surcharge and filing period end) and again at year five (most insurers stop rating the conviction). The drop is not automatic in the sense of a refund—it appears at the renewal following each milestone, and only if your record has stayed clean. Because insurers use different lookback periods, comparing quotes at each milestone frequently produces a larger drop than waiting for your current insurer to apply its own schedule.
Milestones
| Milestone | What ends | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Renewal after year 3 | Surcharge (most insurers); SR-22/FR-44 period (most states) | Confirm the filing is removed; compare quotes from insurers with 3-year lookbacks |
| Renewal after year 5 | Conviction leaves the rating for most remaining insurers | Compare again; expect to be quoted as a standard driver by many |
| Renewal after year 7–10 | Record visibility in long-record states; California good-driver exclusion | Re-qualify for good-driver and accident-free discounts |
Why the drop needs a renewal
Insurers rate at renewal. If your conviction date passes the three-year mark two months into a policy term, nothing changes until the next renewal, when the surcharge falls away. Some insurers will re-rate mid-term on request; it costs nothing to ask.
Conditions for the drop
- No new violations or at-fault accidents. A new incident during the period is rated on its own and may extend high-risk tiering.
- No lapse in coverage. A lapse adds a separate factor and may have reset your filing period.
- Filing removed. Ask the insurer to stop filing once the state confirms the requirement is satisfied.
Quote finder
Find auto insurance quotes that fit your situation
Why comparing beats waiting
An insurer with a five-year lookback will not drop your conviction at year three no matter how good a customer you are. An insurer with a three-year lookback will quote you as standard at that point. The only way to find out which is which is to compare. See the shopping guide.
Questions & answers
Will my insurer automatically lower my rate after three years?
If their surcharge period is three years, the surcharge falls away at the next renewal. Other adjustments may remain until year five.
Can I ask for a mid-term re-rate when the three years pass?
Yes. Some insurers will; others require waiting for renewal.
Terms: Lookback period, Surcharge
Sources and references
Legal figures on this page (minimum limits, filing periods, statutory benefits) are checked against the primary law or the state insurance regulator listed below. Links and figures last verified Nov 2026.
- Fla. Stat. § 324.023 — financial responsibility after a DUI conviction — Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine), Fla. Stat. § 324.023Primary lawAfter a DUI conviction (since 1 Oct 2007): $100,000 per person / $300,000 per crash bodily injury and $50,000 property damage, maintained for three years from reinstatement — the FR-44 requirement.
- Va. Code § 46.2-316 — proof of financial responsibility after certain convictions — Virginia Law (LIS), Va. Code § 46.2-316(C)Primary lawAfter DUI-type convictions, proof must be at double the § 46.2-472 limits (the FR-44 requirement, currently 100/200/50) for three years after becoming eligible for a licence.
- Insurance Code § 1861.025 — Good Driver Discount eligibility — California Legislative Information, Cal. Ins. Code § 1861.025Primary lawQualified if licensed for the previous three years, no more than one violation point, not principally at fault in an injury or fatal crash, and no DUI-type conviction in the prior ten years.
- Alcohol and drugs — Insurance Institute for Highway SafetyIndependent researchImpaired-driving crash risk, BAC laws and ignition-interlock effectiveness.
- Facts + Statistics: Alcohol-impaired driving — Insurance Information InstituteStatistical dataAlcohol-impaired crash fatalities, BAC thresholds and state ignition-interlock context.
- What determines the price of an auto insurance policy? — Insurance Information InstituteConsumer guidanceRating factors: driving record, mileage, location, age, gender, vehicle, credit-based insurance score, coverage choices. Notes ZIP-code rating is prohibited in California and Michigan and gender rating is prohibited in seven states.
- Nine ways to lower your auto insurance costs — Insurance Information InstituteConsumer guidanceShop at least three quotes; raising a deductible from $200 to $500 can cut collision/comprehensive cost 15–30%, $1,000 can save 40%+; drop physical damage on cars worth under 10× the premium; bundling, low-mileage and good-student discounts.
- Responsibility.org — Foundation for Advancing Alcohol ResponsibilityConsumer guidanceImpaired-driving data and prevention programmes; state DUI law summaries.
Practical guidance on this page is original editorial work. Cited sources support factual statements and do not endorse this site. Dollar ranges described as typical or illustrative are editorial estimates, not figures from these sources.