If you’ve been charged with a DUI in Michigan, your car insurance company will increase your rates significantly—that is if they let you renew at all. It’s possible that your insurance provider will drop you altogether since you’ll be labeled as a

high-risk driver

. Companies try to steer clear of drivers that may cost them more money.

If that happens, you’ll need to find new car insurance ASAP. While finding car insurance after a DUI conviction isn’t impossible, finding

cheap car insurance

after a DUI might be—as a high-risk driver, your quotes for coverage are guaranteed to skyrocket. In Michigan, drivers with DUIs pay up to

191% more for insurance coverage

than drivers without a DUI.

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Michigan’s DUI laws and penalties

First off, a DUI in Michigan can be categorized into several different (and confusing) categories, which include the following:

OUIL (operating under the influence of intoxicating liquor): Applicable if it’s believed that the driver consumed enough alcohol to substantially reduce their ability to operate a vehicle (no test necessary).

OWVI (operating while visibly impaired): Applicable when a driver is impaired enough that another person would notice their inability to operate a vehicle safely.

UBAL (unlawful bodily alcohol level/content): Applies when a driver’s BAC is found to be above the 0.08% legal limit.

OWI (operating while intoxicated): The overall term for any of the previous charges that can (but don’t have to) include an OUIL or UBAL.

Since all of these terms can get complicated, for this article, we’ll just stick with calling it an OWI or DUI. According to

Michigan’s DUI laws

, it’s illegal for a driver to operate a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of at least 0.08% or is under the influence of alcohol or any controlled substance.

All states also have an implied consent law, which means you automatically consent for your BAC to be tested if you have a

Michigan driver’s license

and are presumed to be driving under the influence. Refusing a BAC test in Michigan will come with a fine of up to $150 and an automatic one-year driver's license suspension.

If you’re officially charged with an OWI in Michigan, here’s

what you can expect after each offense

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First offense OWI

If your BAC is below 0.17% and you’ve never been charged with an OWI before, you’ll face the following consequences:

Up to a $500 fine

Up to 93 days in jail

Up to 360 hours (45 days) of community service

Up to 180 days of

license suspension

6 driver's license points

Even if it is your first offense, if your BAC is .17% or higher, the consequences get more serious:

Up to a $700 fine

Up to 180 days in jail

Up to 360 hours of community service

Up to one year of license suspension

6 points on a driver's license

Mandatory completion of an alcohol treatment program

In order to

get your license back

after the 45-day license suspension period, you’ll also have to use an ignition interlock device to get a restricted driver's license.

Second offense DWI

Earning a second DWI charge in Michigan increases the penalties to the following:

Up to a $1,000 fine

Up to one year in jail

Up to 90 days of community service

Minimum of one year of license suspension (up to five-year maximum)

Vehicle immobilization for up to 180 days

Third offense DWI

If you run up a third DWI charge, you can expect the following penalties:

Up to a $5,000 fine

Up to five years in jail

Up to 180 days of community service

Up to five years of license suspension

Vehicle immobilization for up to three years

Other penalties

Other than expensive fines and possible jail time, all Michigan drivers convicted of drunk driving are hit with a $1,000 penalty for two consecutive years under the

Driver Responsibility Act

, adding up to a total of $2,000 in extra costs. In some cases, drivers can apply for a restricted license with an ignition interlocking device—which you’ll be financially responsible for.

Other than your car insurance rates increasing, your DUI charge will also appear on any background checks. As in most states, a DUI charge will stay on your Michigan driving record for life.

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How to get car insurance after a DUI

Once you get the green light to hit the road, you’ll need car insurance before you can get back behind the wheel. Most states, including Michigan, require drivers with major violations to get

SR-22 insurance

before they can drive again.

SR-22 insurance isn’t actually a

type of insurance

policy—it’s an official certificate an insurance company files with the Michigan Department of State (DOS) to confirm that you’re covered with the

state’s minimum required liability coverage

Not all auto insurance providers offer

Michigan SR-22 insurance

, so make sure you ask your provider if filing your SR-22 is an option. Auto insurance providers in Michigan typically charge an extra $15 to $25 to file an SR-22.

Here’s how to start the process of getting your DUI insurance coverage:

If you already have car insurance coverage, you’ll just contact your insurance agent to ask them to file the SR-22 form for you. It’s important to note that not all companies provide this service, so it’s possible you may need to

shop online

for a new policy.

If you need to buy a new car insurance policy, you’ll start the car insurance shopping process like normal—by comparing insurance quotes from multiple companies. Since not all companies offer SR-22 insurance, using an

online comparison tool

will narrow down your search to the companies that have what you need. This will also help you find the

cheapest car insurance

available for your situation.

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How to fill out and file an SR-22

How much does auto insurance in Michigan cost after a DUI?

According to Forbes, a DUI in Michigan can elevate your annual auto insurance rates by around 191% on average! For comparison,

California

drivers’ rates jump to 131% after a DUI,

Massachusetts

drivers pay 94% more for coverage after a DUI, and drivers in

South Carolina

only pay 49% more for insurance after a DUI.

The average

full coverage

policy in Michigan costs $2,995—but with a drunk driving conviction, that average jumps to around $8,719 for the same full coverage policy. All providers weigh violations differently, though, and your exact costs will also depend on your driving history before the DUI. On top of that, your car insurance costs are influenced by a variety of factors that have nothing to do with your driving record—like your ZIP code, your vehicle, and your gender.

A DUI is one of the most serious driving violations, and insurance companies don’t take them lightly. Finding a cheap car insurance policy won’t be easy, but you can find the most affordable car insurance by comparing prices across as many companies as possible.

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Best car insurance companies for Michigan drivers with a DUI

When you have a DUI on your record, finding the most affordable car insurance policy is critical. For the most part, Michigan drivers with DUIs and other major infractions find the best rates with

Progressive

Safeco

and

Bristol West

are also good options for drivers looking for DUI car insurance.

That being said, these may not be the best options for your unique situation, so make sure to do your homework instead of settling for the first policy you find.

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FAQs

How long does a DUI stay on your driving record in Michigan?

A DUI stays on your Michigan driving record for life. In some cases, you may be able to have it expunged from your criminal record after five years, but that’s unlikely to affect your driving record.

Do car insurance policies cover DUI accidents in Michigan?

Car insurance companies will cover DUI accidents in most cases. However, you can expect increased rates afterward—or your car insurance provider may choose to drop you altogether.

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