A DUI conviction in South Carolina can affect your auto insurance, but no South Carolina statute sets a fixed number of years that insurers must charge more, and no official source gives a standard premium increase. Each insurance company reviews your driving record under its own rating plan. The South Carolina Department of Insurance lists your driving record as one factor that can affect what you pay.
Two parts of a DUI case do have clear legal rules. First, the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) suspends the license of a person convicted of DUI and requires an ignition interlock restricted license (S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-2990). Second, when SCDMV suspends a license, the person must give and maintain proof of financial responsibility before the license and registrations can be restored (S.C. Code Ann. § 56-9-500). Insurers commonly file that proof with SCDMV as an SR-22 certificate, although the term SR-22 does not appear in the Code. A person suspended only for a refusal or an alcohol concentration of 0.15 or more under S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-2951(M) does not have to file proof.
SCDMV can cancel or waive the proof requirement after three years from the date the proof was required if it has received no record of a conviction or bail forfeiture that would require or permit a suspension during those three years. The same statute adds conditions on cancelling a bond or returning a deposit when a damages action or an unsatisfied judgment is pending, or when you were involved in an accident causing injury or damage within the year before the request (S.C. Code Ann. § 56-9-620). Until the requirement ends, the statute requires you to maintain the proof. Confirm the exact requirement and length for your case with SCDMV or your insurer.
For help with a DUI charge, contact Touma Law Group at 864-618-2323. You can schedule a free consultation with a Greenville DUI defense attorney to discuss your case and review your legal options. A licensed South Carolina attorney at the firm must review the facts of your case before you rely on any general information on this page.
How Does a DUI Affect Auto Insurance?
Insurers look at your driving record when they price a policy, and a DUI conviction is a serious entry on that record. How an insurer responds is up to the company, and there is no official figure for how much rates change.
When you apply for a policy, the insurer may consider how long ago the conviction occurred and whether you have had other violations since. A longer period without new violations may help when you ask for a new quote.
The facts of the offense, your overall driving history, and the insurer you choose can all change the result, so comparing quotes from several companies is reasonable.
If your license is suspended after a conviction, South Carolina law says an insurance company may not refuse to issue insurance to cover the remaining members of your family (S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-2990(E)). The insurer is not liable for the acts of the person whose license is suspended.
How Long Will My DUI Conviction Affect My Insurance Rates?
No statute answers this question with a number of years. The answer depends on the insurer, its rating plan, and what else appears on your record. Some companies may look back further than others, so ask each insurer how it treats a DUI conviction before you buy.
For sentencing purposes, South Carolina counts a prior DUI conviction as a prior offense if the violation occurred within ten years including and immediately preceding the date of the last violation (S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-2930(D)). That ten-year rule governs how a later DUI is charged and punished. It is not a rule about insurance premiums. Read more about how a DUI conviction remains on your driving record.
Do You Have to Keep SR-22 Insurance if You Move States After a DUI?
If you move to another state after a South Carolina DUI conviction, what you must do depends on that state’s laws, its motor vehicle agency, and the insurer you use. South Carolina law does not control how another state handles your license or your insurance filings.
In general, a state that requires proof of financial responsibility after a DUI can ask for the same kind of SR-22 insurance filing. Before you move or buy a policy, contact the motor vehicle agency in your new state and ask an insurance agent how the South Carolina conviction will be treated. If your South Carolina suspension or proof requirement is still active, resolving it with SCDMV first can prevent surprises.
How Can I Lower My Car Insurance Rates After a DUI?
No step guarantees a lower premium, but some steps are reasonable. Avoiding new violations helps keep your record clean. Comparing quotes from several insurers lets you see how each one treats a DUI conviction. Asking your agent which discounts you qualify for, such as a defensive driving course or an anti-theft device, can also help, because discounts vary by insurer.
The South Carolina Department of Insurance publishes general auto insurance information for consumers, including the minimum liability limits required in the state. Once any SR-22 requirement ends under S.C. Code Ann. § 56-9-620, ask your insurer whether your policy type or rate can change.
If You Are Convicted of a DUI in Another State Does it Affect Your Insurance in SC?
A DUI conviction from another state can still matter in South Carolina. South Carolina law provides for suspension of a license for a conviction under another state’s law that prohibits driving under the influence (S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-2990(A)(1)). A conviction under another state’s DUI law also counts as a prior offense in a later South Carolina DUI case if it falls within the ten-year window (S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-2930(D)).
Insurers decide for themselves how to treat an out-of-state conviction. When you shop for a policy in South Carolina, expect to be asked about your driving history, including any DUI convictions in other states, and answer those questions accurately.
How a DUI Lawyer Can Help
If you have been charged with DUI in South Carolina, you may be worried about how it will affect your auto insurance. The outcome of the criminal case, including whether there is a conviction at all, affects what happens next with your license and your insurance. An attorney can explain the charge, the administrative license process, and your options.
At Touma Law Group, our Greenville defense attorneys can review the facts of your case with you and explain how South Carolina DUI law applies. We cannot promise any particular result, and a licensed South Carolina attorney at the firm must review your situation before you rely on general information. Contact us today for a consultation.
