Key Takeaways
Your Pennsylvania car insurance will cost more if you are found guilty of DUI. The only question is how much more expensive it will be. Find out how a DUI can change your insurance quotes and which companies offer the best deals by reading on.
Driving after consuming drugs or alcohol (DUI) is a very serious crime in Pennsylvania that comes with harsh punishments. If you are held driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 , you could lose your license, pay fines, or even go to jail. In Pennsylvania, the penalties for a DUI also get worse depending on how much alcohol is in your blood and how many times you have been caught with a DUI before.
If you are convicted of DUI in Pennsylvania, your car insurance will cost an extra $548 a year. That is 101% less than the average rate increase in the US after a DUI.
| Location | Avg. Annual Rate - no DUI | Avg. Annual Rate - with DUI |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $1,481 | $2,028 |
| United States | $1,157 | $2,561 |
It's hard to get cheap car insurance right after being convicted of DUI. If you are convicted of a DUI, your insurance rates will likely go up more than for any other traffic violation, like being at blame in an accident, racing, or driving recklessly. Pennsylvania is a pretty safe place to get a DUI conviction because it has some of the least severe rate changes for car insurance in the country.
Pennsylvania DUI or DWI victims should consider insurance options, as rates vary significantly. State Farm offers the cheapest rates, 44% less than the average, while Erie is the second cheapest, and Nationwide is the most expensive.
| Insurance Company | Avg. Annual Rate - After DUI |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $1,260 |
| Erie | $1,492 |
| Allstate | $2,135 |
| Progressive | $2,305 |
It's not possible to find cheap DUI auto insurance from any one company. Comparing plans is the best way to save money after getting a DUI ticket.
Drivers caught drunk or high on drugs face severe penalties, including fines, license loss, and jail time.
In Pennsylvania, being caught with a DUI even once can lead to major problems. Depending on how much alcohol is in a driver's blood, they could be fined $306 to $5,006 and have their license taken away.
All people who get a DUI for the first time must also take classes on drinking and driving safety, and if a judge orders it, they may also have to go for sobriety treatment.
| BAC | Infraction level | License suspension | Jail time | Fine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.08-0.099 | Ungraded misdemeanor | None | Six months probation | $300 fine |
| 0.10-0.159 | Ungraded misdemeanor | 12-month license suspension | 48 hours to 6 months in prison | $500 to $5,000 fine |
| 0.16+, under the influence of drugs, or refusal to test | Ungraded misdemeanor | 12-month license suspension | 72 hours to 6 months in prison |
In Pennsylvania, you must have a blood alcohol level of at least 0.08%, which is often written as 0.08. In almost all states, this is the minimum BAC for a DUI. However, Pennsylvania has a tiered DUI system, which means that the more alcohol in your blood, the worse the punishment.
| Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) | Classification |
|---|---|
| 0.08 to 0.099% | General impairment |
| 0.10 to 0.159% | High-rate DUI |
| 0.16%+, refuse the test, or under the influence of other drugs | Highest-rate DUI |
Extreme DUIs result in harsher punishments, with first-time offenders facing 30 days in jail, fines of at least $2,506, therapy, and a 90-day license suspension. Second-time offenders face 120 days in jail, fines of at least $3,256, and a year-long license suspension. Severe DUIs result in up to two years in jail, a year-long license suspension, drug and alcohol testing, treatment and education programs, and community service.
If a driver under 21 years old tests higher than 0.02% BAC, they are thought to be driving while impaired. This means a driver under 21 who has had just one beer could get the same punishment as a driver over 21 who has had three or more drinks.
For young drivers, the cost of a DUI can be even higher. In addition to paying more for insurance in general, drivers under 21 also see their rates go up the most after getting a DUI.
Strict DUI laws are in place for those under 21 who drink. If caught under the legal drinking age, they face up to 180 days in jail, fines and fees up to $4,781, probation of up to three years, and a possible two-year license suspension. Repeated penalties are stricter.
The auto insurance rates published in this guide are based on the results of research completed by Way.com’s data team. Using a mix of public and internal data, we analyzed millions of rate averages across U.S. ZIP codes.
Quotes are typically based on a full coverage policy average unless otherwise noted within the content.
These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only — your own quotes will differ. Given this, it’s important to go through our insurance steps form to find how much you can save with way.com
Way.com’s Insurance Broker Quote Data
Pennsylvania only charges most DUI crimes as misdemeanors. Most of the time, only everyday offenses could be called felonies. Misdemeanors are usually given to first- and second-time DUI crimes. Third-time or repeat DUI offenses could be called second-degree misdemeanors.
If you get a DUI in Pennsylvania, it will remain on your record unless it is erased or you are given limited access relief. Your sentence is public information, so it will appear in your credit report, criminal record, insurance history, and driver's license history.
State law says that people found guilty of DUI for the first time can be fined up to $5,006. If you break the law again, you could be fined up to $10,006. These possible fines are scary, but they're not the only costs of being found guilty.
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