Washington DUI Laws

Washington Car Insurance with a DUI

Your car insurance will cost more if you are found guilty of DUI in Washington. The only question is how much more.

For people in Washington whose licenses are stopped because they were found guilty of DUI, their car insurance may end, or their rates may increase greatly. If you get a DUI, your full coverage car insurance will cost more than 73% each year, going from $1,213 to $2,102.

How Does a DUI Change Auto Insurance in Washington?

In Washington, getting a DUI will add an average of $616 to your car insurance yearly. That's 80% less than the average increase in premiums in the U.S. after a DUI.

Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Washington after a DUI

State Farm and Progressive offer the cheapest car insurance after a DUI across the country. These car insurance companies also offer the cheapest rates for people in Washington who have been charged with DUI.

Cheapest Companies for Full Coverage in Washington after a DUI

The following insurance companies in Washington offer the best full-coverage car insurance for people who have been drinking and driving:

• State Farm: $1,049 a year
• Over time: $1,193 a year

Cheapest Companies for Minimum Coverage in Washington after a DUI

These are the companies where you can find low-cost car insurance deals for basic coverage car in Washington for people who have been arrested for DUI:

• State Farm: $556 per year
• Progressive: $572 per year

Getting Car Insurance in Washington with a DUI

It's not easy to get cheap car insurance after being convicted of DUI. A DUI often leads to a bigger rate rise than any other traffic violation, even more than racing, careless driving, or an accident where you were at fault.

Best Car Insurance after a DUI in Washington

If you are found guilty of DUI or DWI in Washington, you need to think about your insurance options carefully. Prices for car insurance after a DUI can vary greatly from one company to the next. For example, State Farm advertises annual rates that are 36% less expensive than the state average insurance premium after a DUI conviction. They are Washington's best-reviewed car insurance carriers for people with a DUI. PEMCO Insurance has the second-cheapest car insurance rates in Washington after a DUI. Farmers, on the other hand, have the most expensive rates, which are 50% higher than the average. If you get a DUI in Washington and need car insurance, Country is the next least expensive option. Allstate is the most expensive, with prices 49% above the average.

How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in Washington after a DUI?

After getting a DUI, you become a high-risk driver, so the average annual cost of full coverage insurance in Washington goes up by over 73%, from $1,213 to $2,102. To see which providers fit your budget compare the quotes from multiple carriers.

DUI Laws in Washington

If you get a DUI, the higher cost of your insurance may not seem like a big deal compared to the other, more serious consequences. Different states have different penalties, but we have listed Washington's DUI rules and penalties below.

• A DUI is when you drive with a BAC of 0.08% or more.

You can be convicted of DUI while driving under the influence of drugs or drinks if any of the following apply:

• This means that the blood alcohol level (BAC) is at least 0.08%, and the THC level is at least five nanograms per milliliter of blood.
• Also, drivers younger than 21 can be caught if their blood alcohol level is between 0% and 0.02% of THC on it.
• Having drugs, alcohol, or marijuana in their system
• More punishments for driving with a BAC of 0.15% or more will be given.

People who get a DUI in Washington are punished harshly, especially if they do it again. The state lets judges increase your sentence if your BAC is more than 0.15%. You could spend up to a year in jail for this crime.

• Administrative license suspension for 90 days for the first crime

If you fail a breath or blood test for the first time, your license will be taken away for 90 days, no matter how good the result is, as long as it is at or above the legal limit. If you refuse to pay for something for the first time, you will lose your license for one year.

• With an Ignition Interlock Driver License (IIL), you can only drive in certain situations while your license is suspended.
• If you get caught with drugs or alcohol, your normal license may be suspended or revoked. But you can still drive cars if you have an Ignition Interlock Driver License (IIL).
• All sentences must have ignition interlocks.
• The court tells the person who broke the law that they can only drive cars with an ignition interlock device after their license suspension or removal period. If you've never used a locking device before, you have to wait at least a year before you do so.
• Washington's "open container" laws say that you can't drink any kind of alcohol or have an open booze container in your car while you're driving.

DUI Penalties in Washington

In Washington State, you have seven years to clear a DUI. If someone is held driving under the influence more than once in this time range, they will face harsher penalties and fines.

Also, the punishments get worse if you have a BAC of 0.15% or more, a DUI with a passenger under 16 years old, or if you drive recklessly or carelessly.

First-Time Offense

The sentence includes a jail sentence of 24 hours to 364 days, fines ranging from $940.50 to $5,000, a 90-day license suspension, and a potential requirement to use an interlock ignition device.

Second-Time Offense

The sentence includes a 30-to-364-day jail sentence, fines ranging from $1,195.50 to $5,000, and a two-year license revocation, with a potential requirement to use an Individual Identification Device for at least five years.

Third-Time Offense

The sentence includes 90 to 364 days in jail, fines ranging from $2,045.50 to $5,000, license revocation for three years, and a potential requirement to use an IID for at least ten years.

Along with the above punishments, a judge may also order DUI violators to go through a treatment program, an alcohol or drug education program, or the 24/7 Sobriety Program.

DUI Penalties for Underage Drinkers in Washington

In Washington, a driver under 21 with a BAC of less than 0.08% is still guilty of DUI. You could go to jail for up to 90 days and have to pay a fine of up to $1,000. A person under 21 who gets a DUI may not be able to drive again until they turn 21.