Does a physical control violation affect auto insurance rates?
Physical control violation auto insurance is similar to DUI insurance, but instead of driving while intoxicated, violators are charged with being inside or near the vehicle while intoxicated. How does a physical control violation affect auto insurance? It will increase your rates up to 41%.
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Daniel Walker
Licensed Auto Insurance Agent
Daniel Walker graduated with a BS in Administrative Management in 2005 and has run his family’s insurance agency, FCI Agency, for over 15 years (BBB A+). He is licensed as an insurance agent to write property and casualty insurance, including home, life, auto, umbrella, and dwelling fire insurance. He’s also been featured on sites like Reviews.com and Safeco. To ensure our content is accura...
Licensed Auto Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Oct 18, 2023
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Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Oct 18, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- You can be convicted of physical control of a vehicle if you’re intoxicated and in physical contact with the car, even if you’re not driving
- Physical control convictions can add points to your license and may result in fees or even a suspended license
- You’ll still be eligible for auto insurance discounts that can help reduce any rate increases after a physical control violation
It’s possible to get a DUI charge if you’re just sleeping in your vehicle while intoxicated with the keys in the ignition. It sounds crazy, but this is just one of a number of different circumstances that can result in a physical control violation on your record.
Does a physical control violation increase affect auto insurance rates? The bad news is that it will raise your rates, but the good news is that it won’t be as high as your insurance rates after a DUI or DWI. DUI insurance can be quite costly.
Even though physical control violations increase insurance rates, there are ways to save money on auto insurance. Car insurance quotes with a physical control violation don’t have to break the bank. Keep reading to learn how physical control violations are defined in your state and what happens to auto insurance rates after a physical control violation.
Physical Control Violations Defined
State laws will often vary on their definition of physical control, but most DUI laws note six common factors that should be considered when determining whether someone can be accused of a physical control DUI:
- Where the driver was in the vehicle
- Where the key was located within the vehicle
- If the engine was running
- Where the vehicle was parked and who drove it there
- If the vehicle was rendered mechanically inoperable at the time
- How easily that mechanical disability could have been fixed by the defendant
If you are charged with a physical control DUI, you’ll need to meet certain requirements to get your license back. Many violators have their licenses suspended and must pay a reinstatement fee and provide up-to-date proof of auto insurance before getting their driving privileges reinstated.
Read More: How to Get Instant Auto Insurance Proof
Physical control violation auto insurance requirements and fees will vary based on where you live. For example, a physical control violation in Ohio is a first-degree misdemeanor, which carries penalties of up to 180 days of jail time, up to $1,000 in fines, and court-ordered drug or alcohol treatment.
And if you’re trying to find out how to beat a physical control charge in your state, it’s not going to be easy. You have to prove that you were in no way intending to drive.
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How a Physical Control Violation Affects Auto Insurance Rates
Auto insurance for drivers with a bad driving record is more expensive. The following table shows average rates with a clean record versus rates after getting just one DUI.
Full Coverage Auto Insurance Monthly Rates by Driving Record
| Insurance Company | Clean Record | One Accident | One Speeding Ticket | One DUI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $160 | $225 | $188 | $270 |
| American Family | $117 | $176 | $136 | $194 |
| Farmers | $139 | $198 | $173 | $193 |
| Geico | $80 | $132 | $106 | $216 |
| Liberty Mutual | $174 | $234 | $212 | $313 |
| Nationwide | $115 | $161 | $137 | $237 |
| Progressive | $105 | $186 | $140 | $140 |
| State Farm | $86 | $102 | $96 | $112 |
| Travelers | $99 | $139 | $134 | $206 |
| USAA | $59 | $78 | $67 | $108 |
Rates increase anywhere from 17 to 127 percent with one DUI. Physical control violations won’t raise auto insurance rates quite as much since a physical control charge means that you were just inside of a vehicle while intoxicated, not driving. However, you will still pay more than average for coverage due to your increased risk.
How to Save Money on Auto Insurance After a Physical Control Violation
Even though car insurance for an impaired driver is likely to increase after a physical control violation, you may still be eligible for some discounts to help lower it back down. The table below shows just a sample of discounts you may be able to get.
Auto Insurance Discounts by Company
| Discount Name | Allstate | American Family | Farmers | Geico | Liberty Mutual | Nationwide | Progressive | State Farm | Travelers | USAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adaptive Cruise Control | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Adaptive Headlights | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Anti-lock Brakes | 10% | ✓ | ✓ | 5% | 5% | 5% | ✓ | 5% | ||
| Anti-Theft | 10% | ✓ | 23% | 20% | 25% | ✓ | 15% | |||
| Claim Free | 35% | ✓ | ✓ | 26% | ✓ | 10% | ✓ | 15% | 23% | 12% |
| Continuous Coverage | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 15% | ✓ | ||
| Daytime Running Lights | 2% | ✓ | 3% | 5% | 5% | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Defensive Driver | 10% | 10% | ✓ | ✓ | 10% | 5% | 10% | 5% | 10% | 3% |
| Distant Student | 35% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 10% | ✓ | 7% | ||
| Driver's Ed | 10% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 10% | ✓ | 10% | 15% | 8% | 3% |
| Driving Device/App | 20% | 40% | ✓ | ✓ | 30% | 40% | 20% | 50% | 30% | 5% |
| Early Signing | 10% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 8% | ✓ | ✓ | 10% | 12% |
| Electronic Stability Control | 2% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Emergency Deployment | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 25% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Engaged Couple | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Family Legacy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 10% |
| Family Plan | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 25% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Farm Vehicle | 10% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Fast 5 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Federal Employee | ✓ | ✓ | 12% | 10% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Forward Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Full Payment | 10% | ✓ | ✓ | $50 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 8% | ✓ | |
| Further Education | ✓ | ✓ | 10% | 15% | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Garaging/Storing | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 90% | ||
| Good Credit | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Good Student | 20% | ✓ | 15% | 23% | 10% | ✓ | 25% | 8% | 3% | |
| Green Vehicle | 10% | ✓ | 5% | ✓ | 10% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 10% | ✓ |
| Homeowner | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5% | ✓ | 3% | 5% | ✓ | |
| Lane Departure Warning | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Life Insurance | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Low Mileage | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 30% | ||||||
| Loyalty | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Married | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Membership/Group | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 10% | 7% | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Military | ✓ | ✓ | 15% | 4% | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Military Garaging | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 15% |
| Multiple Drivers | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multiple Policies | 10% | 29% | ✓ | 10% | 20% | 10% | 12% | 17% | 13% | |
| Multiple Vehicles | ✓ | ✓ | 25% | 10% | 20% | 10% | 20% | 8% | ||
| New Address | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| New Customer/New Plan | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| New Graduate | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| New Vehicle | 30% | ✓ | ✓ | 15% | ✓ | 40% | 10% | 12% | ||
| Newly Licensed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Newlyweds | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Non-Smoker/Non-Drinker | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Occasional Operator | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Occupation | ✓ | 10% | 15% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| On-Time Payments | 5% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 15% | ✓ | |
| Online Shopper | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 7% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paperless Documents | 10% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5% | $50 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Paperless/Auto Billing | 5% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | $30 | ✓ | $20 | 3% | 3% | |
| Passive Restraint | 30% | 30% | 40% | 20% | ✓ | 40% | ||||
| Recent Retirees | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 4% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Renter | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Roadside Assistance | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Safe Driver | 45% | ✓ | 15% | ✓ | 35% | 31% | 15% | 23% | 12% | |
| Seat Belt Use | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 15% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Senior Driver | 10% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Stable Residence | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Students & Alumni | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 10% | 7% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Switching Provider | ✓ | ✓ | 10% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Utility Vehicle | 15% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Vehicle Recovery | 10% | ✓ | ✓ | 15% | 35% | 25% | ✓ | 5% | ||
| VIN Etching | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5% | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Volunteer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Young Driver | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | $75 |
The best way to save on car insurance for a physical control violation is to shop around. Get quotes from the best auto insurance companies for high-risk drivers near you to find affordable auto insurance after a physical control violation.
Physical Control Violations Will Show Up on Auto Insurance Background Checks
How long does physical control stay on your driving record? That depends on where you live and how many previous violations you have on your record.
In general, physical control violations stay on record for up to five years, and auto insurance companies will likely only go back three years or so, depending on state laws.Dani Best Licensed Insurance Producer
The background check will probably cease to pull it in after a few years, at which point your insurance rates should decrease. But it’s important to note that certain states keep a DUI on your record for 15 years, which will cause the DUI to affect your auto insurance.
Learn More: How Auto Insurance Companies Check Driving Records
Get Affordable Auto Insurance with a Physical Control Violation
DUIs and physical control violations affect auto insurance rates, but it’s still possible to find cheap auto insurance when you comparison shop online. You can get free quotes from multiple insurers in your area with our comparison tool below.
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Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is physical control under the influence?
Physical control under the influence refers to being inside a vehicle while intoxicated. Factors such as proximity to the vehicle’s controls and intent to drive may determine whether a physical control charge applies.
Does a physical control violation affect auto insurance rates?
Yes, a physical control violation can increase your insurance rates up to 41% with points on your license. However, it is not as severe as a DUI conviction, which can raise rates up to 127%.
Is a physical control charge better than an OVI for auto insurance?
There is a difference between a physical control charge and an OVI. While both involve being intoxicated in or near a vehicle, an OVI is more similar to a DUI, indicating actual operation of the vehicle. Auto insurance rates may be affected differently based on the specific charge.
Can you be charged with a DUI if you’re just sleeping in your car?
Yes, in certain circumstances, such as having the keys in the ignition, you can be charged with a DUI even if you’re not actively driving the vehicle. Laws regarding this vary by jurisdiction.
Does a physical control violation show up on a background check for auto insurance?
Physical control violations may appear on your driving record, which is often considered during background checks for auto insurance. The duration that it remains on your record depends on the state, typically up to three years.
What are three factors that affect auto insurance rates?
Driver age, location, and driving record have the biggest impact on auto insurance rates.
What is one major cause of higher auto insurance rates?
Violations on your driving record, including speeding tickets, physical control violations, and DUIs, will raise your insurance rates more than other variables.
What are three things drivers should consider when choosing auto insurance after a physical control violation?
Drivers with physical control violations should look for high-risk auto insurance companies that specialize in DUI insurance and don’t check credit scores.
What can you do to make your auto insurance rates go down after a physical control violation?
Asking for discounts and maintaining a safe driving record can help reduce your auto insurance rates after a physical control charge or other moving violation.
Which gender pays more for auto insurance?
Men typically pay higher insurance rates than women.
How do companies assess risk for auto insurance?
Auto insurance companies check your driving history, criminal history, claims history, and credit history to determine your risk as a driver.
Why did my auto insurance rates go up?
Auto insurance companies assess your policy every year, and your rates might go up if your driving record changes, you buy a new vehicle, or crime and auto theft rates in your area increase.
Free Auto Insurance Comparison
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.
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Daniel Walker
Licensed Auto Insurance Agent
Daniel Walker graduated with a BS in Administrative Management in 2005 and has run his family’s insurance agency, FCI Agency, for over 15 years (BBB A+). He is licensed as an insurance agent to write property and casualty insurance, including home, life, auto, umbrella, and dwelling fire insurance. He’s also been featured on sites like Reviews.com and Safeco. To ensure our content is accura...
Licensed Auto Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.