DUI Defined (2024)

Of all the traffic violations a driver can be convicted of, a DUI is just about the worst. DUI stands for “driving under the influence” of drugs or alcohol.

DUIs are closely related to DWIs, or may even be interchangeable, depending on the state. Regardless, a DUI is a serious offense that can take over your life. Drivers with a DUI on their record face hefty fines, license suspension, and even jail time. They’ll probably need to find special DUI insurance to drive again, as well.

So, what is a DUI exactly, and what do you do if you get one? If you already have a DUI on record and need insurance, your best bet is to get quotes from as many companies as possible. Enter your ZIP code into our free tool to see what quotes might look like for you.

What is a DUI charge?

At its heart, a DUI charge means you were caught endangering yourself and others by driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. DUIs are a serious problem. In 2019, 10,142 people lost their lives to DUI. However, there is some good news.

Through concentrated efforts by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and programs like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), DUIs in America are at an all-time low. Still, DUIs and DWIs plague America’s roads.

While DUI consequences vary, each state defines the offense in the same way: a driver with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 or higher.

What is blood alcohol content?

In simple terms, BAC measures how much alcohol is in your bloodstream. This number is used to legally define your level of intoxication. Your BAC is the number of grams of ethanol per 100 milliliters of blood. You’re legally considered intoxicated at a BAC of 0.08, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll feel drunk.

People experience drunkenness differently based on their tolerance and body, so it’s essential to know how many drinks will get you to a 0.08 BAC. If a cop pulls you over and finds you at the legal limit, they won’t care if you say you don’t feel drunk.

A standard drink adds around 0.02 to your BAC, meaning you’ll be legally drunk after four drinks. A standard drink includes:

• 12 ounces of beer
• 5 ounces of wine
• 5 ounces of liquor

There are a lot of myths out there about how to sober up quickly, including coffee, cold showers, or sports drinks. However, there is only one way alcohol leaves your body: time. For every hour that passes, your BAC drops by about 0.015. That means that your body needs over an hour to process every alcoholic beverage you drink.

Which is worse: DUI or DWI?

Although they mean different things (DWI stands for driving while impaired), they’re equally as bad. The main difference between DUI vs. DWI depends on your state. Some states don’t differentiate between the two, while others do.

For states that define them differently, a DWI is usually reserved for drug charges. In states with separate charges for DWI and DUI, DWI is usually the worst of the two. Some states allow first-time offenders to lower their DWI charges to a DUI. Others, like Texas, have zero-tolerance and charge anyone over 21 with a DWI.

Other states use DUI to refer to reckless drivers under 0.08 BAC, and reserve DWI for drivers over the legal limit.

What are the consequences of a DUI?

The most common reason people get arrested is because of DUI. DUIs aren’t like regular traffic citations, like speeding tickets or failures to stop. A DUI can stay with you for years and affect several aspects of your life, including:

• Driver’s license suspension. You can lose your license over a DUI, sometimes on your first offense, for up to two years. That leaves you without your own transportation for work, school, errands, and other responsibilities.
• Employment. If your job requires you to drive and you lose your license, you won’t be able to work. Additionally, most driving jobs have rules in place about DUIs, even if you don’t lose your license.
• Background checks. A felony or misdemeanor DUI will show up in your background. It’s not just employers that do background checks – apartments, college financial aid applications, and school admissions also conduct these kinds of reviews.
• Insurance rates. Getting a DUI automatically makes you a high-risk driver, and you’ll pay for it when it comes to insurance. In fact, some companies will terminate your coverage altogether. You can at least expect your rates to double or triple for several years.

Additionally, you’ll have a DUI on your driving record. Some states will remove DUIs from your history after a few years, while others are there for the rest of your life.

Once a DUI falls off your record (if it does), you’ll probably be eligible for lower insurance rates and it will stop appearing on background checks.

What is a DUI resulting in death called?

The worst-case scenario for a DUI involves the death of an innocent person. Unfortunately, thousands of families are affected by this tragedy every year.

The penalty for accidentally killing someone during a DUI varies by state. Some states, such as California, might consider it a DUI murder. Others, like Arizona, don’t have specific rules in place.

In most states, accidental death is usually charged as either manslaughter, second-degree homicide, or criminally negligent homicide. Each state punishes accidental death differently:

While some states have extremely harsh sentences, it doesn’t necessarily mean that a person will receive the harshest penalty. A judge will consider the circumstances of a DUI arrest and decide what they feel is suitable for that specific case.

How much does your insurance go up after a DUI?

On average, insurance prices go up by a staggering 74 percent after a DUI. That’s more than a speeding ticket and accident combined for your insurance.

Consider the average monthly price of some of the biggest car insurance providers in the country before and after getting a DUI:

Obviously, your best option is to not get a DUI. However, if you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of having a DUI, talk to your agent to see if they can help you save money.

How to Find the Right Insurance After a DUI

Getting a DUI is incredibly stressful and potentially embarrassing. Of all the things you’ll need to take care, one of the last things you’ll want to stress over is insurance.

To save money, you should shop around for quotes with as many companies as you can. Even if your current provider is willing to keep you as a customer, it might be cheaper to go elsewhere.

If you’ve answered, “What is a DUI?” the hard way, you can enter your ZIP code into our free tool to see what car insurance quotes might look like for you.