What is a high risk driver and can a DUI make you one?

Residents of Oklahoma who get charged with DUI can face serious consequences. If you have a DUI on your record, you might lose your driving privileges for some time. It’s fair to wonder if you may also be considered a high risk driver.

What is a high risk driver?

A high risk driver is someone with penalties against their driver’s license, had accidents and faced at least one DUI conviction. Being high risk often means higher premiums compared with the average driver.

What are the most common reasons to be considered a high risk driver?

You’re more likely to be considered a high risk driver for a DUI charge and conviction, receiving a speeding ticket or even being a teen driver.

Depending on your insurance carrier, if you are arrested on DUI charges in Oklahoma, your premium might increase by as much as 75 percent. This is because DUI convictions are deemed very serious as you are considered a huge risk to everyone on the road. In some cases, an auto insurance carrier might not even renew a driver’s coverage after a DUI conviction. Instead, they might cancel it due to the person being a poor risk for getting into an accident or being a repeat offender.

How long can a driver be considered high risk?

Most auto insurance carriers will only look as far back as five years into a driver’s history. Some will only look at the last three years. However, if you have a DUI arrest or conviction, it can still count toward penalties on your driver’s license for longer or even permanently. As a result, for a DUI in Oklahoma, you might still be considered a high risk driver even years after your conviction.

The best thing you can do is to avoid getting a DUI in the first place. Staying sober when you have to drive and making wiser choices is best.