Getting Car Insurance in Colorado After a DUI (2024)


Updated: October 16, 2024

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MoneyGeek found that State Farm is the best and cheapest car insurance company in Colorado after a DUI. This goes for both full coverage and minimum coverage policies.

MoneyGeek Logo IconBestAuto InsuranceAfter a DUI
2024

An insurance provider can legally deny coverage to drivers with a DUI conviction on their record. If they do choose to grant you coverage after a DUI, expect your rates to go up significantly. Companies do this to compensate for the risk they are taking by insuring a high-risk driver who is more likely to file a claim.

In Colorado, your car insurance rates can increase by as much as 53% for a full coverage insurance policy after a DUI. This is on top of having your license suspended, having limited driving privileges and having mandatory ignition interlocks.

Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Colorado After a DUI

MoneyGeek conducted a nationwide comparison of auto insurance providers which showed that Progressive and State Farm offer the cheapest car insurance companies for drivers after a DUI. Whereas Progressive is the cheapest in the country overall, State Farm provides the cheapest policies in most states, including Colorado.

Cheapest Companies for Full Coverage in Colorado After a DUI

Based on MoneyGeek’s analysis, the cheapest car insurance providers in Colorado for a full coverage policy after a DUI are:

  • State Farm: $1,251 per year
  • Allstate: $1,534 per year
Cheapest Car Insurance for Full Coverage After a DUI
1State Farm$1,251
2USAA$1,348
3Allstate$1,534
4Travelers$1,787
5Esurance$1,843

Cheapest Companies for Minimum Coverage in Colorado After a DUI

Your policy’s coverage level also affects the cost of your car insurance premiums.

MoneyGeek found that the most affordable car insurance companies in Colorado for minimum coverage after a DUI are:

  • State Farm: $612 per year
  • GEICO: $871 per year
Cheapest Car Insurance for Minimum Coverage After a DUI
USAA$556
State Farm$612
GEICO$871
Esurance$944
Allstate$948
Travelers$1,049
Nationwide$1,141
American Family$1,180
Farmers$1,329
Progressive$1,460
MetLife$1,771
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If cost is your main consideration in buying a policy, you can always purchase the state minimum coverage. It is the cheapest option you’ll find, but it only provides basic coverages which might not be enough to protect you and your assets. With minimum coverage, your out-of-pocket expenses in the wake of a road accident can leave you in a financial bind. We recommend that you look beyond costs when choosing which policy to buy.

Top Car Insurance Companies in Colorado After a DUI

MoneyGeek scored car insurance companies based on affordability, customer satisfaction and financial stability, among others, to identify the best insurers for drivers with a DUI conviction. Based on our analysis, the best car insurance company in Colorado for both minimum and full coverage after a DUI is State Farm.

Best Companies for Full Coverage in Colorado After a DUI

Using a unique scoring system, MoneyGeek determined that State Farm and Allstate are the best companies for a full coverage policy after a DUI. These two insurers also provide the cheapest full coverage policies in Colorado for high-risk drivers.


1
State FarmBest full coverage after a DUI
Score:4.5

5/5

Affordability

5/5

Financial Stability

4/5

User Satisfaction

4.5/5

Claims

Geek Quick Take
Geek Quick Take

A State Farm full coverage policy in Colorado after a DUI costs an average of $1,251 per year. This is an 8% increase from the average annual premium of $1,158 for a driver without a DUI record.

More About State Farm

State Farm is one of MoneyGeek’s top-rated insurers, and for good reason. It offers many discounts and its full coverage policies are very affordable for most drivers, including those with a DUI. However, it doesn’t have unique coverages, such as Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) coverage.

2
Allstate
Score:4

2.9/5

Affordability

4.5/5

Financial Stability

4/5

User Satisfaction

5/5

Claims

Geek Quick Take
Geek Quick Take

Allstate’s full coverage car insurance with a DUI in Colorado is priced at $1,534 per year on average, but drivers without a DUI get the same policy for an average of $1,185. This is an increase of over 29% in your average annual premium.

More About Allstate

Although Allstate has a below-average MoneyGeek rating, it scores well in terms of customer satisfaction and is relatively cheap for teen drivers. It also offers unique add-ons like custom parts coverage, but it lacks commonly offered discounts, such as multiple cars or defensive driving discounts.

Best Companies for Minimum Coverage in Colorado After a DUI

If you’re looking for the cheapest possible option for car insurance, you may purchase a minimum coverage policy. However, it usually doesn’t provide adequate protection for most people.

In Colorado, the best car insurance companies providing minimum coverage for those with a DUI are State Farm and GEICO.


1
State FarmBest minimum coverage after a DUI
Score:4

5/5

Stability

4/5

Satisfaction

5/5

Claims

4/5

Affordability

Geek Quick Take
Geek Quick Take

In Colorado, the average minimum coverage policy from State Farm costs an average of $558 per year. But, if you’ve been convicted of a DUI, the same policy becomes more expensive at an average annual cost of $612.

More About State Farm

State Farm is also our top pick for a minimum coverage provider. It is one of MoneyGeek’s top-rated insurers which offers many discounts. State Farm’s minimum coverage policies are very inexpensive for most drivers, including those with a DUI. However, it doesn’t carry options for unique coverages like OEM, accident forgiveness, gap insurance and deductible modification.

2
GEICO
Score:3

5/5

Stability

4/5

Satisfaction

5/5

Claims

0/5

Affordability

Geek Quick Take
Geek Quick Take

Drivers in Colorado with a clean record can get a minimum coverage policy from GEICO at around $373 per year. However, those with a DUI pay around $871 annually for the same policy.

More About GEICO

GEICO also gets our nod as the runner-up for minimum coverage insurer for Colorado drivers with a DUI. It is one of MoneyGeek’s top-rated insurers with a perfect score for financial stability and high ratings for customer satisfaction and claims. Although it provides cheap policies for all types of drivers, unique add-on coverages and rare discounts, GEICO needs to improve on how it resolves complaints.

How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in Colorado After a DUI?

Car insurance rates in Colorado increase by almost 53% after a DUI conviction. Whereas a full coverage policy for someone with a clean record is typically priced at $1,381 per year on average, drivers with a DUI need to pay an average of $2,110 per year for the same policy.

MoneyGeek explains why your premiums increase after a DUI.

How long does a DUI affect the cost of your car insurance?

wallet
Average Cost

Full Coverage

$1,381
insurance2
Average Cost with DUI

Full Coverage

$2,110
Full coverage policy premiums after a DUI cost::$729 more

This is 53% more expensive.

The cost of your Colorado car insurance increases after a DUI since you are already tagged as a high-risk driver. Use MoneyGeek’s auto insurance calculator to get a personalized estimate of your premiums based on your driver profile.

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Rates updated:

Nov 08, 2024

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In addition to a likely exponential increase in your car insurance rates, there are other DUI-related costs that can hurt you financially, such as:

  • Fines, court and attorneys' fees: A DUI conviction often results in substantial fines and various court fees, including paying for an attorney who specializes in DUI cases.
  • Towing/impound fee: Following an arrest, you will be unable to drive. You must pay a fee if your car is towed and impounded by the police.
  • Drug education and treatment: Colorado requires DUI-convicted drivers to undergo an alcohol or drug education program. Note that this may differ from the DMV requirements.
  • DMV reinstatement fee: You’ll need to pay a fee to reinstate your driving privileges after your license has been suspended due to a DUI offense.
  • Damages: If you’re found at fault for an accident, you would need to shoulder the cost of property damages and medical care if these exceed the limits of your insurance coverage.

Getting Car Insurance in Colorado After a DUI

Many car insurance companies refuse to cover drivers with a DUI conviction. Being private businesses, insurance providers aim to make a profit while minimizing their exposure to risk. This is why they can legally choose to cancel or decline the renewal of policies for DUI offenders.

Getting insurance in Colorado can be especially challenging since the look-back period extends for a driver’s lifetime. That said, MoneyGeek recommends that you shop around, compare quotes and find an insurance company that will give you the best possible rate for your situation.

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Drivers in Colorado who have been convicted of a DUI are required to have an SR-22 insurance form filed by their insurer to confirm that their policy meets the state’s minimum requirements. Use MoneyGeek’s guide to learn more about SR-22 insurance in Colorado and to find the best and cheapest companies for drivers with a DUI.

Colorado DUI Laws

A DUI carries severe legal consequences. Although DUI penalties tend to vary across states, most include automatic suspension of license, payment of fines and penalty fees, installation of ignition interlock device (IID) and jail time. MoneyGeek goes over Colorado’s DUI laws in the table below.

    bac1 icon

    Driving with a BAC at or above 0.08 is considered a DUI

    Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) refers to the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream.

    In Colorado, the BAC minimum threshold is 0.08. But even if your BAC is under this threshold, you can still get arrested if your driving is noticeably impaired.

    bac2 icon

    Driving with a BAC of 0.15 will result in increased penalties

    Colorado drivers with a BAC of 0.15 will be classified as “persistent drunk drivers.” This requires a mandatory ignition interlock for a minimum of one year. During this time, no probationary-restricted license can be issued for whatever reason.

    Those with a BAC of 0.20 can get a minimum of 10 days or up to one year of imprisonment, a fine of $600 to $1,500 and 48 to 120 hours of community service, 48 hours of which are mandatory.

    driverLicense icon

    License suspension for a first offense

    If you are caught driving in Colorado with a BAC of 0.15 or above, your license will be revoked for at least three months.

    car2Colored icon

    Limited driving privileges

    You will get limited driving privileges during the period of your license suspension.

    ignition icon

    Ignition interlocks

    In Colorado, an ignition interlock system is mandatory for those with a BAC of 0.15 and above and for repeat DUI offenders.

    This is also highly incentivized for DUI first offenders.

    carColored icon

    Open container laws

    Under Colorado’s open container laws, it is illegal to have an open container of alcohol in your vehicle.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can review MoneyGeek’s answers to frequently asked questions about car insurance to have a better understanding of how a DUI affects car insurance in Colorado.

Will my insurer continue to cover me if I get a DUI in Colorado?
How much do car insurance premiums increase in Colorado after a DUI?
What is the cheapest car insurance company in Colorado after a DUI?
How long will having a DUI affect my car insurance rates?
How do I get car insurance if I have a DUI?

Methodology

To determine the top companies for individuals with DUIs in Colorado, MoneyGeek analyzed each company’s financial stability, customer satisfaction, claims and affordability based on data and information obtained from state insurance departments and Quadrant Information Services. The rates above are based on a 40-year-old male with and without a DUI driving a 2010 Toyota Camry LE with 12K annual mileage.

About Mark Fitzpatrick


Mark Fitzpatrick headshot

Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.


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