Reader’s Question:

If I get a DUI in North Carolina, will I be obligated to get high risk auto insurance, or will I still be able to renew my current auto insurance?

Crystal

Charlotte, NC

Getting arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) in North Carolina will result in a number of serious problems. Firstly, you will face two lawsuits. One would be an administrative lawsuit that will be pursued by the Department of Motor Vehicles to have your driver’s license suspended. The other would be a criminal case filed by the federal government of North Carolina. This is because driving while intoxicated is considered illegal, especially if the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of the offender is 0.08% or more. And if your DUI resulted in serious injuries and/or substantial damage to property, then you should be prepared to pay enormous amounts of money for fees of your legal representative, administrative and/or license reinstatement fees, not to mention the non-economic damages such as pain and suffering that you may be obligated to pay if there were people injured from your irresponsible driving. You should also be ready to let go of your car permanently and just think that it’s safe and sound in the county impound. And if you are lucky enough to have a lenient court ruling, then 2 years in prison should not be that hard. With all that’s in store to happen following a DUI arrest, getting a high risk auto insurance should be the least concern in your mind. Not only will you have a hard time renewing your contract, but you may have to pay a bundle in increased premiums if the company ever decides to renew it.