Auto Insurance Rates In Houston – How Much Will It Cost?
Reader’s Question:
How much does your auto insurance rate rise in Houston if you are at fault in an accident and the other driver claims injuries?
Sam
Houston, TX
There is no specific amount your auto insurance in Houston may increase but generally you might expect a 10% to 15% increase in your auto insurance rate premiums. Insurance providers are required to file their car insurance rates and rules with state regulatory bodies such as the Department of Insurance. In most situations, they impose a surcharge or charge ‘points’ to motorists who have been charged with an accident and/or who have made an insurance claim against their car insurance policy. So, there is no standard law that dictates that an insurance carrier can increase your car insurance rate premiums due to an accident. It’s just a matter of how the car insurance rates are filed and passed on to you as a result of an accident.
Drunk Driver Insurance in Houston – How Much Is It?
Reader’s Question:
My boyfriend was driving my car over the past weekend. He got pulled over for speeding and also received a drunk driving violation (DUI) and driving without a license in Houston. How will this affect my auto insurance rate?
Kelly
Houston, TX
Generally, any tickets your friends receive while driving your car will not affect your auto insurance rates. The tickets for speeding, drunk driving and driving without a license should all have been issued to your boyfriend, the driver, and not the car, so typically will show up on his driving record and affect him.
If your boyfriend had an accident while driving your vehicle it would have affected your auto insurance since most likely it would be your insurance that would have to pay out on claims resulting from a crash.
Car Insurance Rates With DUI
Reader’s Question:
I live in Houston and was charged a DWI offense last month. How long will a DWI offense stay on my record and will it affect my auto insurance rates?
Carrie
Houston, TX
Thank you for asking Carrie. All alcohol related offenses are crimes, and are classified as either misdemeanors or felonies. Thus a DWI arrest will remain on your record for life.
In Texas, a DWI arrest will generally remain on your record past your lifetime. It is never removed unless you receive a pardon from the governor or the legislature changes the laws regarding the expunction of records. Thus, the DWI offense on your record will never go away. If you are found not guilty by a jury or by the court, you may be eligible to have the arrest and prosecution records destroyed through deletion. If you are concerned about having a criminal record for employment or credit purposes, you may consult a DWI attorney about fighting the charge.
Just so you know, it may take approximately 10 business days for the results of a criminal history record check, once the information is received by Texas Department of Public Safety. However, this government agency cannot guarantee the amount of time it may take to receive this information through the postal service.
As for the insurance, a DWI conviction will usually raise your rates from 300% to 500% for 5 or more years. Your insurance provider may have the option to cancel your coverage, forcing you to find another insurance provider. Moreover, most insurance companies will stop considering drunk driving convictions in accessing auto insurance rates after a period of years.
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