Auto Insurance Rates with DWI in New York

Reader’s Question:

I am from New York. I have a NY license and also have a vehicle insured here. When I went to New Jersey to visit my mom, I was charged of DWI. How is this going to affect my auto insurance rate in New York? Will it have a negative impact? I am assuming there is none since it’s an out-of-state violation. Help please?

Bernard

Bronx, NY

Unfortunately there is an effect on your auto insurance rate and it’s big time!

Being convicted of Driving while Intoxicated (DWI) in another state (and in your case in New Jersey) doesn’t mean you can easily get away with it. We have what we call the Driver’s License Compact (DLC). Both your home state New York and New Jersey are members of it. This compact allows its member states to exchange information regarding a person’s suspension or traffic violations. Also, an out-of-state violation would be treated the same way it happened in a person’s home state. Meaning to say, you having cited for DWI in New Jersey would be treated as if you were cited for DWI in New York.

Your charged for DWI would be placed on your record and your car insurance company would find out about it. This is a serious offense if I may add. And having DWI under your name would normally increase your auto insurance premium since you are now considered to be a high risk driver.

You can ask your car insurance agent in New York to give you an estimate on how much increase you would see on your auto insurance premium. If you got too much increase then you can shop for auto insurance quotes using the websites.