DWI: Auto Insurance Explained [2025]

A Driving While Intoxicated or Impaired (DWI) charge is serious with tough punishments and consequences.

If you are pulled over and issued a DWI citation, that means the officer found you to be driving while intoxicated or impaired. DWI driving is dangerous not only for you, but also for other drivers on the road.

In addition to fines, jail time, and having your driver’s license suspended or revoked, you could face a dramatic increase in your auto insurance rates. 

If your driving record was marred by a DWI, auto insurance quotes from insurance companies that offer competitive rates can be found online.

Enter your ZIP code to get free quotes for drivers with a DWI from insurance companies in your city today.

What is the difference between a DWI and a DUI?

The specific meaning of a DWI varies from state to state, but a DUI is “driving under the influence,” whether a driver has been influenced by drugs or alcohol.

Now, unlike the DWI meaning for medical purposes or the DWI meaning in modern slang, DWI can stand for “driving while intoxicated,” which essentially makes it synonymous with a DUI. On the other hand, DWI may stand for “driving while impaired.”

If your state has this type of distinction, you could be charged with a DWI for:

• Falling asleep at the wheel
• Driving while physically incapacitated
• Being in a condition that promotes unsafe driving without the aid of drugs or alcohol

Pennsylvania is the only U.S. state that does not distinguish between DWI and DUI. It only uses DUI.

How are drivers charged with a DWI?

If a police officer observes your car swerving on the road or showing signs of driving while intoxicated or impaired, they will pull you over. Typically, the officer will talk to you to ascertain if you’ve been drinking, and then ask you to use a breathalyzer.

A breathalyzer measures your blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Most states have a BAC limit of 0.08% — the legal limit of intoxication. Utah is the exception, which has a BAC limit of 0.05% indicating legal intoxication.

If a driver has never had a DWI charge, they may only receive a misdemeanor charge; however, if a driver has had multiple DWI charges, they could be charged with a felony.

To an auto insurance company, DWI charges are not a thrilling thing to see on a driver’s record.

How does a DWI affect auto insurance rates?

Auto insurance companies view drivers who have a DWI charge as high-risk drivers and will typically raise the auto insurance rates for those drivers. You could potentially face an increase in your rates of $500 or more.

Auto insurance rates aren’t the only thing you would have to worry about if you receive a DWI. According to the New York DMV, if you are charged with DWI in that state, you could face up to a year in jail and fines between $1,000 to $2,500.

If you have received a DWI and need to save money on your insurance rates, there are steps that you can take to keep your auto insurance rates down. Take a look at these discounts that are offered by some major insurance companies.

The next time your review your policy, use this list to help you save as much money as possible:

Auto Insurance Discounts from Top Companies

While the best strategy is to have a designated driver or to call for a taxi or ride-share when having a night on the town, you can always use discounts like the ones listed above to keep your rates reasonable.

DWI: What You Need to Know

When it comes to DWI vs. DUI, it’s important to know the difference, but both can have highly negative effects upon your insurance rates and even land you in jail.

If you’ve been invited to a house party or are simply out for after-work drinks, calling a cab instead of driving while intoxicated could not only keep your driving record clean but could also potentially save a life.

No matter what DWI means in your state, driving a vehicle in a less-than-clear state of mind is dangerous and illegal.

If you have a DWI, buy auto insurance from a company that offers low rates and multiple discount opportunities so you can get the best deal possible.

If you’re struggling to find insurance after being charged with DWI, enter your ZIP code to get free quotes today.

Hopefully, you will never receive a DWI citation from a police officer, because that would mean that you had been driving either while intoxicated or impaired which is incredibly dangerous not just for yourself but for other drivers on the road as well.

Not only that but if you were caught driving while intoxicated or impaired, you could face a dramatic increase in your auto insurance rates. Of course, if you are facing such a predicament, even if you have a DWI, affordable auto insurance is attainable.

If your rates increased after your driving record was marred by a DWI, auto insurance quotes for insurance companies that offer competitive rates can be found online.

Enter your ZIP code to get free quotes for drivers with a DWI from insurance companies in your city today.

What is the difference between a DWI and a DUI?

The specific meaning of a DWI often varies from state to state, but a DUI always stands for “driving under the influence,” whether a driver has been influenced by drugs or alcohol.

Now, unlike the DWI meaning for medical purposes or the DWI meaning in modern slang, DWI can stand for “driving while intoxicated,” which essentially makes it synonymous with a DUI. On the other hand, DWI may stand for “driving while impaired.”

If your state has this type of distinction, you could be charged with a DWI for:

• Falling asleep at the wheel
• Driving while physically incapacitated
• Being in a condition that promotes unsafe driving without the aid of drugs or alcohol

Read more: Is it illegal to sleep in your car?

Bear in mind that if you live in Pennsylvania, the only acronym that is used by the state is DUI.

How are drivers charged with a DWI?

If a police officer thinks you are swerving on the road or are showing signs of driving while intoxicated or impaired, they will pull you over. Typically, the officer will talk to you to ascertain if you’ve been drinking and then ask you to use a breathalyzer.

A breathalyzer measures your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and most states have a BAC limit of 0.08%. This excludes Utah which has a BAC limit of 0.05%.

If a driver has never had any DWI charges before they may only receive a misdemeanor charge; however, if a driver repeatedly is served with DWI charges they could be charged with a felony.

Now, to an auto insurance company, DWI charges are not a thrilling thing to see on a driver’s record.

How does a DWI affect auto insurance rates?

Auto insurance companies view drivers who have a DWI charge as high-risk drivers and will typically raise the auto insurance rates for those drivers accordingly. You could potentially face an increase in your rates of $500 or more.

But when it comes to a DWI, auto insurance rates aren’t the only thing you would have to worry about if you receive a DWI. According to the New York DMV, if you were to receive a DWI in that state, you could face up to a year in jail and have to pay anywhere between $1,000 to $2,500.

If you have received a DWI and don’t have unlimited resources, there are steps that you can take to keep your auto insurance rates down. Take a look at these discounts that are offered by some major insurance companies.

The next time your review your policy, you can use this list to verify that you are saving as much money as possible:

Auto Insurance Discounts from Top Companies

While the best strategy is to have a designated driver or to call for a taxi or ride-share when having a night on the town, you can always use discounts like the ones listed above to keep your rates reasonable.

DWI: What You need to Know

When it comes to DWI vs DUI, it’s important to know the difference, but both can have highly negative effects upon your insurance rates and even land you in jail.

If you’ve been invited to a house party or are simply out for after work drinks, calling a cab instead of driving while intoxicated could not only keep your driving record clean but could also potentially save a life.

No matter what DWI means in your state, driving a vehicle in a less than clear state of mind is incredibly dangerous.

Of course, if you have a DWI, buy auto insurance from a company that offers low rates and multiple discount opportunities so you can get the best deal possible.

If you’re struggling to find insurance after being charged with DWI, enter your ZIP code to get free quotes today.