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What is the difference between a DUI and DWI?

R.E. Hawley Mariah Posey
Written by
R.E. Hawley,
Edited by
Mariah Posey
Published on March 26, 2025 | 5 min read

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View from the interior of a dark car as a person is driving. Oncoming traffic can be seen but it is blurred.
Photo by Stephan Geyer/Getty Images

Key takeaways

  • DUI and DWI both refer to driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
  • Not all states use the same terms, and some states may also use OWI or OUI to refer to under-the-influence driving offenses.
  • Consequences for driving offenses while under the influence — by any name — can include fines, a suspended license and suspended vehicle registration, or jail time.
  • You may need to get SR-22 insurance after a DUI or DWI to prove you have ample coverage as a high-risk driver.

In some states, DUI and DWI mean essentially the same thing: driving under the influence of, or while intoxicated by, alcohol or drugs. But some states recognize both violations and draw a distinction between them, while others use another shorthand such as OUI or OWI (“operating under the influence/while intoxicated”). To help you make sense of your state’s alcohol and drug traffic laws, Bankrate’s insurance editorial team breaks down the differences between each charge, along with their potential insurance implications.

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DUI vs. DWI explained

Most Americans know what a DUI is — but not all state governments use the term DUI to refer to drunk driving offenses. Another common term for driving under the influence is DWI. Legal distinctions between DUI and DWI vary by state and even by municipal jurisdiction. The best way to nail down the difference is to look up your state’s laws.

What is a DUI?

Colloquially, it’s common to refer to any conviction for drunk driving as a “DUI,” which stands for “driving under the influence” of alcohol or drugs. In most states, you can be charged with a DUI if a blood alcohol test reveals that your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is above 0.08 percent. 

What is a DWI?

In states that don’t use DUI, the next-most common label for the offense of driving a motor vehicle while under the influence is “driving while impaired” or “driving while intoxicated,” or DWI. Generally speaking, DWI means the same thing as DUI — operating a motor vehicle while impaired. But some states, such as Rhode Island, use both terms.

When both DUI and DWI charges exist in a state, the distinction often relates to the degree of intoxication, with DWI typically applied to drivers who are less heavily intoxicated.

For instance, the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles assigns the DUI label to drunk driving offenses for drivers of all ages with blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) of .08 percent and above. But Rhode Island drivers under age 21 with BACs between .02 and .08 percent can be charged with DWI (driving while impaired). Colorado law maintains a similar distinction: DUI charges apply to those who are “substantially incapable” of safe driving due to alcohol or drugs, while DWAI (driving while ability impaired) applies to drivers affected “to the slightest degree.”

OUI vs. OWI

In some states, drivers may be charged with either an OUI or OWI. An OUI means “operating under the influence of intoxicating liquor,” while an OWI means “operating while intoxicated.” Currently, there are five states that use such terminology when charging drivers with related offenses:

  • Indiana: OWI
  • Iowa: OWI
  • Maine: OUI
  • Massachusetts: OUI
  • Michigan: OWI
  • Wisconsin: OWI

OWVI and DUAC

Certain states may charge drivers with an OWVI or DUAC. An OWVI means operating while visibly impaired and DUAC is driving with an unlawful alcohol concentration.

In Michigan, you can be charged with an OWVI if you are visibly impaired by alcohol or a controlled substance and try to operate a motor vehicle, although it is a lesser offense than an OWI. In South Carolina, the term DUAC is used in place of DWI. The distinction between a DUI and a DUAC in South Carolina is that a DUAC focuses on the driver’s impairment level, whatever their BAC level, while the DUAC charge is related to BAC levels above 0.08 percent.

Potential consequences of a DWI or DUI in each state

After you are convicted of a DUI or DWI, you could face heavy consequences, including fines, license and registration suspensions and even jail time. However, the specific penalties levied depend on many factors, including the state you were convicted in, whether this was your first alcohol-related traffic offense, if you had children in the car with you and how far over the legal limit your blood alcohol concentration was, among others.

In most cases, penalties for a DUI include monetary fines, suspension of driving privileges and possible jail time, at a minimum. You may also be required to attend an alcohol or drug education program and/or to install an ignition interlock device (IID) in your vehicle to prevent future offenses. If you caused property damage, injuries or fatalities while driving under the influence, you may have additional penalties.

Traffic laws are constantly evolving, so it’s important to stay abreast of any changes in your state’s statutes. As such, your state’s DMV may be the best source for the most up-to-date information regarding your state’s specific DUI penalties. If you have been charged with a DWI, DUI or other infraction, you may want to contact an attorney to help you navigate the process.

Will DUIs and DWIs impact my insurance rates?

The exact impact of a DUI or DWI conviction on your auto insurance depends on your carrier and other rating factors, but you can almost always expect your premium to increase after this type of violation. Since driving under the influence is a risky behavior that can lead to accidents and claims, your insurance company will probably raise your premium to compensate for their increased likelihood of paying out a future claim on your behalf.

Additionally, your insurance company may deem you a high-risk driver after you’re convicted of a DUI or DWI. If this is the case, it may refuse to renew your policy, forcing you to seek insurance elsewhere. Finding cheap car insurance can take some shopping, and insurance for high-risk drivers is typically much more expensive than for standard or preferred-risk drivers.

The average cost of car insurance in the U.S. prior to a drunk driving conviction is $2,628 per year for full coverage and $767 per year for state minimum coverage, according to average premium data from Quadrant Information Services as of January 2025. For drivers with a single DUI or DWI conviction, however, the cost of coverage goes up to $5,106 per year and $1,511 per year, respectively. That’s an increase of between 94 percent and 97 percent for a single conviction.

Other insurance-related impacts after a DUI or DWI

Your license may be suspended after a DUI or DWI, and your state may require you to carry a certificate of financial responsibility, or SR-22, to get it reinstated. An SR-22 is a form filed with the DMV by your insurance company that proves you are maintaining the minimum required car insurance coverage for your state. While an SR-22, itself, does not directly impact your premium, the reason for needing one does, and a small fee is typically associated with the filing (usually from $25 to $50). Furthermore, some states require you to carry at least double the state-required minimum liability limits in addition to the SR-22, and these higher limits will increase your rate. In Florida and Virginia, the form you’d need to file to verify that you have this additional coverage is called an FR-44.

You should be aware that a DUI or DWI conviction could lead to a mid-term policy cancellation or policy nonrenewal at the end of the current term. Additionally, a conviction may make it difficult to secure coverage through a standard auto insurer. In some cases, the only option for coverage may be through a state-backed high-risk insurance pool.

Frequently asked questions

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze January 2025 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a single, 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:

  • $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $50,000 property damage liability per accident
  • $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
  • $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
  • $500 collision deductible
  • $500 comprehensive deductible

To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2023 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually. 

These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.

Incidents: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base), single DUI conviction.

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Written by
R.E. Hawley Arrow Right Icon
Senior writer, Insurance
R.E. Hawley is a senior writer for Bankrate. Prior to joining Bankrate’s insurance editorial team in 2024, they worked as senior writer for a popular car ownership and insurance comparison app, leading a team of over a dozen writers in creating customer-focused financial advice content on topics ranging from insurance to vehicle reliability and auto loan refinance. R.E. holds a personal lines insurance license.