As your driving record is typically the most significant factor in determining your auto insurance rate, drivers with a clean record typically earn the best rates because less incidents equals lower risk for insurance companies. Alternatively, if you have a history of traffic violations, your rates will likely be on the higher end. Driving under the influence (DUI) is a state offense and one of the most serious violations you could have on your record. As such, getting convicted of a DUI in New Jersey can impact your car insurance significantly, with the average New Jersey driver seeing an 88 percent increase in car insurance rates after a DUI. Bankrate’s team of insurance agents and industry professionals gathered rates to help drivers understand the impact after a conviction.

Savings

Compare rates and save on auto insurance today!

ZIP code
Close X
Advertising Disclosure
This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.

Compare auto insurance rates

Answer a few questions to see personalized rates from top carriers.
Caret DownCaret Up
Please select age
Location-Icon
Badge No spam. No fees. No surprises.

Save on auto insurance with quotes from trusted providers like:

Progressive

Drivers switch & save an average of $750+/year

Liberty Mutual

Are you overpaying for auto insurance?

Allstate

Safe drivers choose Allstate®

Powered by Coverage.com (NPN: 19966249)
Insurance Disclosure

Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.

See more providers in
Choose from insurers in

How does a DUI affect your insurance rate?

Your driving record is just one piece of the puzzle car insurance companies use to determine your risk, but an important one. Things like tickets and at-fault accidents can make you a high-risk driver, especially if convicted of a DUI.

The table below shows just how much your car insurance premiums could be affected on average, based on rates from Quadrant Information Services. Nationally, rates increase on average by 53 percent once a DUI is on your record. If you get a DUI in New Jersey, your rates can increase by an average of 88 percent, which is even higher.

National vs state average rates with DUI

Pre-DUI Post DUI Percent increase
New Jersey $1,754 $3,306 88%
National $2,014 $3,091 53%

How much does it cost for insurance after a DUI in New Jersey?

Each car insurance company in New Jersey has different rating structures, meaning how factors are weighed will vary and therefore, so will your final rate. For example, Allstate’s average annual minimum coverage rate is $631, but the rate increases to $991 after a DUI.

The tables below show the average minimum and full coverage rates before and after a DUI conviction from several New Jersey car insurance companies. However, it’s important to keep in mind that all insurance companies judge risk differently, so standard coverage may not be guaranteed after a DUI in all cases.

New Jersey provider rates with DUI for minimum coverage

Provider Average minimum coverage rate Minimum coverage rate with DUI
Allstate $631 $991
Amica $449 $1,054
Encompass $830 $3,189
Esurance $837 $987
Foremost Insurance $1,076 $1,237
Founders Insurance $898 $2,016
Geico $494 $827
Mercury $1,041 $1,414
National General $958 $2,048
NJM $357 $389
Palisades $463 $742
Personal Service Insurance Group $1,248 $2,006
Progressive $1,055 $1,109
Selective $455 $674
State Farm $746 $2,815
The Hanover $1,742 $2,767
Travelers $652 $1,139

New Jersey provider rates with DUI for full coverage

Provider Average full coverage rate Full coverage rate with DUI
Allstate $1,837 $3,417
Amica $1,642 $4,777
Encompass $1,748 $6,840
Esurance $1,771 $2,236
Foremost Insurance $2,574 $3,220
Founders Insurance $1,853 $4,185
Geico $1,348 $2,360
Mercury $1,952 $2,884
National General $1,995 $4,626
NJM $1,229 $1,353
Palisades $931 $1,534
Personal Service Insurance Group $3,308 $4,534
Progressive $1,198 $1,327
Selective $1,131 $1,762
State Farm $1,481 $5,657
The Hanover $4,515 $7,032
Travelers $1,385 $2,379

Other New Jersey DUI consequences

Though high insurance premiums are one consequence of getting a DUI in New Jersey, it’s not the only way you’ll be affected. A DUI can cost as much as $2,000 or more in a single year when you factor in fines, fees, jail time, missed time from work for court, license suspenses and more.

Drivers convicted of DUI, DWI or who refuse a field sobriety test in New Jersey will have to pay an annual surcharge on their insurance for three years. The surcharge is $3,000, or $1,000 annually, for the first offense. If convicted a second or more, the surcharge is $1,500 per year or $4,500 total.

If an adult refuses the field sobriety test, their license can be suspended up to a year and up to $500 in fines.

DUI first offense

Like many states in the country, New Jersey takes DUIs and DWIs seriously, even for the first offense. The severity of the repercussions you will face depend on how intoxicated you are, where you’re driving and your age.

Drivers under the age of 21 cannot have a blood alcohol content of 0.01% or more. If convicted with a BAC of 0.01% to 0.08%, an underage driver will face:

  • License suspension up to 90 days
  • Up to 30 days of community service
  • Must participate in and complete a treatment program before license is reinstated

For adults with a first offense, you could face:

  • Jail time: Up to 30 days
  • Fines: Up to $400 or up to $500 if BAC is higher than 0.10%, $100 victim’s fund fee and Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Fund, $75 to Neighborhood Services Fund
  • Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC) Program: 6 hours per day for 2 consecutive days
  • License suspension: 3 months or up to a year if BAC is higher than 0.10%
  • Ignition Interlock Device: 3 months or 7 months if BAC is higher than 0.10%, up to 15 months if 0.15% or higher
  • Driving with passenger under 18: Charged with Disorderly Persons offense, community service and longer license suspension
  • If within 1,000 feet of school zone: Up to $800 fine, 2 months in jail, 2 year license suspension

DUI second offense

If a second offense happens more than 10 years after the first offense charge date, it is treated like a first offense. If it happens within 10 years of the first, here’s what you can expect:

  • Jail time: Up to 90 days
  • Fines: Up to $1,000 plus court fees, victim’s and reeducation funds and surcharge from first offense
  • Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC) Program: Minimum of 12 hours or complete full program
  • License suspension: 2 years
  • Ignition Interlock Device: Duration of license suspension plus up to 4 years after restored
  • Community service: 30 days
  • Driving with passenger under 18: Same as first offense but with more hours and longer license suspension, determined by judge
  • If within 1,000 feet of school zone: Up to $2,000 fine, 4 years license suspension, 180 days in jail, 60 days community service

DUI third offense

If a third offense occurs after the 10 year window, it will be treated as a second offense. If not, here is what a third offense could look like:

  • Jail time: Up to 180 days (could be reduced to 90 if participating in rehab approved by IDRC)
  • Fines: Up to $1,000 plus court fees, victim’s and reeducation funds and surcharge from first offense
  • Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC) Program: Minimum of 12 hours or complete full program
  • License suspension: 8 to 10 years
  • Ignition Interlock Device: Duration of license suspension plus up to 4 years after restored
  • Community service: 30 days
  • Driving with passenger under 18: Same as first offense but with more hours and longer license suspension, determined by judge
  • If within 1,000 feet of school zone: $2,000 fine, 20 years license suspension, 180 days in jail, 60 days community service

Frequently asked questions

    • The penalties for a DUI in New Jersey are different depending on the circumstances of the offense. For example, whether or not you were near a school zone and how high your BAC was during the time of charge are taken into account when you are convicted. If you refuse the field sobriety test, it is an automatic year suspension of your license and up to $500 in fines.
    • Although jail time is not mandatory, it may be given for a first DUI offense in New Jersey. Community service and participation in IDRC could be considered an alternative, but it’s up to the judge.
    • Unlike other states, New Jersey does not charge you criminally with a misdemeanor or felony for DUI. This means that you won’t have a criminal record, but a DUI does stay on your driving record forever in NJ.
    • Penalties and fees will have to be paid prior to reinstating your driver’s license in New Jersey. This includes a $100 restoration fee plus proof of payment for any outstanding fines or tickets. If your license expires while it is suspended, you will have to follow normal license renewal procedures to get a new license.
  • Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze 2023 rates for 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 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 2021 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) and a single DUI conviction.