Clients ask this constantly after a DUI, and the answer has two parts that often get confused: how long the conviction stays on the driving record, and how long it affects the insurance rate. Those are not the same thing.

How long it stays on the record

  • California: 10 years. California uses a 10-year lookback, meaning a DUI remains on the driving record and counts as a prior for a full decade.
  • Most other states: 3 to 5 years. The majority of states use a shorter window for insurance rating purposes.
  • Some states are longer. A handful use 7 years, and a few treat certain convictions as permanent on the record even if carriers stop rating for them.

Because this is set by state law, the right answer for any given client depends entirely on where they are licensed.

How long it affects the rate

This is where carriers differ, and it is worth setting expectations clearly:

  • Each carrier decides its own lookback for rating. One may surcharge for 3 years while another surcharges for 5, in the same state, for the same conviction.
  • Some carriers will not write a driver with a recent DUI at all, which pushes them into non-standard markets at higher cost.
  • The surcharge usually decreases over time rather than disappearing all at once.
  • Once the conviction ages past a carrier's lookback, the driver often becomes eligible for standard pricing again — sometimes a dramatic drop.

What this means practically

The most useful advice for a client with a DUI is that the situation is temporary and worth revisiting. Specifically:

  • Keep coverage continuous. A lapse can restart filing requirements and makes future shopping harder.
  • Avoid new violations. A second event resets the clock and narrows the market sharply.
  • Re-shop periodically. A driver who was placed in a non-standard market right after a conviction is often eligible for much better pricing a year or two later, but only if someone actually re-quotes them.

Because both the state lookback and the carrier lookback matter, check the driver's specific state rules and the specific carrier's guidelines rather than relying on a general number.

Related: What is an SR-22? · Will an SR-22 raise my rate?

Educational only — confirm against the actual policy, current state law, and your carrier's guidelines.