Can You Get Life Insurance After a DUI?
A single DUI rarely rules out life insurance, but timing matters. Here is how life insurers use your driving record, how long a DUI affects your rates and how to apply.
A DUI follows you beyond car insurance. When you apply for life insurance, the insurer will see it, and it can affect whether you are approved, how long you have to wait and what you pay. The good news: one DUI rarely closes the door for good.
Why life insurers care about a DUI
Life insurers price your risk of dying during the policy. A DUI tells them two things: you may take risks behind the wheel, and you may have an alcohol-related health risk. That is why most life insurance applications ask about your driving record, and why insurers order your motor vehicle report (MVR).
According to Policygenius, most insurers look at the last five years of your MVR, and some consider up to 10 years.
How the timing affects your options
| Time since one DUI | What applicants typically see |
|---|---|
| Less than about 2 years | Affordable coverage is very hard to find; many insurers postpone the application or apply a table rating |
| About 2 to 3 years, clean record since | Many insurers offer Standard Plus or Standard health classes, which carry average rates |
| 3 to 5 years | A good time to shop again or ask for reconsideration of your rating |
| 5 to 10 years | Most insurers stop weighing a single DUI; a few look back up to 10 years |
General patterns reported by Policygenius and MoneyGeek. Each insurer sets its own underwriting rules.
Multiple DUIs are treated far more harshly. Recent or multiple convictions can lead to an automatic decline or a heavy table rating.
What a DUI does to your price
Life insurers sort applicants into health classes, and the class sets your price. MoneyGeek's October 2026 data for a 40-year-old buying $500,000 of 20-year term shows how much the class matters:
| Health class | Women, per month | Men, per month |
|---|---|---|
| Preferred Plus | $29 | $35 |
| Preferred | $36 | $43 |
| Standard Plus | $47 | $59 |
| Standard | $52 | $66 |
Source: MoneyGeek, October 2026. Nonsmoker rates.
A DUI within the last few years typically rules out the top classes. A recent one can push you into a "table rating," which adds a surcharge on top of the Standard price.
How to apply after a DUI
- Get a copy of your driving record so you know exactly what the insurer will see and when the DUI is dated.
- Work with an independent agent or broker. Insurers weigh a DUI very differently, and a broker can steer you to companies that are more lenient.
- Get quotes from at least three insurers before accepting a rating.
- Answer every question honestly, including about alcohol use and treatment. Misstatements can give the insurer grounds to deny a claim later.
- If your rating is poor, ask for the underwriting decision letter to see which factors drove it.
- Re-shop after three to five clean years, and keep your old policy until the new one is in force.
If you're declined or the price is too high
- Group life through your employer. It usually doesn't require individual underwriting, but it typically ends when you leave the job.
- Guaranteed issue life insurance. Approval doesn't depend on health, but coverage is small and early deaths may only return premiums plus interest. See no-medical-exam life insurance.
- A smaller policy now, more later. Buy what you can get today and add coverage once the DUI is older.
Don't forget your car insurance
A DUI also raises car insurance prices and often requires an SR-22. See how much a DUI raises car insurance and what an SR-22 is.
Frequently asked questions
Will a DUI make my life insurance more expensive?
Often, yes, especially if it is recent. A DUI can keep you out of the best health classes for several years, and a very recent one can lead to a postponement or a table rating, which adds a surcharge to the standard price.
How long after a DUI should I apply for life insurance?
If you can wait, applying two to three years after a single DUI, with a clean record since, usually gets better offers. If you need coverage now, apply now and plan to re-shop or ask for reconsideration later.
Does a DUI affect life insurance if I don't drink anymore?
Insurers look at the DUI on your driving record and may also ask about alcohol use and treatment. Evidence of a stable, clean record since the DUI helps. Answer every question honestly.
Can I lower my rate later?
Yes. After three to five years with a clean record, you can shop for a new policy or ask your insurer to reconsider your rating. Don't cancel your existing policy until a new one is in force.
Sources
- Motor Vehicle Reports (MVR) and Life Insurance Rates, Policygenius
- Life Insurance for Recovering Alcoholics (2026), MoneyGeek
- Life Insurance Health Ratings and Classifications (2026 Guide), MoneyGeek
- How to Buy Life Insurance Without a Medical Exam (July 17, 2025), Experian
- Term Life Insurance Rates by Age Chart (updated October 11, 2026), MoneyGeek
Sources were checked on October 14, 2026. Laws, fees and prices change; always confirm with your state agency or insurer.