A Driving Under the Influence (DUI) conviction complicates the offender's life in many ways. Besides the fines and other penalties associated with a DUI conviction, purchasing car insurance becomes significantly more expensive. In the states of Florida and Virginia, a driver with a DUI conviction must purchase costly FR-44 insurance. Cutting back on comprehensive and collision coverage would reduce the overall policy cost. If this is your plan, think first about the financial risks associated with eliminating these two provisions.

Understanding the Coverage Options

FR-44 insurance, essentially, requires the insured to carry more liability coverage than the state's mandated minimum. This is due to the risk the driver presents to others on the road. Unlike liability coverage, collision coverage pays for damage you cause to your own car as the result of an accident. Comprehensive coverage pays for losses not related to the operation of a vehicle. Neither collision nor comprehensive insurance is mandatory for a DUI offender or any other driver.  Without these coverages, you simply accept any financial losses inflicted on your own car. Cutting out these coverages to reduce the added costs to an FR-44 policy could turn out to be a regrettable decision.

Examine the Risks

When buying an FR-44 insurance policy, think seriously about the risks your vehicle faces. Consider the following scenarios:

• Driving on a Poorly Maintained Road: Wishing to avoid any more traffic citations or other insurance-related woes, you choose to drive down a less-traveled road. Unfortunately, the road is loaded with potholes. Hitting a pothole hard enough could possibly damage the transmission leading to a totaled car. Without collision coverage, you absorb the entire loss.
• Severe Weather Conditions: Heavy rains can create flooding in the road. Unable to move your car,  the vehicle's engine ends up flooded. Without comprehensive coverage, the loss comes with no insurance payoff.
• Increase in Car Thefts: Read local crime reports in your area. Are car thefts a common occurrence? If so, insuring the vehicle from theft makes sense.
• Animal Crossings: No matter how careful you drive, deer, cows, elk, and present hazards in rural areas. An animal darting in front of your vehicle can total it. A collision claim becomes necessary to recover animal-related damage.

Value of the Car vs. Price of the Policy

Look closely at the current value of your car. Think about how much a total loss would cost you. Then look at the FR-44 policy with and without collision/comprehensive coverage. The numbers may reveal keeping these two optional coverages makes sense. This is doubly true when driving a newer or high-resale value car. To learn more about coverage, talk with someone who works at Livings Insurance.