How DUI Affect Your Washington Auto Insurance
Reader’s Question:
A friend of mine was charged with DUI here in Washington while driving my vehicle. How will his drunk driving case affect my auto insurance rates?
Kailyn
Graham-Thrift, WA
If a friend of yours was charged with DUI in Graham-Thrift, Washington while driving your vehicle, then it would likely not have an effect on your auto insurance premiums. He must have gotten the charge written out to them in his name so that the DUI would go on his driving record and not cause you any troubles.
But if your friend got into a crash while driving your vehicle during this time, then the resulting claims will go on your claims record and hence can have an effect on your auto insurance rates. Insurance normally follows a vehicle first and the motorist second which means that if your friend was drunk driving in your vehicle, then it will be your auto insurance policy that will be gone to primarily and his insurance will be secondary or excess if your limits were exceeded. Also as owner of the vehicle, you have vicarious liability for people you allow to drive it so if all auto insurance limits were exceeded, then in most states, you and the driver could be held accountable for the damage he caused while driving your car.
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