Will a DUI Affect My Credit Score?

While a DUI conviction isn’t directly reported on your credit report, it can certainly have indirect consequences which could cause your credit score to plummet.

If you have been diligent about maintaining a good to excellent credit score, you may want to consider the following factors before doing anything that could unintentionally impact your FICO score.

Paying for Your DUI

At first glance, a DUI and your credit may seem unrelated, but they can be connected in more ways than one. For instance, the fact that most DUI-related costs can be put on a credit card is one reason why a DUI can cause credit scores to tank.

Essentially, if you don’t have the cash on hand to pay for all of the court and insurance-related costs of a DUI, you can be headed for trouble.

DUI costs may include:

• Between $500 and $4,000 in fines
• Fees in place of community service ($10 per hour)
• Vehicle impoundment fees
• Ignition Interlock Device (IID) fees
• DUI school fees
• Restitution for property damage
• Increased insurance premiums
• Civil judgements against DUI defendant

If you are convicted of DUI, not only do you face court-ordered fines among a host of other mandatory fees, you’ll face skyrocketing insurance premiums – all of these expenses add up and affect your bottom line.

Your auto insurance rates could double or triple, and if your credit takes a hit because you can’t afford to pay all of your bills and DUI-related costs, your auto insurance can increase even more since insurance companies factor in a driver’s credit rating when setting rates.

How a DUI Can Impact Credit

If you’re convicted of DUI and you can afford to cover all of the costs, fortunately a conviction shouldn’t affect your credit score. For those who can’t afford a conviction, their credit score can be affected because:

• Putting thousands of dollars on credit cards to pay all of the DUI-related costs increases a person’s credit utilization ratio – impacting credit scores.
• Unpaid fines are sent to collections, and reported for seven years.
• Judgements affect credit scores.

If you can afford to pay all of the DUI-related costs, a conviction still shows up on a criminal background check. Meaning, a DUI conviction can block you from getting that enticing job you want, or it can result in being passed up for a job promotion when another candidate has a spotless record.

To fight your DUI charges, work with a former prosecutor and proven Miami DUI defense lawyer; call AttorneyJonathan Blecher to schedule a free consultation! 

What Does DUI or Driving Under the Influence Mean?

There are many dangers associated with the act of driving under the influence (DUI). In addition to the dangers of causing an accident or suffering injury, the driver can face criminal penalties. Not all drivers who have been charged for drunk driving, however, are actually guilty. At Jonathan Blecher, P.A., I offer my experienced representation to help defend individuals charged with DUI.

DUI stands for driving under the influence, which is the term that the state of Florida uses to explain the crime of driving while intoxicated with alcohol or drugs. Any driver who is suspected of being in physical control of the vehicle can be charged with DUI under the state’s statute § 316.193.

There are different ways that “impaired” driving can be proven. If you have a blood alcohol content level of 0.08% or higher, prosecution will have a solid case against you. Other methods, such as field sobriety tests, can be used as tools against you by prosecution to prove your guilt. These, however, can be defended with a knowledgeable Miami DUI attorney who understands the state's DUI laws.

What is the impact of a DUI conviction on my life?

Drinking and driving is seen as a dangerous crime, and for that reason, the penalties carry a high degree of intensity. The state of Florida carries extensive penalties for individuals charged with DUI that can affect the alleged offender’s driving ability, job, and family. Even for just a first-time offense, the state imposes certain mandatory penalties for those who are convicted.

With the life-changing penalties that you can experience with a conviction, you do not want to risk a guilty plea. You will need to establish a strong defense method with the assistance of a knowledgeable attorney by your side. Contact my firm right away so that I can begin building a workable solution for your particular case. I am here to defend your rights and protect your future!