A man in a dark suit and brown leather shoes sits sideways in the open driver's door of a dark gray sedan parked on a city street at dusk, with blurred buildings and streetlights behind.

How Many Points Is a DUI in New York?

Free to compare

DUI Convictions Do Not Earn Points in New York

A DUI conviction in New York results in zero points added to your driving record. The state's point system applies only to moving violations like speeding, reckless driving, and failure to yield. DUI is prosecuted under Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1192 and triggers automatic license revocation, not point accumulation.

The DMV revokes your license for a minimum of six months on a first-offense DUI. A second offense within ten years results in revocation for at least one year. These revocation periods are separate from the point-based suspension system that affects drivers who accumulate 11 points in 18 months.

Insurance carriers treat DUI convictions as a standalone risk category. Most standard and preferred carriers decline coverage or non-renew policies when a DUI appears on the record. Non-standard carriers who specialize in high-risk drivers will quote you, but expect rate increases of 80% to 150% that persist for three to five years depending on the carrier's lookback period.

Driver's-eye view from inside a car at night, with two hands on the steering wheel, illuminated instrument dials, and a multi-lane road with blurred streetlights and taillights ahead.

How New York's Point System Works for Moving Violations

New York assigns 2 to 11 points per moving violation. Speeding 1 to 10 mph over the limit earns 3 points. Speeding 31 to 40 mph over earns 8 points. Reckless driving earns 5 points. Cell phone violations earn 5 points. The full schedule appears on the DMV website under VTL Section 1192.

Points stay on your driving record for 18 months from the conviction date, not the violation date. If you accumulate 11 or more points within any 18-month window, the DMV suspends your license. A suspension requires paying a $300 civil penalty plus a $50 suspension termination fee to reinstate.

Drivers who reach 6 points within 18 months pay a Driver Responsibility Assessment of $300, plus $75 for each additional point above 6. The assessment is separate from insurance surcharges and renews annually for three years if the conviction remains on record.

A man in a dark button-up shirt works on a laptop at a wooden desk with an open notebook, pen, and rolled-out floor plan drawings, with a lit lamp, framed picture, and a window showing sunset behind him.

Why DUI Is Handled Outside the Point System

New York law treats DUI as a criminal or traffic misdemeanor depending on BAC level and prior offenses, not a point-eligible moving violation. The state assumes impaired driving presents immediate public safety risk that justifies revocation rather than gradual point accumulation toward a suspension threshold.

Revocation means your license is cancelled. You must reapply through the DMV after the revocation period ends, submit proof of completion of the Drinking Driver Program, pay reinstatement fees of approximately $600, and file an SR-22 certificate if the court or DMV requires it. First-offense DUI typically does not require SR-22 in New York unless your license was already suspended or revoked for prior violations when the DUI occurred.

The distinction matters for insurance shopping. Drivers with 6 to 10 points from speeding tickets can usually find coverage with standard carriers at surcharge rates. DUI drivers are routed to non-standard markets immediately because the revocation flags your policy as uninsurable under preferred underwriting guidelines.

How Insurance Carriers Price DUI in New York

Carriers apply DUI surcharges based on their internal underwriting tiers, not the DMV point schedule. A first-offense DUI with no prior violations typically triggers a rate increase of 80% to 100% with non-standard carriers. A second DUI or a DUI combined with prior at-fault accidents can double or triple baseline rates.

The surcharge period lasts three to five years depending on the carrier. Progressive and Geico typically surcharge DUI for three years from the conviction date. State Farm and Allstate often extend the surcharge to five years. Some non-standard carriers like The General or Dairyland apply permanent risk classification that persists until you rebuild five years of clean driving after the conviction.

You cannot reduce DUI surcharges by completing a defensive driving course. New York's Point and Insurance Reduction Program removes up to 4 DMV points and qualifies you for a 10% insurance discount, but the program applies only to point-eligible violations. DUI is excluded because it results in revocation, not points.

A man in a cap, dark jacket and jeans leans against the open tailgate of a dark pickup truck on gravel ground, with a field and sunset sky behind him.

Find the Insurers That Still Want Your Business

See Carriers That Cover You

A hand holds a key with a black fob above a stack of printed documents and a pen on a wooden table, with a blurred kitchen and lit lamp in the background.

Combining DUI with Existing Points on Your Record

If you receive a DUI conviction while you already have points on your record from prior speeding tickets or moving violations, both penalties apply simultaneously. The DMV revokes your license for the DUI and the existing points remain on your record during the revocation period.

When you reinstate your license after the revocation period ends, the points from prior violations count toward the 11-point suspension threshold if they fall within the 18-month lookback window. A driver with 7 points from two speeding tickets who then receives a DUI will face revocation for the DUI, and if they accumulate 4 more points within 18 months of reinstatement, they trigger a separate suspension.

Carriers underwrite the combination as compounded risk. A DUI alone places you in the non-standard market. A DUI plus 6 or more points from prior violations signals pattern behavior that shrinks your carrier options further. Expect quotes from specialty high-risk carriers only, with monthly premiums of $250 to $400 for state minimum liability coverage.

Driver's-eye view from inside a car at night, with two hands gripping the steering wheel, an illuminated instrument cluster behind it, and blurred street lights through the windshield.

What to Do After a DUI Conviction in New York

Contact a non-standard carrier or a broker who works with high-risk markets within 30 days of your conviction. Your current carrier will likely non-renew your policy at the next renewal period once the DUI appears on your motor vehicle record. Shopping early gives you time to compare quotes and avoid a coverage lapse.

Complete the Drinking Driver Program as soon as the court or DMV notifies you of the requirement. The program costs approximately $225 and takes seven weeks. You cannot reinstate your license without proof of completion. Delaying enrollment extends the period you remain uninsured and unlicensed, which compounds your rate increase when you return to the market.

If the DMV or court requires SR-22 filing, request the certificate from your new carrier immediately after binding coverage. The carrier files the SR-22 electronically with the DMV. You must maintain continuous coverage without lapses for the full filing period, typically three years. A single lapse triggers license re-suspension and resets the SR-22 filing period.

When DUI Rates Return to Normal in New York

Most carriers drop DUI surcharges three to five years after the conviction date if you maintain a clean driving record during that period. The conviction remains visible on your motor vehicle record for ten years, but carriers typically stop applying active surcharges once you pass their internal lookback threshold.

You can shop for better rates once you reach the three-year mark. Some standard carriers will reconsider you as a returning customer if the DUI is your only violation and you have completed the Drinking Driver Program. Preferred carriers like State Farm or Nationwide typically require five years of clean driving after DUI before they offer standard rates.

Rate recovery accelerates if you pair the clean driving period with policy stability. Drivers who maintain continuous coverage with the same non-standard carrier for three years and then request re-rating often see reductions of 20% to 30% before switching carriers. Bundling home and auto coverage or increasing liability limits to 100/300/100 signals reduced risk and qualifies you for multi-policy discounts that offset DUI surcharges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I remove a DUI from my driving record in New York?

No. A DUI conviction remains on your New York driving record for ten years and cannot be expunged or removed early. The DMV maintains the conviction as part of your permanent motor vehicle history. Carriers can see the conviction during that entire period, though most stop surcharging after three to five years.

Does completing the Drinking Driver Program lower my insurance rate?

No. The Drinking Driver Program is required to reinstate your license after a DUI revocation, but it does not reduce insurance surcharges. Carriers price DUI based on the conviction itself, not whether you completed the program. The program satisfies DMV reinstatement requirements only.

Will my insurance company find out about my DUI?

Yes. Carriers pull your motor vehicle record at every renewal and when you request a new quote. The DUI conviction appears on your MVR within 30 to 60 days of the court disposition. Your current carrier will see it at your next renewal and will either non-renew your policy or move you to a high-risk tier.

Can I get insurance in New York with a DUI and suspended license?

No. You cannot purchase auto insurance while your license is actively revoked or suspended. You must complete the revocation period, reinstate your license through the DMV, and then apply for coverage. Non-standard carriers will quote you once your license is valid again.

How much does SR-22 insurance cost after a DUI in New York?

SR-22 filing adds $25 to $50 per year to your premium. The larger cost is the DUI surcharge itself, which typically increases your base rate by 80% to 150%. Combined, expect monthly premiums of $200 to $400 for state minimum liability coverage with a non-standard carrier if SR-22 is required.