Worst Cities for Drunken Driving

Written by  Michelle Lambright Black

Edited by  Jamie Cattanach

+ 1 More

Updated Jul 08, 2025 Content was accurate at the time of publication.

Driving under the influence — a crime also known as DUI — is a major public safety concern throughout the country. Yet depending on where you live, the risk of encountering a drunken driver could be higher or lower.

To better understand where DUIs occur most often and what factors might drive those trends, LendingTree turned to the data. By analyzing QuoteWizard by LendingTree quotes from the 50 largest U.S. cities, we learned that Omaha has the highest DUI rate — and that three of the top five cities for DUIs are in California.

We also looked at DUI rates by age group and vehicle make, as well as auto insurance premium increases after a DUI conviction. Read on for the full findings.

Key findings

Highest DUI rates in Nebraska, California cities

Of the 50 largest cities in the U.S., the location with the highest DUI rate is Omaha, Neb. Omaha has a DUI rate of 4.48 DUIs per 1,000 drivers — more than twice as high as the 50-city average of 1.90.

California drivers in several cities have particularly high DUI rates as well. Among the 10 largest U.S. cities with the highest DUI rates, six are in California:

While exact causes can be tough to determine, LendingTree auto insurance expert and licensed insurance agent Rob Bhatt notes that climate and other factors might be at play. “Warm weather entices people to gather, often with alcohol. A lack of transit may lead many to drive when they should use alternative transportation. Stricter enforcement of DUI laws can certainly also be a factor in high DUI rates, too,” he says.

Conversely, the cities with the lowest DUI rates are Chicago, Tulsa, Okla., Miami, Memphis, Tenn., and Philadelphia. The DUI rates in each of these cities fall well below the 50-city average, with Chicago at 0.45 DUIs per 1,000 drivers and Tulsa at 0.65. Miami, Memphis and Philadelphia tie at 0.66.

Full rankings: DUI rate per 1,000 drivers in large cities

Gen Z drivers most likely to be caught driving under the influence

DUI rates are not uniform across all age groups. According to LendingTree data, younger drivers in the 50 biggest cities have higher DUI rates than older ones. In fact, our study found the DUI rate increased with each successive generation.

Gen Z drivers (ages 18 to 27 in 2024) make up the age group most likely to be caught driving under the influence, with a DUI rate of 2.62 per 1,000 drivers. Millennials (ages 28 to 43 in 2024) fall close behind, with a DUI rate of 2.40.

“People tend to become more risk-averse as they age,” Bhatt says. “Gen Z will someday reach the age of today’s baby boomers. If they’re lucky, younger drivers will be more responsible then.” We can also be hopeful that messaging campaigns from groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) will help future generations avoid the tragic outcomes that can result from the risky behavior of impaired driving.

Full rankings: DUI rate per 1,000 drivers in large cities (by generation)

It’s well-established that younger drivers typically pay higher insurance rates due to their higher risk behind the wheel. Higher DUI rates among young drivers are just one contributing factor to this phenomenon. But even young drivers may find competitive rates by shopping around and maintaining responsible driving habits.

BMW drivers have highest DUI rate

Next, LendingTree analyzed DUI rates by vehicle make, which made for some interesting findings. BMW drivers in the 50 biggest cities have the highest DUI rate at 3.09 per 1,000 drivers. But Ram is close behind with a rate of 3.00.

While it’s difficult to pinpoint the causes behind these trends, it’s interesting to note that of the top five brands with the highest DUI rates, four are considered “luxury brands,” including:

Some may wonder if wealthier drivers sometimes feel more entitled to break, or at least bend, the law.

At the other extreme, we also took a look at vehicle makes with the lowest DUI rates. Here, Mercury (0.86), Land Rover (1.16) and Lincoln (1.16) round out the bottom of the list.

Full rankings: DUI rate per 1,000 drivers in large cities (by vehicle make)

Drivers see insurance rates increase by average of $2,449 after DUI

Insurance premiums often rise significantly after a DUI conviction, but the level of increase varies based on location. According to LendingTree data, drivers see an average annual rate increase of $2,449 in auto insurance premiums with a DUI across the 50 largest U.S. cities.

In some cities, the premium hike following a DUI is more substantial than in other locations. In Detroit, drivers without a DUI pay average annual insurance premiums of $9,019. Those who’ve been caught driving while impaired, however, pay an average of $21,646 — an increase of $12,627 a year.

Of the 10 cities with the largest increase in premiums after a DUI, seven are in California — perhaps in response to the state’s high rate of impaired driving.

“Insurance rates generally reflect the cost of doing business in a particular area,” Bhatt says. “The high rates for DUI offenders suggest that impaired drivers cause particularly costly injuries and damage in California. Insurance companies recoup their costs by charging high rates to the drivers that create the greatest expenses for them.”

Detroit, as mentioned, holds the top spot, and the two remaining cities are in North Carolina.

Conversely, some cities have lower increases in annual insurance rates after a DUI. Of the 10 cities with the lowest premium increases, seven are in Texas.

Of course, insurance increases aren’t the only possible financial consequences of a DUI — provided you get out of the situation with life and limb intact.

“You usually have to hire an attorney and pay fines and fees to get your car out of the impound yard and reinstate your driver’s license,” Bhatt says. At the end of the day, these charges can quickly exceed $10,000 or more — and that’s before you factor in your car insurance increase for at least the next three years running.

Full rankings: Difference in annual auto insurance premiums with a DUI in large cities

El Paso, Texas, has highest percentage of fatal crashes involving drunken driver

Of course, the highest possible cost of drunken driving is the loss of human life. LendingTree research shows that El Paso, Texas, has the highest percentage of fatal crashes involving drunken drivers, at 60.8%. The city’s rate is significantly higher than the 50-city average of 37.6%.

It’s also sad to note that five of the 10 cities with the highest percentage of fatal crashes involving drunken drivers are in Texas: El Paso (60.8%), Fort Worth (51.9%), Houston (49.3%), Dallas (48.5%) and Arlington (46.3%). Identifying exact causes of the Lone Star State’s tragic problem is difficult. But the sheer size of Texas and the amount of driving required to get from one city to another may be contributing factors.

Meanwhile, the three cities with the lowest percentage of fatal crashes involving drunken drivers are Milwaukee (22.9%), Miami (23.9%) and Tampa, Fla. (24.5%). The rate of fatal crashes involving DUIs falls well below the 50-city average in each of these locations.

Full rankings: Percentage of fatal crashes involving drunken driver in large cities

3 ways to manage insurance premiums after DUI

Finding good car insurance after a DUI can be a challenge. But you can use the tips below to help keep your premiums as affordable as possible.

Methodology

Researchers analyzed tens of millions of QuoteWizard by LendingTree insurance quotes from 2024.

Researchers calculated the number of DUIs per 1,000 drivers in the 50 largest (by population) U.S. cities. We followed the same process across the same cities to determine the:

To define generations, LendingTree analysts used the following ranges from the Pew Research Center:

Additionally, LendingTree researchers gathered quotes for a 2015 Honda Civic EX driven by a man who is 30 with a good credit score, both with and without a DUI. This portion of the study shows the average annual cost of a full-coverage insurance policy in the same cities as above.

The analysis used insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services. These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only, as your quotes may be different. Full-coverage policies include coverage limits above minimum requirements.

Full-coverage policy

Finally, LendingTree researchers analyzed 2023 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data using the Fatality and Injury Reporting System Tool (FIRST).