I have a pending DUI case. My lawyer told me I will lose my license for 30 days. Do I need to contact my insurance company about the suspension or will it find out at a later date and penalize me?

If you were cited for DUI when you were in a car accident, you must notify your insurer. Just as you should notify your insurer anytime you’re involved in a car accident.

Otherwise, it's possible your insurance company will never find out about your DUI conviction if your state does not require you to seek an SR-22. An SR-22 is a form that many states require DUI offenders to get from their auto insurers. This form proves to the Department of Motor Vehicles that you carry liability insurance. Your insurance company is also required to notify your state's DMV if it cancels your car insurance for any reason.

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Some traffic violations never end up on motor vehicle records due to lack of shared information between courts and motor vehicle departments, or because a conviction has been erased through alternative means, such as driving school. If your DUI charge is reduced in a plea bargain, or you have a limited license suspension, such as 30 days, your insurer may never find out about your conviction.

Some car insurance companies check your motor vehicle record only once every three years or when you're applying for a new policy.

If your insurer discovers your DUI, though, it might classify you as a high-risk driver. In that case you should shop around at renewal time because car insurance rates will vary widely among car insurance companies.

For more, see How a DUI conviction affects your car insurance and Is there affordable car insurance after a DUI?