How Long Does an OWI Stay on Your Record — And on Your Insurance?

An Indiana OWI conviction remains on your criminal record unless it is expunged, while the related Board of Motor Vehicles (BMV) points stay active for two years. Insurance consequences commonly last three to five years, but the exact period depends on the insurer, your driving history, and the seriousness of the offense.

These timelines overlap, but they are not interchangeable. A conviction may continue to appear even after the points expire or your insurance premium begins to decrease.

How Long Does an OWI Stay on Your Criminal Record in Indiana?

An OWI conviction does not automatically disappear from your criminal record after a set number of years. Without expungement, it may continue to appear when an employer, landlord, licensing board, or another authorized party conducts a background check.

The long-term impact can depend on whether the OWI was charged as a misdemeanor or felony. Many first-time OWI offenses are misdemeanors. Prior convictions, serious bodily injury, or death may lead to felony charges.

An OWI arrest is different from a conviction. If the charge was dismissed, you were acquitted, or the conviction was later overturned, you may qualify to request expungement under a different timeline.

How Long Does an OWI Stay on Your Indiana Driving Record?

Your Indiana driving record may show convictions, suspensions, citations, and other entries affecting your driving privileges. The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles allows drivers to view their records online or purchase a certified Official Driver Record.

The BMV assigns points for moving violations. According to the BMV, points remain active for two years from the conviction date. That does not mean the underlying OWI conviction vanishes after two years. The conviction and any resulting suspension may still appear in your driving history after the active points have expired.

This distinction matters if you apply for a job involving driving, seek commercial driving privileges, or face another traffic-related charge.

How Long Does an OWI Affect Car Insurance?

An OWI commonly affects auto insurance rates for three to five years, although some insurers may consider serious driving violations for longer. Indiana does not impose one uniform insurance lookback period that every company must use.

An insurer may respond to an OWI by:

• Increasing your premium
• Declining to renew your policy
• Moving you into a higher-risk insurance category
• Requiring proof that you meet applicable financial-responsibility rules

The size and duration of a rate increase will depend on the insurer’s underwriting practices. Your age, prior claims, other violations, and additional OWI convictions can also influence the cost.

A clean driving record after the case may help your rates improve over time. However, the expiration of your BMV points does not require an insurance company to immediately lower your premium.

Can You Expunge an Indiana OWI Conviction?

Many Indiana OWI convictions may be eligible for expungement, but eligibility depends on the classification of the offense and your complete criminal history.

Under Indiana Code § 35-38-9, the typical waiting periods include:

• Five years from the conviction date for a misdemeanor or a qualifying felony reduced to a misdemeanor
• Eight years from the conviction date for certain lower-level felonies

A prosecutor may consent to an earlier filing in some cases. You generally must also have no pending charges, satisfy the required crime-free period, and pay all fines, fees, court costs, and restitution.

Indiana generally allows only one opportunity to expunge conviction records. If you have convictions in multiple counties, all petitions generally must be filed within the same 365-day period. Because later filings are allowed only in limited circumstances, your complete Indiana record should be reviewed before you begin.

Address the Long-Term Effects Before an OWI Conviction

The best opportunity to limit the effect of an OWI is before the case ends in a conviction. The evidence may raise questions about the traffic stop, field sobriety testing, chemical testing procedures, or whether the state can prove impairment.

Whalin Legal represents people facing OWI charges in Noblesville, Hamilton County, and throughout Indiana. Contact us promptly so we can review the arrest, explain the possible record and insurance consequences, and begin building your defense.