Causing a car accident can significantly increase your car insurance rates. On average, car insurance rates go up 46% if you cause an accident that caused an injury.
However, your rates will generally not increase if you did not cause the accident or if you have an accident discharge. And not every auto insurance company or state handles an accident on your driving record the same way.
How much will your auto insurance rates increase after an accident?
If you’re in a car accident and someone was injured, your auto insurance rates could increase by an average of $1,157, an increase of 46%.
That rate increase is most pronounced in Michigan, where an accident more than doubles annual costs. in contrast, an accident in kansas only raised rates by 8%.
Rates increase even more when an accident involves property damage of $2,000 or more. auto insurance premiums increased 56% with an accident causing property damage, while rates only increased 47% in an accident with a bodily injury claim.
It is important to note that if you are found not at fault in an accident, your insurance rates may not increase. But that’s not true in all cases, as some companies raise rates slightly even if it’s not your fault.
After an accident, the laws of your state and your insurer greatly influence the impact of your rates. That’s why it’s important to compare quotes after your driving record changes. the same driver looking for car insurance after an accident might get a better deal with a different insurance company.
Which companies have the best car insurance after an accident?
After an accident, your insurance company will decide how much to increase your rates. Among the largest auto insurance companies, State Farm had the smallest increase in the rate of an at-fault accident, just 24%. allstate, progressive and geico rates for full coverage auto insurance increased by at least 50% on average.
many companies offer accident forgiveness, which means your first accident won’t cause your rates to go up. Accident forgiveness is usually an add-on that costs more or a free benefit offered after driving three to five or more times without having an accident.
Each company also sets certain thresholds for what is considered an accident when it comes to raising rates. For example, State Farm will not increase your rates for an accident claim if the total damage is less than $750 between liability and collision coverages. geico and progressive are similar, with a threshold of $500 in most cases.
when does an accident stop affecting my auto insurance rates?
The longer before you have made an insurance claim, the less impact it will have on your rates. your rates will increase to the maximum in your first renewal period after the crash, then return to normal after three to five years.
If you were responsible for an accident in the last six months and filed a liability claim as a result, your rates will increase by approximately 60% the next time you renew your policy. that increase will gradually fade over time, with rates dropping to about 47% higher than normal after two years and just 2% higher than normal after four years.
Auto insurers have found that drivers who have recently been at fault in an accident are more likely to file another claim. That’s why insurers charge these drivers more. however, the longer that incident has occurred, the less it will affect your insurance rates.
when an accident might not increase car insurance rates
defining what is not an accident is more complicated than defining what is. but most insurance companies consider the driver to be at fault in an accident.
Some insurers check if the policyholder is at least 50% at fault. if you don’t meet this threshold, your insurer often won’t raise your rates. but there are exceptions. for example, some insurers do not follow this rule for new clients. But proving fault in an accident can be difficult.
according to state farm, the policyholder is not at fault if:
how to save on car insurance rates after an accident
If you’re at fault in an accident and your car insurance rate went up, you can still find ways to lower the cost of your car insurance.
frequently asked questions
methodology
Bodily injury accident rates were based on rates collected from each state. Property damage accident rates were based on drivers from Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Texas, and Alabama. a 30 year old man with a 2015 honda civic with coverage limits of:
We use quadrant reporting services to compile insurance rate data and analysis. data is publicly obtained from insurer filings. rates should be used for comparison purposes only, as your quote may be different.
