120+ more*Quotes generated for Insurify users within the last 10 days. Last updated on May 12, 2026. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users within the last 10 days. Last updated on May 12, 2026. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
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Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
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Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
John is Insurify’s Chief Copy Editor, helping ensure the accuracy and readability of Insurify’s content. He’s a licensed agent specializing in home and car insurance topics.
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Media relations director for Insurance Information Institute
20+ years in insurance and communications
Impartial, independent expert
As Senior Director, Media Relations, for Insurance Information Institute, Mark serves as the non-profit’s national spokesperson, sharing information and education on a wide array of insurance issues.
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7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
Updated
At Insurify, our goal is to help customers compare insurance products and find the best policy for them. We strive to provide open, honest, and unbiased information about the insurance products and services we review. Our hard-working team of data analysts, insurance experts, insurance agents, editors and writers, has put in thousands of hours of research to create the content found on our site.
We do receive compensation when a sale or referral occurs from many of the insurance providers and marketing partners on our site. That may impact which products we display and where they appear on our site. But it does not influence our meticulously researched editorial content, what we write about, or any reviews or recommendations we may make. We do not guarantee favorable reviews or any coverage at all in exchange for compensation.
Accident forgiveness is a policy feature that prevents your insurer from increasing your premium due to one or more car accidents.
Drivers with an at-fault accident on their record pay 35% more for car insurance on average than drivers with a clean record, according to Insurify data.
Not all car insurance companies offer accident forgiveness, and availability varies by state. For example, California law prohibits accident forgiveness policies.
Car insurance companies typically offer accident forgiveness in one or more of the following ways:[1]
As a policy add-on or endorsement you can purchase for an additional premium
As an incentive you can earn by being a loyal customer
As a benefit you can qualify for by maintaining a clean driving record or remaining accident-free for a number of years
Some auto insurers require you to meet a combination of criteria to get accident forgiveness. For example, you may need to meet driving record requirements and pay a higher premium. Most accident forgiveness programs waive only your first accident, but some forgive multiple accidents.
The specifics and availability of accident forgiveness policies vary by company and state. In California, Proposition 103 prevents auto insurance companies from offering accident forgiveness because it indirectly raises rates overall.[2] In some no-fault states, accident forgiveness may protect you from rate hikes even if another driver caused the accident.
Monthly rates start at $60 for drivers with an accident
Car insurance rates increase an average of 35% after an at-fault accident, according to Insurify data. That’s because drivers with a history of car accidents have an increased likelihood of filing a claim in the future, which makes them riskier to insure. At-fault accidents may also indicate unsafe or careless driving habits or behavior.
After an at-fault accident, your premium typically stays elevated for three years. Each insurance company follows different guidelines when calculating the percentage increase in premium and deciding whether to renew a policyholder’s insurance coverage after one or more serious accidents.[3]
That means some insurers are more generous with rates after an accident than others, and you can save money on car insurance by shopping around. The table below shows the average auto insurance rates by company for drivers with a clean record and the increased rate after an at-fault accident.
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
Insurance Company  | Average Monthly Rate: Clean Driving Record | Average Monthly Rate: After At-Fault Accident |
|---|---|---|
| Country Financial | $42 | $60 |
| Auto-Owners | $45 | $60 |
| USAA | $51 | $70 |
| State Farm | $53 | $71 |
| Erie | $69 | $94 |
| Allstate | $72 | $98 |
| Mile Auto | $74 | $102 |
| American Family | $80 | $110 |
| GEICO | $80 | $105 |
| Commonwealth Casualty | $81 | $107 |
| Safeco | $84 | $123 |
| The General | $85 | $122 |
| National General | $87 | $117 |
| Root | $91 | $125 |
| Direct Auto | $91 | $128 |
| Mercury | $91 | $153 |
| Nationwide | $93 | $128 |
| Dairyland | $94 | $125 |
| Travelers | $96 | $132 |
| GAINSCO | $97 | $121 |
| Bristol West | $103 | $136 |
| Farmers | $105 | $142 |
| Elephant | $107 | $138 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $112 | $150 |
| Anchor | $113 | $144 |
| Chubb | $116 | $156 |
| Clearcover | $124 | $190 |
| Plymouth Rock | $130 | $144 |
| 21st Century | $130 | $183 |
| Liberty Mutual | $130 | $174 |
| Shelter | $131 | $183 |
| The Hartford | $138 | $203 |
| CSAA | $143 | $240 |
| State Auto | $148 | $209 |
| Hugo | $188 | $252 |
| Amica | $244 | $347 |
The cost of accident forgiveness coverage varies based on the auto insurer, your state, your driving record, and other factors. Some insurance companies offer accident forgiveness as a free perk for being a loyal customer or maintaining a clean driving record, but there’s typically a cost for new policyholders.
Some auto insurers charge a percentage of your total premium to add accident forgiveness to your policy, while others charge a flat rate. Some insurance agencies estimate the cost ranges from $20 to $95 per year, or as little as $5 per month.
When deciding whether to add accident forgiveness, consider the additional premium for the coverage option versus the potential increase in premium after an accident.
Check quotes from 120+ top insurance companies
The table below shows some of the major auto insurance companies that offer accident forgiveness, plus how to qualify. You may have more options in your area, so be sure to do your research when comparing car insurance quotes.
Some of the best insurance companies for accident forgiveness include Progressive, Farmers, and Erie.
Insurance Company | Included or Add-On? | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Progressive | Both | Progressive customer and violation-free for five years or additional premium (policyholders in most states get free accident forgiveness for first claim of $500 or less) |
| Allstate | Add-on | Additional premium |
| Farmers | Add-on | Additional premium (forgives one accident every three years) |
| Erie | Included | Erie customer for at least three years (in most states) |
| GEICO | Both | Eligible drivers older than 21 after five years of accident-free driving or available for purchase when you meet certain driving record requirements |
| Travelers | Add-on | Available for purchase if you meet certain driving record requirements (forgives one accident over a specific period) |
| Nationwide | Add-on | Additional premium |
Eligibility requirements for accident forgiveness coverage vary by company and state. Some auto insurers offer multiple ways to qualify, and others require you to meet multiple criteria.
These are some common requirements for accident forgiveness:
Some car insurance companies require you to pay extra to add accident forgiveness to your car insurance policy.
An insurer may require you to have no accidents on your record for a specific period of time, typically five years.
Some insurers require you to maintain a clean record free of speeding tickets and other major violations in addition to remaining accident-free.
Some auto insurance companies offer free accident forgiveness after you’ve been a policyholder for three or five years. You might need to meet other criteria as well.
Accident forgiveness might be worth it if the coverage is affordable and the likelihood of a driver on your policy causing an accident is moderately high. Some scenarios when you might consider purchasing the add-on include:
You have a teen driver in your household. Teen drivers are more likely to be involved in a crash than any other age group, making accident forgiveness coverage more valuable.
You just moved to a new city. Being unfamiliar with the local area and road conditions may make you vulnerable to an accident, especially if you’re moving to a high-traffic urban area.
You’re a high-mileage driver. The more miles you drive, the greater the risk of a crash, especially if you commute during rush hour.
You want peace of mind. Some people find it priceless to know their rates will remain stable.
Save up to $1,100† per year on coverage
Accident forgiveness may not be worth it if the coverage is expensive and you’re unlikely to cause an accident. While it’s ultimately a personal decision, you may consider forgoing accident forgiveness coverage if you:
Are a low-mileage driver
Are a mature driver or a safe driver
Typically drive familiar routes during daytime hours
Are on a tight budget
If you already have a history of accidents on your driving record, you may not be eligible for accident forgiveness coverage. With some insurers, even a recent speeding ticket can disqualify you.
If you still have questions about how accident forgiveness works, check out our answers to drivers’ most common questions about it.
Accident forgiveness and claim forgiveness generally refer to the same coverage. Claim forgiveness prevents a rate increase after a qualifying loss, which typically means an accident.
In California, Proposition 103 bars insurers from charging excessive insurance rates. Because accident forgiveness policies may lead insurers to raise overall premiums to compensate, the law generally prohibits auto insurers from offering the coverage.
No, accident forgiveness doesn’t transfer if you switch car insurance companies. Plus, if you have an accident on your record, your new auto insurance company may consider it when determining your premium.
Policies vary by company. Most accident forgiveness programs forgive only your first accident, but some forgive multiple accidents. For example, Farmers forgives one accident every three years when you add accident forgiveness to your auto insurance policy.
To lower your car insurance premium after an accident, consider getting car insurance quotes. Another company may offer a lower rate to drivers with accidents. You can also take a defensive driving course, raise your deductible, or enroll in a usage-based program to offset the premium increase.
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Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
Featured in
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
John is Insurify’s Chief Copy Editor, helping ensure the accuracy and readability of Insurify’s content. He’s a licensed agent specializing in home and car insurance topics.
Featured in
Media relations director for Insurance Information Institute
20+ years in insurance and communications
Impartial, independent expert
As Senior Director, Media Relations, for Insurance Information Institute, Mark serves as the non-profit’s national spokesperson, sharing information and education on a wide array of insurance issues.
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.