How Much Does Car Insurance Go Up After an Accident?
An at-fault accident can raise your rates by 34% or more, but the increase depends on your insurer, state, and driving history.
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Written byKatie Powers
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Katie PowersLicensed P&C Agent, Senior Insurance Editor
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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Chris SchaferDeputy Managing Editor, News and Marketing Content
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7+ years in business and financial services content
Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.
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Reviewed byDaniel Roccato
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Daniel RoccatoAdvisor
30+ years in financial services
Clinical Professor of Finance, University of San Diego
Dan is a well-recognized and widely quoted financial services expert, regularly appearing in a variety of national and local media as a subject matter expert.
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Data reviewed byKonstantin Halachev
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Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
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.
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Table of contents
Whether you’re in a minor accident, like a fender bender, or something more serious, the incident can be nerve-racking. After dealing with potential injuries and repairs, you might stress about what will happen to your car insurance premiums.
Most drivers in this situation have the same question: How much does car insurance go up after an accident?
The average rate increase after an at-fault accident is approximately 34%, according to Insurify data. But the actual amount it increases varies by state, insurer, and driving history. Read on to learn more about car insurance increases after an accident and how to lower costs.
Quick Facts
The average cost of liability insurance increases from $97 per month with a clean record to $130 per month after an at-fault accident.
Accidents may stay on your driving record for three to five years.[1]
Optional coverages like accident forgiveness can help you avoid a premium increase after an accident, but you must have this coverage in place before the accident occurs.
How much does car insurance increase after an accident?
The national average rate increase amounts to about 34%, according to Insurify data. Whether you are at fault or not can determine your premium increase. See how average liability insurance rates increase after an accident below.
Scenario  | Average Monthly Rate | % Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Clean record | $97 | N/A |
| At-fault accident | $130 | 34% |
| Not-at-fault accident | $118 | 22% |
Disclaimer: Table data is based on real-time quotes from Insurify’s network of 500+ insurance partners. Actual rates may vary depending on the policyholder’s individual profile and coverage needs.
If you were at fault
Insurance companies typically increase your rates after an at-fault accident. When you cause an accident and file a claim, the risk calculation changes. As a result, insurers add surcharges, or penalty increases, to your premiums to account for added risk.[2] This is because your insurer believes you have a higher chance of getting into another accident or filing a claim in the future.
Compared to drivers with a clean record, the average monthly rate increase after an at-fault accident is about 34%, or $396 per year.
Drivers with a clean record pay an average of $97 per month for liability insurance, while drivers with an at-fault accident pay an average of $130 per month.
If you were not at fault
Even if you weren’t at fault for the accident, you still might see higher premiums when it’s time to renew your policy. Luckily, the increases are generally smaller than if you were at fault.
Filing a claim and having an incident on your record, at fault or not, raises your risk level. In turn, insurance companies hike up rates.
The average rate increase for not-at-fault drivers is about 22%. As a result, liability insurance rates jump from an average cost of $97 per month to $118. But some states, like California and Oklahoma, have passed legislation protecting drivers from premium increases after not-at-fault accidents.
Cheapest car insurance after an accident
Though car insurance premiums go up after an accident, you can shop around and find cheaper coverage options. Country Financial, for example, offers drivers the cheapest car insurance after an accident, with average rates of $59 per month for liability coverage, according to Insurify data. Compare average liability insurance rates for U.S. drivers with an accident below.
The below national rates are estimated rates current as of: Wednesday, April 22 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Data reviewed by Konstantin Halachev
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
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 Quote: Drivers With An At-Fault Accident |
|---|---|
| Country Financial | $59 |
| Auto-Owners | $60 |
| USAA | $70 |
| State Farm | $71 |
| Erie | $93 |
| Allstate | $98 |
| Mile Auto | $101 |
| GEICO | $104 |
| Commonwealth Casualty | $107 |
| American Family | $108 |
| National General | $117 |
| GAINSCO | $122 |
| The General | $122 |
| Safeco | $123 |
| Dairyland | $123 |
| Root | $124 |
| Nationwide | $128 |
| Direct Auto | $128 |
| Travelers | $132 |
| Bristol West | $136 |
| Elephant | $139 |
| Farmers | $142 |
| Anchor | $143 |
| Plymouth Rock | $153 |
| Mercury | $153 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $154 |
| Chubb | $154 |
| Liberty Mutual | $175 |
| 21st Century | $181 |
| Shelter | $183 |
| Clearcover | $193 |
| The Hartford | $202 |
| State Auto | $208 |
| CSAA | $237 |
| Hugo | $254 |
| Amica | $347 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
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Why does car insurance go up after an accident?
Insurance companies increase auto insurance rates after an accident for various reasons, including:
Severity: Not all accidents affect car insurance premiums equally. Insurance companies consider the severity of the incident when determining future rates. A low-speed fender bender may result in a smaller increase than a severe accident with significant property damage or injuries. Insurers evaluate severity based on the size of the claim.[3]
Driving history: Your driving history has a major influence on rates. Previous incidents, such as moving violations, speeding tickets, or prior accidents, can raise your premiums. Filing an insurance claim typically results in rate hikes.
Fault determination: Whether you were at fault can affect the size of your rate increase. While both parties may see their car insurance rates go up, at-fault drivers typically see higher increases.
Car insurance companies evaluate frequency and severity to determine premiums, according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), using the following formula:
Loss cost = frequency × severity ÷ 100
Ultimately, your car insurance rate after an at-fault accident depends on several factors and can vary widely based on the situation.
How long does an accident affect your car insurance?
After you get into an accident, you might wonder how long an accident stays on your insurance. Insurance companies typically raise your premiums for at least three years, according to Triple-I. That’s because accidents usually remain on your driving record for three to five years.
The exact length can depend on both the severity of the accident and state-specific laws.
Insurance companies use tools like LexisNexis’ Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) reports to review your claims history. Aside from these reports, insurers may also access your motor vehicle record (MVR) through your state’s department of motor vehicles.
Below, you can see how rates trend downward over time after an accident. The more recent, the higher the premium, and vice versa.
Time Since Accident | Average Monthly Quote |
|---|---|
| <1 year | $250 |
| 1–2 years | $232 |
| 2–3 years | $205 |
| 3–5 years | $189 |
| 7+ years | $173 |
Average cost of car insurance after an accident by state
While your driving history significantly influences rates, other factors such as weather, population density, theft, and state laws also affect car insurance costs. Here, you can see the average cost of car insurance for liability-only and full-coverage after an accident, based on where you live.
Vermont has the lowest liability-only rates, while Washington, D.C., has the highest.
Average Liability Rates by State
State | Average Liability Quote: At-Fault Accident |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $56 |
| Arizona | $64 |
| Arkansas | $48 |
| California | $84 |
| Colorado | $69 |
| Connecticut | $97 |
| Delaware | $102 |
| Florida | $96 |
| Georgia | $99 |
| Idaho | $40 |
| Illinois | $51 |
| Indiana | $47 |
| Iowa | $34 |
| Kansas | $66 |
| Kentucky | $80 |
| Louisiana | $65 |
| Maine | $54 |
| Maryland | $155 |
| Massachusetts | $64 |
| Michigan | $83 |
| Minnesota | $68 |
| Mississippi | $57 |
| Montana | $42 |
| Missouri | $60 |
| North Dakota | $29 |
| Nebraska | $53 |
| New Hampshire | $73 |
| Nevada | $64 |
| New Jersey | $140 |
| New Mexico | $53 |
| New York | $96 |
| North Carolina | $79 |
| Ohio | $50 |
| Oklahoma | $46 |
| Oregon | $72 |
| Pennsylvania | $45 |
| South Carolina | $96 |
| South Dakota | $54 |
| Tennessee | $46 |
| Texas | $57 |
| Utah | $68 |
| Virginia | $69 |
| Washington | $75 |
| Washington D.C. | $227 |
| Vermont | $20 |
| West Virginia | $53 |
| Wisconsin | $40 |
| Wyoming | $36 |
Source: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile. Insufficient data is available to show results for Alaska, Hawaii, and Rhode Island.
State | Average Liability Quote: At-Fault Accident |
|---|---|
| California | $84 |
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How to lower your car insurance rate after an accident
Finding cheap car insurance after an accident can be challenging. But you have ways to lower your premiums.
Compare quotes from multiple insurers
After an accident, you’ll likely see an insurance premium increase regardless of the company. But the amount of that increase depends significantly on the insurer. To lower your costs, compare car insurance quotes from four or five insurance companies. Having a range of quotes can make it easier to find affordable coverage options after an accident.
Take a defensive driving course
One proactive way to lower your car insurance premiums after an accident is to take a defensive driving course. Not only can it teach you about safe driving techniques, but it may also help you qualify for a defensive driving discount, which can offset some of the post-accident rate hike.
Increase your deductible
Getting high-deductible car insurance is an effective way to lower your monthly premium. Your deductible is the portion that you pay when you file a claim before your insurance coverage kicks in. If you have a solid emergency fund and can handle higher out-of-pocket costs, this strategy can help reduce rates.
Ask about accident forgiveness
Some insurance companies offer accident forgiveness programs that can prevent rate hikes after your first at-fault accident. Progressive, for example, offers some accident forgiveness coverage after a five-year loyalty period. Other insurers may sell accident forgiveness as an optional endorsement. It’s important to note that this coverage must be in place before an accident happens.
Review and reduce your coverage
If you have an old, paid-off car with a lower value, you might consider dropping collision and comprehensive coverage to lower your insurance costs. Liability coverage meets state-minimum requirements, but it will cover only the damage you cause in an accident where you’re at fault. It won’t cover your vehicle or injuries.
Improve your driving record over time
The best thing you can do to avoid car insurance premiums increasing after an accident is to avoid additional claims. While your previous accident will stay on your record for three to five years, maintaining a clean driving history can help keep your rates as manageable as possible. Some insurance companies offer telematics programs that may provide discounts for safe driving.
Car insurance rate increases by incident type
When you file a claim, insurers raise your premiums because they feel you present a higher risk going forward. But the amount your rates will increase also depends on the type of incident.
Insurify data shows rates increase by about 29% with a speeding ticket. An at-fault accident results in a rate increase of 34%, which is more than a speeding ticket but less than a DUI.
A DUI conviction results in much higher rates, with liability insurance costs going up 44%, on average. Below, you can see how average monthly liability quotes increase after a few different incident types.
Driving Record | Average Monthly Quote | % Increase | $ Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clean driving record | $97 | N/A | N/A |
| At-fault accident | $130 | 34% | $33 |
| Speeding ticket | $125 | 29% | $28 |
| DUI | $140 | 44% | $43 |
| SR-22 | $125 | 29% | $28 |
Disclaimer: Table data is based on real-time quotes from Insurify’s network of 500+ insurance partners. Actual rates may vary depending on the policyholder’s individual profile and coverage needs.
Car insurance increase after accident FAQs
If you’re wondering how much car insurance rates go up after an accident, the following answers can help.
How much does insurance go up after a fender bender?
Drivers typically see their car insurance increase after accidents, even for a minor incident like a fender bender. The size of the increase depends on various factors, including your driving history, insurance company, and state.
Will your insurance go up if the accident wasn’t your fault?
It’s possible that your car insurance will increase after an accident, even if it wasn’t your fault, though the increase will likely be smaller. Some states, including California and Oklahoma, restrict rate increases for not-at-fault drivers in accidents.
How long does an accident stay on your insurance record?
An accident will typically affect your car insurance premiums for three to five years. The rate of that effect depends on the insurance company, your claims history, the severity of the accident, and whether you were at fault.
Can you switch insurance companies after an accident?
Yes, you can switch car insurance companies after an accident. But if you change insurers, your accident will likely lead to a premium increase because your accident makes you a riskier driver to insure.
What is accident forgiveness, and how do you get it?
Accident forgiveness car insurance is a type of optional coverage you can add to your insurance policy. With accident forgiveness, the insurance company may agree to forgive your first accident, preventing a premium increase.
Do all accidents raise your insurance?
Many accidents raise car insurance premiums, but not all of them do. Typically, rates increase if you’re at fault. A few states restrict insurance companies from raising rates for drivers in a not-at-fault accident.
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 190 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 500+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
- Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
- No additional coverage
- Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
- Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
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Sources
- NAIC. "A Consumer's Guide to Auto Insurance."
- Abels & Annes P.C.. "How To Avoid Insurance Increase After Accident?."
- Insurance Information Institute. "Personal Automobile Insurance More Accidents, Larger Claims Drive Costs Higher."
)
Katie PowersLicensed P&C Agent, Senior Insurance Editor
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.
Chris SchaferDeputy Managing Editor, News and Marketing Content
15+ years in content creation
7+ years in business and financial services content
Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.
Featured in
Daniel RoccatoAdvisor
30+ years in financial services
Clinical Professor of Finance, University of San Diego
Dan is a well-recognized and widely quoted financial services expert, regularly appearing in a variety of national and local media as a subject matter expert.
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
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.