How much will my insurance go up after an accident?

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Most drivers see premiums rise by at least 25% after an at-fault accident — and depending on the severity, the insurer, and where you live, that increase can reach 80% or higher. On a typical premium of $2,578 a year, that’s anywhere from $645 to over $2,000 in additional annual cost, persisting for three to five years.

Not all accidents hit your rates equally though. A minor property damage claim raises premiums by around 55% on average. A bodily injury accident pushes that to 64%. Two at-fault accidents in quick succession can more than double your premium. The type of claim, the cost of damage, whether injuries were involved, your prior driving record, and which insurer you’re with all determine where your increase lands.

How much does car insurance go up after an accident?

In general, drivers can expect premiums to rise by at least 25% after an at-fault claim. For more serious accidents — those involving bodily injury, significant property damage, or multiple claims — rates can increase by up to 80%. The exact figure depends on your insurer, your state, and your prior driving record.

Insurers raise rates after an accident because you’ve moved into a higher risk category. A recent crash signals a higher likelihood of future claims, and insurers price accordingly. The increase typically applies at your next renewal and remains on your policy for three to five years, depending on the severity of the incident and your insurer’s underwriting rules.

How long does an accident stay on your insurance record?

It depends on how serious the accident was — but most drivers can expect it to affect their premium for three to five years.

• Minor accidents and violations typically stay on your record for three years before dropping off
• Serious at-fault accidents — especially those involving injuries or large payouts — can remain a rating factor for five years or longer
• The impact fades gradually. Your premium won’t suddenly reset on a specific date. Most insurers reduce the surcharge incrementally over time, so you’ll notice rates slowly improving rather than dropping all at once

Even after an accident officially drops off your record, some insurers look back further for drivers with multiple incidents. A clean stretch of driving after the accident is the most reliable way to speed up the return to lower rates.

How much do rates go up by accident type?

Bodily injury accidents trigger the steepest rate increases — averaging 64% — compared to 55% for minor property damage claims. The table below shows how average premiums change based on the type of at-fault accident, starting from a baseline of $2,578 per year.

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How much do rates go up by claim type?

Not all claims hit your premium equally. A single minor property damage claim raises rates by around 55% on average. A bodily injury claim pushes that to 64%. But two at-fault accidents in quick succession can more than double your premium — a 136% average increase. The table below ranks claim types by their average impact, from most to least severe.

Which states see the biggest rate increases after an accident?

Where you live can matter almost as much as the accident itself. In New Jersey, premiums jump by 95% after an at-fault accident on average. In Texas, 93%. In California, 86%. Drivers in these states can expect to pay well over $6,000 a year after a single at-fault claim — more than double what drivers in the cheapest states pay. High population density, heavy traffic, elevated medical costs, and litigation-friendly legal environments all push both baseline premiums and post-accident surcharges higher in these states. The table below shows the ten states where post-accident premiums hit hardest.

Which states see the smallest rate increases after an accident?

At the other end of the spectrum, Hawaii and Wyoming drivers see post-accident increases of just 34 to 41% on average — and several other states cluster below 60%. Lower population density, less traffic congestion, fewer litigation-prone legal environments, and stricter state regulations on how much insurers can surcharge after a claim all contribute to more modest increases in these states. The table below shows the ten states where an at-fault accident does the least damage to your premium.

How much do rates go up after an accident by insurance company?

State Farm raises rates by just 26% after an at-fault accident on average — while Farmers increases premiums by 82% for the same incident. The gap between the most and least forgiving insurers is substantial, which is why shopping around after an accident can make a meaningful difference.

The table below shows where each major insurer falls.

What factors affect how much your rate increases after an accident?

No two rate increases are exactly alike. Here are the main variables that determine how much your premium rises after a crash.

• Fault. At-fault accidents trigger the largest increases. Not-at-fault accidents may still affect your rate in some states if you’ve had multiple recent claims.
• Severity and claim cost. Larger payouts signal higher risk. Accidents involving injuries or extensive damage lead to steeper surcharges than minor fender-benders.
• Claim type. Bodily injury claims are treated more severely than property damage claims, and at-fault claims far more so than comprehensive claims.
• Your prior driving record. Drivers with clean records before the accident typically see smaller increases than those with previous violations or claims.
• Your insurer’s surcharge schedule. Each insurer applies a predetermined premium increase formula after a claim. These schedules vary widely, which is why the same accident produces very different increases at different companies.
• Your location. State regulations affect how insurers can apply surcharges, and local accident rates influence baseline pricing.
• Your deductible. A higher deductible reduces your premium, which can help offset some of the post-accident increase.

Can your rates go up after an accident that wasn’t your fault?

Usually, rates won’t go up after an accident that wasn’t your fault — but it can happen, and it depends on your state and your insurer. Here’s how it typically breaks down:

• If the other driver is fully at fault and their insurance pays. Most insurers won’t raise your rates, and many states prohibit them from doing so
• If you live in a state that permits not-at-fault surcharges. Your insurer may raise rates even when you weren’t responsible, particularly if you’ve filed multiple claims in a short period
• If you have multiple recent claims regardless of fault. Insurers may view repeated accident involvement as a risk signal, even if none of the incidents were your fault

The reasoning is straightforward: a driver who keeps ending up in accidents — even ones that weren’t their fault — is statistically more likely to be involved in another one. From an insurer’s perspective, bad luck has a pattern, and repeated claims are a reason to reassess your rate regardless of who caused them.

How does accident forgiveness work — and is it worth it?

Accident forgiveness prevents your first at-fault accident from triggering a rate increase. Here’s what you need to know about how it works:

• It has to be in place before the accident happens. You can’t add it retroactively — once a claim is filed, the window is closed
• It’s not available to everyone. Most insurers require a clean record of three to five years without claims or violations to qualify
• It typically covers only your first qualifying at-fault accident. Multiple claims or serious incidents won’t be protected
• It costs $50 to $150 per year depending on the insurer, and is either included in premium policy tiers or available as an optional add-on

The value is straightforward to calculate. If your annual premium is $1,500 and you cause a minor collision, accident forgiveness prevents what might otherwise be a 40% surcharge — around $600 more per year for three to five years. At $100 extra per year for the coverage, that’s a return of $1,800 to $3,000 if you ever need it.

How to lower your car insurance rates after an accident

A rate increase after an accident isn’t necessarily permanent. These strategies can help reduce what you pay while the surcharge is in effect — and speed up the path back to lower premiums.

• Shop around before your renewal date. Different insurers treat accident history differently. Getting quotes from multiple carriers — including ones you haven’t used before — is the most direct way to find a lower rate with the same driving record. Some insurers are significantly more forgiving of a first at-fault accident than others.
• Raise your deductible. Increasing your deductible from $500 to $1,000 typically reduces your premium by around 11%. On a post-accident premium of $4,000, that’s roughly $440 in annual savings. Make sure your emergency fund can cover the higher deductible before making the switch.
• Enroll in a usage-based or telematics program. Many insurers offer programs that track driving behavior and reward safe habits with discounts of 10 to 30%. If your driving is demonstrably careful, this can offset a meaningful portion of the post-accident surcharge without requiring any coverage changes.
• Complete a defensive driving course. Some insurers offer discounts for completing an approved course, and in some states it may also help reduce points on your license. It’s a relatively low-cost intervention that signals to insurers you’re taking safety seriously.
• Improve your credit score. In most states, credit history is a factor in car insurance pricing. Drivers with poor credit scores can pay double what drivers with excellent credit pay for identical coverage. Improving your score over time — even modestly — can produce meaningful premium reductions.
• Avoid filing small claims. Every claim has the potential to raise your rates. For minor incidents where the repair cost is close to your deductible, paying out of pocket keeps your claims history clean and prevents compounding the post-accident surcharge with additional filing history.

Alisha Ambre

 

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Alisha Ambre holds a Bachelor of Arts with honours in English Literature and Media Studies. She focuses on crafting clear, engaging content that makes complex information feel practical and approachable for everyday readers. When she’s not writing, she’s likely on the volleyball court or immersed in a good video game.