How Much Does Insurance Increase After an Accident?

Nerdy takeaways

• An at-fault accident can increase your auto insurance rates for at least three years, depending on your state and insurer.

• A driver with a recent at-fault accident pays more a year on average for a full coverage policy than a driver with no traffic violations.

• How much insurance increases after an accident depends on your insurer.

• Shop around and compare rates to find cheaper car insurance after an accident.

Full coverage car insurance rates can go up an average of a year if you cause an accident, NerdWallet’s analysis found.

But if you switch to the cheapest auto insurer in your state, you may find better rates.

How an accident affects your car insurance rates

An accident typically affects your car insurance rates for at least three years, although this varies by state and insurance provider. Even if it was a minor crash, insurers perceive you as a greater risk and will almost always increase your rates.

» MORE

NerdWallet did an analysis to see how much car insurance can increase after an accident. We compared average car insurance rates nationwide for 35-year-old drivers with a recent at-fault crash to those with no recent accidents, keeping all other factors the same. We used full coverage insurance policies for a and a hypothetical accident that resulted in $10,000 worth of property damage and no injuries.

Our analysis found that nationwide, a driver with an at-fault accident pays more a year on average for a full-coverage policy than a driver with no traffic violations.

However, this is based on average rates. Your rate may differ depending on factors like your age, location and insurer.

» MORE:

Cheap car insurance after an accident by company

Car insurance companies have wildly different viewpoints on how much to raise rates due to a crash. In some instances, companies might not raise their rates after a small accident. In others, rates can go up an exorbitant amount.

NerdWallet’s latest analysis of some of the nation’s largest insurers found that average rates for a driver with an at-fault accident can go up as much as , or as little as .

That’s why it’s essential to compare car insurance rates from several companies to find cheap auto insurance after an accident.

To see how the largest insurers price policies after at-fault accidents, we looked at median national rates from each of these companies for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record.

Out of these companies, returned the lowest average rates for drivers who’d caused an accident. showed the smallest percentage increase in rates between drivers with a clean record and those with a recent crash.

Average rates from the biggest auto insurers after an at-fault crash

For drivers who qualify, USAA frequently has some of the lowest rates we found, both before and after an accident. But in some cases, USAA is no longer the cheapest option once a driver has caused an accident.

So whether you’re insured with USAA or another company, it’s smart to compare car insurance rates after an accident.

Cheap car insurance after an accident by state

Wondering which companies are the most likely to offer cheap car insurance after a crash? Find your state below to see the cheapest car insurance rates after an accident on average based on where you live.

To find the cheapest insurer after a crash in each state, NerdWallet’s analysis looked at full coverage rates for all ZIP codes in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., for a 35-year-old driver with good credit and a recent at-fault accident. Although USAA is the cheapest option in many states, we didn’t include the company in this table since its policies are available only to active military members, veterans and their families.

It’s possible to get a lower rate after an accident

Shopping around after an accident is the best way to ensure you are getting the cheapest rate, and our analysis shows why:

• Shopping for the cheapest car insurance after a crash could save you big.

  Our analysis shows that shopping for the cheapest possible rate after a crash could potentially save you thousands a year, depending on your state and insurer.

• No single car insurance company is cheapest for everyone.

  Your rate will be determined based on your personal characteristics and your specific situation.

• The cheapest insurer before an accident may not be the cheapest afterward

  . In some of the states we looked at, some drivers who were insured with the cheapest company available would need to switch insurers to continue getting the lowest possible rates after an accident.

• Big-name insurance companies aren’t always cheapest

  . Although the nation’s 10 largest car insurance companies together account for around 75% of the car insurance market, smaller companies sometimes offer the lowest rates after an accident.

How to find cheap car insurance after an accident

Shopping around is the best way to find the cheapest rate, but there are other ways to ensure you are getting the lowest rate possible. You may be able to avoid an insurance rate increase after an accident by:

• Raising your deductible

  , which is the amount reduced from a potential claim check from comprehensive or collision insurance. This will cause a greater out-of-pocket cost to repair your own car if you get into an accident in the future.

• Adding discounts

  to your policy. Discounts could help offset the increase in your rate from the accident. Check with your insurer or agent to see if any more are available to you.

• Improving your credit

  . While improving credit is a long-term strategy, a healthy credit report will likely result in a more affordable car insurance rate in most states.

» MORE

Do insurance rates go up after a no-fault accident?

If you weren’t to blame for an accident, you might see an increase in your auto insurance rate anyway. A 2017 study by the Consumer Federation of America, the most recent data available, found that some companies raise rates 10% or more for not-at-fault accidents.

In no-fault states, everyone involved in an accident files a claim to their own insurer for injuries. Because of this, residents of those states may see rate increases after an accident, no matter who is at fault.

A few states, including Oklahoma and California, don’t allow insurers to increase your rates if a crash was not your fault. Some companies, such as USAA, even say they usually won’t raise rates if you aren’t responsible for an accident.

But regardless of whether the accident was your fault, it’s always a good idea to compare car insurance quotes to make sure you’re getting the lowest price.

Can I keep my car insurance rate from going up after a crash?

If you have accident forgiveness on your policy and this is your first accident, it’s likely that your rate won’t go up. Accident forgiveness is an optional coverage type many insurers offer that prevents your car insurance premium from increasing after your first accident.

This coverage typically costs extra, but some insurers offer free accident forgiveness to drivers who have gone without an accident for a certain period, often around five years.

Alternative car insurance for high-risk drivers

If you have multiple accidents or other serious marks on your record, you may be classified as a high-risk driver. High-risk drivers generally have a harder time finding coverage because they are considered risky to insure.

If no one will sell you a policy, you may need to look for a state-run assigned risk plan. To find an insurer, locate your state in the directory of the Automobile Insurance Plan Service Office, an industry organization, or ask your auto insurance agent for help. This is considered a “high-risk insurance pool,” in which the state assigns an insurer to you.