Reviews Report
- Car insurance premiums can increase by about 45%–50% on average after one at-fault accident, with recent national studies spanning roughly the low‑40% to mid‑50% range; surcharges commonly last 3–5 years and typically take effect at your next renewal, according to NerdWallet, Forbes Advisor, The Zebra and ValuePenguin.
- Where you live and the cost of damages associated with your accident can help determine how much your insurance premiums increase after an accident, alongside state rating rules and carrier filings. Recent analyses show outsized auto rate pressure in states such as Florida, Nevada, New York and California, which can magnify the dollar impact of a post‑accident surcharge (S&P Global Market Intelligence; Bankrate).
- Car insurance companies with accident forgiveness programs may offer more competitive rates for car insurance by suppressing the first at‑fault surcharge where available; eligibility and state availability vary (Forbes Advisor; NerdWallet; Progressive).
Accidents can happen even when you drive carefully. If one goes on your record, your car insurance rates are likely to rise, but the size of the increase depends on your insurer, the severity of the loss, and key rate factors such as your credit-based insurance score (where permitted), driving history, garaging location, annual mileage, and vehicle. Consumer and regulator guides emphasize shopping, verifying your rating data, and asking about discounts to help manage costs (NAIC; Insurance Information Institute).
Multiple 2024 market studies indicate that one recent at‑fault crash typically triggers a premium increase in the mid‑40% range on average, with findings from the low‑40% to mid‑50% depending on assumptions. These surcharges generally remain on your policy for about 3–5 years and, in most cases, first appear at your next renewal (NerdWallet; Forbes Advisor; The Zebra; ValuePenguin).
How Much Car Insurance Goes Up After an Accident
For drivers with full coverage insurance, the average increase after one at‑fault accident is commonly reported around 45%–50%, with credible sources ranging from roughly 42% to 56% depending on the driver profile and accident definition (NerdWallet; Forbes Advisor; The Zebra; ValuePenguin). Because today’s surcharges are applied to higher base premiums than a few years ago, the dollar impact can be substantial.
To frame the dollars, widely cited national averages for full coverage are in the mid‑$2,500 range (Bankrate). A 42% increase adds roughly $1,050 per year (e.g., ~$2,500 to ~$3,550); a 50% increase adds about $1,250 (~$2,500 to ~$3,750); and a 56% increase adds about $1,400 (~$2,500 to ~$3,900). Actual changes vary by state, insurer, and claim details such as injury or high‑severity property damage (Forbes Advisor).
When you carry minimum coverage, the percentage change after an at‑fault accident can be large but is applied to a lower starting premium, so the dollar increase is typically smaller. Most recent public datasets model full‑coverage scenarios; your result with minimum limits will depend on your state’s liability requirements, insurer surcharge rules, and the specifics of the claim (NerdWallet; ValuePenguin).
Because minimum car insurance requirements and rating rules vary by state, some markets see higher overall premiums and larger statewide rate actions than others. Recent market intelligence highlights elevated pressure in states like Florida, Nevada, New York and California due to higher repair and medical costs, litigation risk and regulatory catch‑up, which can amplify the dollar effect of any post‑accident surcharge (S&P Global Market Intelligence; Bankrate).
- Florida: among the largest recent statewide auto rate increases reported in industry filing aggregates and high average premiums, which can magnify the dollar impact of a post‑accident surcharge (S&P Global Market Intelligence; Bankrate)
- Nevada: frequently cited for strong rate pressure and elevated average premiums relative to the U.S. (S&P Global Market Intelligence; Bankrate)
- California: regulatory catch‑up and high repair costs have contributed to larger recent rate actions, increasing the dollar stakes of at‑fault surcharges (S&P Global Market Intelligence)
Your car insurance rates can also be impacted by the kind of accident that you have. Injury crashes and higher‑severity losses generally lead to larger increases than minor property‑damage‑only incidents; serious violations like a DUI or DWI can also drive much bigger surcharges (Forbes Advisor).
How Much Car Insurance Premiums Increase After an Accident In Each State
*Data provided by Coverage.com. Methodologies differ across market studies and time periods; compare this state map with recent filing aggregates (S&P Global Market Intelligence) and realized state averages (Bankrate) for current 2025 context.
Should You File a Claim After an Accident?
For drivers found at fault, average premium increases after one crash are commonly in the ~45%–50% range (with credible studies from the low‑40% to mid‑50%). These surcharges usually appear at your next renewal and persist for about 3–5 years, tapering as the incident ages (NerdWallet; Forbes Advisor).
There isn’t a single authoritative percentage of drivers who file claims after crashes. Industry tracking instead shows overall claim activity and severity have remained elevated alongside premium inflation, while some motorists choose to self‑pay very small repairs to avoid surcharges and deductibles. At the same time, digital first notice of loss and photo estimating make filing easier when drivers do engage their insurer (CCC Crash Course 2025; LexisNexis U.S. Auto Insurance Trends; NAIC Auto Insurance Database Report; J.D. Power; BLS CPI). Your decision calculus should weigh repair estimates, your deductible, the likely surcharge and how long it lasts.
At-fault vs. no-fault states
No‑fault systems require Personal Injury Protection (PIP), which covers your medical costs regardless of fault and can contribute to higher baseline premiums in many such states. As of 2025, no‑fault states include Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky (choice), Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey (choice), New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania (choice) and Utah (Insurance Information Institute). Several tort (at‑fault) states also rank among the most expensive due to other cost drivers. Determining fault can be complex, but in either system, an at‑fault crash can trigger a surcharge.
Recent price increases have been broad‑based across both no‑fault and tort states, driven by higher repair and medical costs and litigation trends; national motor vehicle insurance prices rose sharply through late 2024/early 2025. Surcharges commonly last 3–5 years and usually begin at your next renewal, but specifics depend on state rules and carrier guidelines (BLS/FRED CPI; Triple‑I/NAIC).
How to file a car insurance claim
If you are involved in an accident, you will need to file a car insurance claim so your insurance provider can help with the repair costs. Filing promptly and documenting thoroughly can speed resolution; many carriers support digital claim initiation and photo estimating.
- Contact your provider. When there is an accident, let your insurer know right away that there has been an incident.
- Provide details of the accident. Your insurance provider will ask about the time, date, location, and weather conditions of the accident.
- Collect contact information. Be sure to collect the contact information of the other driver, including the name, phone number, vehicle details, and insurance information.
- Take photos. Be sure to fully document any damages to your vehicle.
- Provide documentation. If police respond to the scene, be sure to document their names and badge numbers, and request a copy of the incident report to submit to your insurance provider.
- Pay your deductible. Most insurance policies carry a minimum insurance deductible that you must pay upfront before your coverage kicks in to pay the rest.
Furthermore, many insurance companies allow you to file your auto insurance claim online or via your provider’s mobile app, including app‑based photo estimating and status updates (J.D. Power; CCC Crash Course 2025).
What if you don’t file an insurance claim?
There are some occasions when it may be best for drivers not to file a claim. Minor incidents that cause little to no damage may be better for you to fix out of pocket than to report it to your insurance company and risk an accident‑related surcharge for several years. Always consider your deductible and the estimated repair cost.
These are some occasions when drivers may opt not to file a claim:
- Single-driver incidents. If there are no other drivers involved, you likely will not receive coverage under your liability insurance. Collision insurance would cover the damages, but not every policy may include this protection.
- Minor damages. When there are minimal damages, it could be cheaper for you to handle the cost of repairs than pay the deductible needed for your coverage to kick in.
Out-of-pocket payments between drivers can be very risky when insurance companies are not involved. A driver could later deny receiving payment, or there may be medical costs that you may have to pay. Many jurisdictions also have specific rules regarding what must be reported to your insurance provider, so it is always important to check your state’s insurance laws before proceeding.
Accident Forgiveness Programs
Accident forgiveness is an optional feature some insurers offer that prevents your premium from increasing due to your first at‑fault accident (within program rules). It does not pay for damages; it suppresses the surcharge that would normally apply. Availability and eligibility vary by state and company, and severe losses or multiple incidents may be excluded (Forbes Advisor; NerdWallet).
Programs are structured differently across insurers. For example, Progressive distinguishes “small accident forgiveness” (often for claims under $500, applied from day one on many policies) from larger‑accident forgiveness earned after a set accident‑free period (Progressive). Erie commonly bundles First Accident Forgiveness with its Auto Plus endorsement (Erie), and GEICO offers forgiveness as an add‑on or an earned benefit after several safe‑driving years (GEICO). Consumer sources also note that pricing and value should be weighed against alternatives like telematics‑based discounts (Bankrate).
These auto insurance providers offer accident forgiveness:
- Allstate offers forgiveness in many states as an optional feature or as an earned benefit after a claims‑free period; availability and terms vary by state and driver record.
- Farmers provides accident forgiveness for qualifying customers, often tied to tenure or available as an add‑on; rules vary by jurisdiction.
- Geico offers accident forgiveness as an add‑on or as a benefit earned after several safe‑driving years; state availability and eligibility apply.
- Liberty Mutual markets accident forgiveness that can prevent a surcharge for a first at‑fault accident for qualifying policyholders; eligibility and state availability vary.
- Nationwide offers first‑accident forgiveness in many states, commonly as an optional add‑on; eligibility varies.
- Progressive features small accident forgiveness (commonly for claims under a dollar threshold, such as $500) from day one on many policies, and larger‑accident forgiveness typically earned after a set accident‑free period; state rules apply.
- State Farm may not surcharge the first at‑fault accident after a long clean‑driving period in some states; program availability and rules vary.
- Travelers commonly offers accident forgiveness within its Responsible Driver programs that can include accident and minor‑violation forgiveness for eligible drivers; specifics vary by state.
Ask The Car Insurance Experts
Robert Raymond
VP of Private Client Advisors, HUB International
What is the best way that someone can lower their insurance rate after an accident?
You should probably consider increasing your physical damage deductibles to help offset premium increases. Many people assume “My rate went up, so I should shop my insurance.” However, the truth is that all insurers will be able to see your claims history and motor vehicle reports. These losses will follow you between insurance companies. Also confirm every eligible discount, consider enrolling in a telematics/UBI program for potential near‑term savings, and verify that your accident is classified correctly (III; NAIC; J.D. Power 2025).
How long does an at-fault accident affect my premium?
Each insurance company is different. Most provide claims-based underwriting back 36 months for accidents and moving violations. However, certain circumstances, such as being cited for reckless driving or DWI/DUI in conjunction with an accident, can be underwritten back 60 months or greater. In practice, many carriers apply accident surcharges for about 3–5 years, with the most weight on recent history (NerdWallet; Forbes Advisor).
When should you not file an auto insurance claim?
Generally, you need to disclose any accident to your insurer, especially if there are other persons or third-party property involved. However, if you do not want to notify your insurer and pay out of pocket for something like vandalism to your vehicle, that is probably OK. Always call your insurance broker or risk advisor for guidance.
Why does car insurance go up if someone files a claim?
Insurance is a spreading of risk across many policyholders. Costs escalate based upon your share of the total risk in the group. More claims means higher premiums and less claims means less premium. Having multiple claims will assuredly have an adverse impact on your insurance costs or your insurability.
David Macknin
President ChicagoRisk
What is the best way that someone can lower their insurance rate after an accident?
We highly recommend maintaining relatively high physical damage deductibles when purchasing auto insurance. First, doing so automatically reduces the fixed loss one incurs, the premiums which must be paid (every six or 12 months), and over time such savings add up nicely. Second, carrying a higher deductible means many physical damage only incidents need not be reported to the insurer and, thus, one’s actuarial record is not harmed. Pair that with market shopping and, where offered, telematics enrollment to offset a surcharge (III on telematics).
Will the premiums go up even if the driver is not at fault?
In addition to the simple question of if an accident has an adverse impact, one must also look through two additional lenses auto insurers utilize. First, the frequency — in how many accidents is the insured involved? Second, the severity — how severe are the accidents? It must be noted that many insurers offer a no penalty in case of one’s first accident promotion, sometimes called accident forgiveness. Some carriers do not surcharge not‑at‑fault losses, but you can still lose safe‑driver discounts or see indirect effects (Forbes Advisor).
When should you not file an auto insurance claim?
While paying out of pocket for relatively small sums may be unpleasant, it generally is less expensive overall when compared with higher ongoing insurance premiums (with lower deductibles) plus subsequently increased rates resulting from a history of accidents. Bear in mind that surcharges can last several years, so the deductible‑versus‑surcharge calculus matters.
Adrian Mak
CEO, AdvisorSmith
What is the best way that someone can lower their insurance rate after an accident?
The best way to reduce your premiums is to shop around with different carriers to find a better price. Some auto insurance carriers specialize in drivers with less than perfect driving records. Enrolling in a telematics program can also help offset a surcharge if you demonstrate safe driving (LexisNexis 2025).
What happens if a driver doesn’t tell their insurance about an accident?
It is always a good idea to tell your insurer about any crash you are involved in. The terms of virtually every auto insurance policy require the policyholder to report any crashes they are involved in.
Will the premiums go up even if the driver is not at fault?
Car insurance premiums increase after a crash because historically, a driver who had a car crash is much more likely to be in a crash in the future compared with drivers who have not had a crash. Car insurance companies increase premiums to account for this higher risk. Not‑at‑fault accidents are treated differently by state and insurer; multiple crashes within a few years can still influence pricing. Typical at‑fault surcharges after one crash often fall in the mid‑40% range on average across recent national studies (NerdWallet; The Zebra).
Multiple car crashes will cause your rates to increase even further when you renew your policy. In some cases, insurance companies may decide not to renew your policy when your policy year ends.
