Whether your car insurance goes up after an accident depends primarily on who was at fault, what your policy says, and what state you live in. In most cases, being found at fault for a crash that results in a claim will increase your premium at renewal. Being not at fault does not automatically protect you from a rate increase, though most states limit what insurers can do in that situation.
How Fault Affects Your Rate
When your insurer pays out a claim because you caused a crash, they reassign your risk level upward. This shows up as a surcharge on your premium at renewal, sometimes called an accident surcharge or merit rating adjustment. The size of the increase depends on the severity of the claim, the dollar amount paid out, your prior driving history, and your insurer’s rating model.
A first at-fault accident with no prior history typically produces a smaller surcharge than a second incident. Some insurers also weigh bodily injury claims more heavily than property damage claims, since bodily injury payouts tend to be larger and less predictable.
What Happens When You Were Not at Fault
Not-at-fault accidents are treated differently. If the other driver’s insurer paid for everything and your own insurer did not have to pay out anything, your rate may not change at all. Many states prohibit insurers from raising rates or imposing surcharges for not-at-fault accidents where the driver was not found responsible.
However, if you used your own collision coverage and your insurer later recovered through subrogation, the process still appears on your claims history. Some insurers count any claim regardless of fault; others do not. Reading your policy’s accident forgiveness terms or asking your insurer directly before filing a claim gives you a clearer picture.
Accident Forgiveness and Its Limits
Many insurers offer accident forgiveness as an add-on or as a benefit that kicks in after a certain number of years of clean driving. Accident forgiveness typically waives the surcharge for a first at-fault accident. It does not erase the accident from your record for all purposes, and it usually resets or is removed after the first use.
Accident forgiveness only applies to surcharges charged by your current insurer. If you switch insurers after a forgiven accident, the new insurer will see the claim on your record through the CLUE report (the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange), and they are not bound by your prior insurer’s forgiveness policy.
How Long Does a Surcharge Last
Most at-fault accident surcharges remain on your policy for three to five years, depending on the insurer and the state. After that period, the accident typically drops out of the rating calculation, and your premium may decrease at the next renewal if no other incidents have occurred.
Some states regulate the lookback period by law, capping how far back insurers can go when calculating surcharges. Checking your state’s insurance department website can clarify what protections apply where you live.
What Is in Your Claims History
Insurers check a database of prior claims called the CLUE report when calculating your premium. This report contains up to seven years of personal auto claims tied to your name and vehicle, regardless of which insurer you were with at the time. A claim on this report can affect your rate even when you switch insurers.
Understanding the contents of your CLUE report is useful before shopping for new coverage. You can request a free copy once per year through LexisNexis. Knowing what your police report documents also helps when reviewing how the crash was characterized in the claim file.
Comparison: Rate Impact by Claim Type
| Claim Type | Typical Rate Impact | Notes |
| At-fault with bodily injury | High increase | Largest payout category; heaviest surcharge |
| At-fault property damage only | Moderate increase | Depends on claim amount |
| Not-at-fault, other insurer paid | Little to none | Many states prohibit surcharges here |
| Not-at-fault, own collision used | Varies | Depends on policy terms and subrogation outcome |
| Comprehensive (weather, theft) | Minimal to none | Generally not treated as a driving risk factor |
Where to Start After a Crash
Getting your police report early gives you a clear factual record of how the crash was characterized by the responding officer, which matters when your insurer assigns fault and calculates any surcharge. If you need help obtaining your report, request a free police report through Local Accident Reports, and our team can assist you.
FAQ: Car Insurance Rates After an Accident
Will my rate definitely go up after an at-fault accident?
In most cases, yes. The amount of the increase varies by insurer, state, claim size, and your prior record.
Can my insurer raise my rate if the accident was not my fault?
Many states limit or prohibit this. Check your state’s insurance regulations or ask your insurer about their policy on not-at-fault surcharges.
How much does car insurance typically go up after an at-fault accident?
Increases vary widely, but drivers should expect anywhere from 20 percent to 50 percent or more, depending on the severity of the claim and the insurer’s rating model.
Does filing a claim always affect my rate?
Not always. Some very small claims or not-at-fault claims may not trigger a surcharge. However, the claim will still appear in your CLUE report regardless.
What is accident forgiveness, and does every insurer offer it?
Accident forgiveness waives the surcharge for a first at-fault accident. Not every insurer offers it, and those that do usually require a prior period of clean driving to qualify.
Can switching insurers help avoid a rate increase?
A new insurer will still see your claim history through the CLUE report. Shopping around may find a better rate, but the accident itself will not disappear from your record for rating purposes.
Staying Informed and Getting Help
If you have been involved in a crash this summer, our team at Local Accident Reports offers free help any time with requesting your police report and finding the responding agency. You can contact our team at (888) 657-1460 for help with your report.
Last reviewed: July 2026
Content reviewed by Hernán Beresnak, Lead Editor, Local Accident Reports.
Local Accident Reports is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation. The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Use of this website does not create an attorney-client relationship. See our full [disclaimer](https://localaccidentreports.com/disclaimer/).
