How Much Does Insurance Go Up After an Accident? (2024)

Car insurers may raise your rate after you get into an accident and file a claim. Your exact rate increase will depend on the type of accident and your insurer. Some insurers offer accident forgiveness programs so you won't see a rate increase after certain types of accidents, like your first accident or smaller accidents. As of November 2022, in most states, Progressive offers accident forgiveness for your first claimthat totals less than $500 as soon as you become a customer.

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How Much Does Insurance Go Up After an Accident? (2)

How long does an accident affect my insurance rate?

In general, insurance companies look back at several years of your driving history when determining your car insurance rate. The amount of time an accident remains on your driving record, which can be used to determine your car insurance rate, may vary by your state and insurer.

How do at-fault vs. no-fault accidents affect my insurance rate?

At-fault accidents: Accidents you cause will almost always raise your insurance rate. In certain states, however, your insurer may not raise your premium for an accident if the damage is under a certain dollar amount. Your insurance company will stop charging you for the accident after a certain number of years (the length varies by insurer and state).

Do insurance rates go up after no-fault accidents?

It may seem unfair, but accidents that aren't your fault may still increase your rate in certain states. Not-at-fault accidents can indicate a higher likelihood of future accidents. However, your rate may not increase as much as it would for an at-fault accident. As with speeding tickets and most other violations, not-at-fault accidents stay on your driving record for a certain number of years (the length varies by state).

Will comprehensive claims increase my rate?

Yes, a comprehensive claim might increase your rate, but maybe not as much as an at-fault accident would. Comprehensive claims include non-collision events like car theft, car vandalism, car fire, chipped/cracked windshield, hitting an animal, and acts of nature. Because these events are typically out of your control, insurance companies may not raise your rate as much as they would for an at-fault accident.

Insurers factor in comprehensive claims because they can indicate higher risk for filing more claims. For example: If you hit a deer once, insurers may view you as more likely to make another claim in the future.

Remember, all insurance companies price differently after an accident. Get an auto insurance quote online or call 1-866-749-7436 to see your rate from Progressive.

What should I do after an accident?

After you've been in a car accident, your first steps are to ensure everyone's safety, report the accident to the police, exchange insurance information with the other driver, and start the insurance claims process. Find out how to file an insurance claim.

Progressive customers can file a claim through the Progressive mobile app, by logging in to your account online, or by calling 1-800-776-4737.

If you're looking for ways to ensure you're getting the lowest insurance rate after an accident, explore these resources:

  • Tips to get cheap car insurance at Progressive
  • Guide to switching car insurance companies
  • How to shop for car insurance

How accident forgiveness can help

Depending on your state, Progressive customers enjoy Accident Forgiveness benefits through our Loyalty Rewards program. If you qualify, we won't increase your rate because you had an accident — even if it's your fault. The longer you're with Progressive, the better the Accident Forgiveness benefit. Here's how it works:

  • Small accident forgiveness

    Your rate won't go up for your first small claim of $500 or less. Progressive customers automatically get Small Accident Forgiveness in most states for free as soon as you start your Progressive policy.

  • Large accident forgiveness

    You automatically get this free benefit in most states if you've been a Progressive customer for at least five years and accident and violation-free for up to five consecutive years. Then your rate won't increase if you have a claim. Large Accident Forgiveness can vary by state.

  • Progressive Accident Forgiveness

    You can also purchase Progressive Accident Forgiveness when you first buy your Progressive policy or during policy renewal.* With this benefit, you may be eligible to have one accident forgiven per policy period. And you'll still have access to the free small and large accident forgiveness benefits — which means you could have more than one accident forgiven during the same policy period.

Looking for more information about auto insurance? Our car insurance resource center has you covered.

How Much Does Insurance Go Up After an Accident? (3)

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How Much Does Insurance Go Up After an Accident? (2024)

FAQs

How Much Does Insurance Go Up After an Accident? ›

The greater the number of claims filed, the greater the likelihood of a rate hike. File too many claims—especially in a very short amount of time—and the insurance company may not renew your policy. If the claim is based on the damage you caused, your rates will almost surely rise.

Will my insurance go up if I make a lot of claims? ›

The greater the number of claims filed, the greater the likelihood of a rate hike. File too many claims—especially in a very short amount of time—and the insurance company may not renew your policy. If the claim is based on the damage you caused, your rates will almost surely rise.

Does your insurance go up after a claim that is not your fault? ›

Under California law, an insurer cannot increase your premiums when you aren't at fault.

What is the best car insurance after an accident? ›

Best Accident Forgiveness Companies
  • Allstate.
  • Geico.
  • Farmers.
  • Liberty Mutual.
  • Progressive.
  • Nationwide.
  • State Farm.
  • Travelers.

Does your insurance go up after a claim that is not your fault in Geico? ›

Your rate won't increase if the accident is not your fault and the other driver's insurance pays for your claim, or if the damage is less than $750. Keep in mind that Geico also assigns points for other traffic offenses.

At what point is it worth claiming on insurance? ›

If the damage costs more to repair than the value of your premium, it may be worth making a claim. This is simply because it will save you money on the repairs, especially if the damage is substantial anyway.

Will Geico raise my rates after a claim? ›

Your insurance rate won't go up as a result of your first otherwise surchargeable, at-fault accident. Subsequent occurrences do not qualify for Accident Forgiveness. Accident Forgiveness eligibility is determined by your specific policy type, as well as your state laws and regulations.

Why does insurance drop you after a claim? ›

Too many insurance claims

If you file claims often your insurer may view you as a greater risk, which may lead them to non-renewing your policy. Insurers may not drop a customer after their first one or two incidents.

Does a denied claim increase insurance? ›

However, if the damage to your home was caused by a covered peril, such as a storm, and you did not file a claim, your insurer may still raise your premium due to the increased risk of future claims.

How many claims before car insurance cancels? ›

Cancellation. Every insurance company sets its own benchmark for triggering a cancellation, but it is more likely that you'll face cancellation or non-renewal if you've made three or more claims within a three-year period. Most cancellations occur within the first 60 days of a policy, usually due to non-compliance.

Which insurance company has highest claim settlement? ›

In terms of number of policies settled during 2022-23, Max Life Insurance has the highest claim settlement ratio of 99.51%. With a 99.39% claim settlement ratio, HDFC Life Insurance came second on the list. Aegon Life Insurance bagged the third position with a 99.37% claim settlement ratio.

Who typically has the cheapest insurance? ›

The top 10 cheapest car insurance companies are Nationwide, Geico, State Farm, Travelers, Progressive, AAA, Allstate, Chubb, Farmers and USAA.

What is the best insurance for high risk drivers? ›

It may be difficult for higher-risk drivers to find cheap car insurance. However, a few providers offer affordable high-risk auto insurance. We recommend getting car insurance quotes from Country Financial and State Farm.

Is Geico cheaper than Progressive? ›

Both Geico and Progressive offer cheap car insurance to drivers across the country. Geico's rates are typically lower overall, but Progressive tends to offer better prices to high-risk drivers. High-risk drivers are those with a recent DUI, at-fault accident or speeding ticket on their driving record.

Does credit score affect car insurance? ›

On average, drivers with poor credit pay 118 percent more for full coverage car insurance than those with excellent credit. California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan prohibit or limit the use of credit as a rating factor in determining auto insurance rates.

Why is Geico so cheap? ›

Geico is so cheap because it sells directly to the consumer. Geico also offers many discounts that help customers save even more on top of its already-low premiums.

How many insurance claims is too many? ›

Be smart with future claims

Filing more than three claims in a three-year period can put you at risk of having your car insurance policy non-renewed or canceled.

Can your insurance company drop you for too many claims? ›

Insurers can cancel policies or choose not to renew at the end of a policy term. Non-renewal can occur after multiple accidents or filing too many claims. At the same time, more immediate cancellations can result from serious issues like loss of driving privileges or insurance fraud.

Can health insurance drop you for too many claims? ›

As long as you pay the premiums, that is. Can your health insurance drop you for too many claims? Simple answer is yes.

Is insurance claims worth it? ›

Key takeaways. Filing a home insurance claim might make the most sense when the loss estimate is more than your deductible. Any claim, even a minor one, might lead to an increase in your home insurance premium. Having frequent or repeat claims could cause a property insurer to nonrenew your policy.

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