Last Updated March 2026
- Accidents can stay on your insurance record for three to five years, depending on your state and insurer.
- At-fault accidents are more likely to affect your premium than accidents for which you weren’t responsible.
- Not every accident leads to a rate increase. Severity, claim cost and driving history all can play a role.
- The impact of an accident can fade over time as you maintain a clean driving record.
Not every accident affects car insurance rates. However, if you’re at fault for an accident and your insurer pays a claim for it, it could affect your car insurance for about three years, depending on your state and insurer, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). In some cases, accident-related information may appear on your driving record or affect your insurance premium for five years or longer.
How long an accident can affect your insurance
When people ask how long an accident stays on their insurance, they’re usually referring to two different timelines.
How long an accident may affect your premium
If you’re at fault in an accident, insurers may apply a surcharge. The III notes that these surcharges typically remain in effect for about three years, although this can vary by insurance company and state laws.
Even after a surcharge period ends, the accident may still be part of your claims history and could influence factors such as discount eligibility or overall risk assessment, depending on your insurer.
How long an accident stays on your driving record
States control how long accidents and violations remain on your official driving record, and those timeframes differ state to state. For example, in California, most collisions remain on a driver’s record for three years from the date of the incident, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles. In Florida, many violations and accidents can stay on your record for three to five years, with longer retention for more serious offenses, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Because insurers and DMVs use different systems, an accident may still appear on a driving record even after it no longer affects your insurance rate.
Impact of an accident on how much you pay for insurance
How an accident can affect your insurance really depends on the situation. Insurers may look at factors like who is at fault, the severity of the accident, injuries and driving history.
The III notes that claims history is one of several tools insurers use to assess risk. For a broader overview of pricing factors, read more about what impacts auto insurance rates.
Accidents and insurance impact
To put these factors into context, here’s how (and why) different types of accidents may affect car insurance rates.*
| Type of accident | National average claim cost (2024, III) | How it may affect your premium** | Duration of impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not-at-fault accident, property damage only | $6,770 (liability property damage) | Often little or no increase, depending on state and insurer | May appear on driving record for 3 to 5 years |
| At-fault accident, property damage only | $6,770 (liability property damage) | Possible surcharge or loss of discounts | Typically about 3 years |
| At-fault accident with injuries | $28,278 (liability bodily injury) | More significant premium increase likely due to higher claim cost | Typically 3 to 5 years, or longer depending on circumstances |
| Collision claim (you damage your own car) | $5,489 (collision) | May increase premium if at fault | Typically 3 years |
| Comprehensive claim (theft, weather, animal strike) | $2,306 (comprehensive) | Typically less impact than at-fault accidents; may not trigger surcharge | Varies by insurer |
| Multiple claims within a few years | Varies | Higher risk classification possible, resulting in higher premiums or underwriting review | Longer-term impact possible |
Type of accident
Not-at-fault accident, property damage only
- National average claim cost (2024, III): $6,770 (liability property damage)
- How it may affect your premium: Often little or no increase, depending on state and insurer
- Duration of impact: May appear on driving record for 3 to 5 years
At-fault accident, property damage only
- National average claim cost (2024, III): $6,770 (liability property damage)
- How it may affect your premium: Possible surcharge or loss of discounts
- Duration of impact: Typically about 3 years
At-fault accident with injuries
- National average claim cost (2024, III): $28,278 (liability bodily injury)
- How it may affect your premium: More significant premium increase likely due to higher claim cost
- Duration of impact: Typically 3 to 5 years, or longer depending on circumstances
Collision claim (you damage your own car)
- National average claim cost (2024, III): $5,489 (collision)
- How it may affect your premium: May increase premium if at fault
- Duration of impact: Typically 3 years
Comprehensive claim (theft, weather, animal strike)
- National average claim cost (2024, III): $2,306 (comprehensive)
- How it may affect your premium: Typically less impact than at-fault accidents; may not trigger surcharge
- Duration of impact: Varies by insurer
Multiple claims within a few years
- National average claim cost (2024, III): Varies
- How it may affect your premium: Higher risk classification possible, resulting in higher premiums or underwriting review
- Duration of impact: Longer-term impact possible
*Based on 2024 national average liability, collision and comprehensive claim data from the Insurance Information Institute.
**These are general examples. Actual outcomes depend on your insurer’s underwriting guidelines, your state’s rules and your overall driving history.
Understanding insurance company policies
Insurance companies use accident history as one part of a broader risk assessment process in setting rates. A single accident doesn’t tell the whole story. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), insurance companies generally use accident history in two ways: underwriting (whether to offer or continue coverage) and rating (how much you pay). Underwriting groups you with other drivers who have similar risk levels to make coverage decisions. Rating assigns a price based on what the insurer expects future claims may cost.
Insurers may also look at:
- Who is at fault in the accident
- How often you’ve filed claims
- How recently accidents occurred
- Patterns of risky driving behavior
- Whether the accident involves liability or injury claims, or property damage only
Each company has its own underwriting guidelines, which means the same accident could affect drivers differently depending on their insurer. This is one reason why insurance rate changes after an accident can vary widely from one insurer to another.
How accident history can show up in your premium
Accident history can affect pricing in different ways.
- Surcharges after an at-fault claim: An insurer may increase your premium by a certain percentage for a specific length of time after a primarily at-fault claim above a threshold, according to the III.
- Loss of discounts: Some drivers may lose a claim-free or safe-driving discount after an accident/claim.
- Risk “tier” changes: Some insurers group customers into pricing tiers. A new accident could shift you into a higher-priced tier at renewal, especially if it’s combined with other factors (prior claims, violations, limited driving history).
Accident forgiveness programs
Some insurers offer accident forgiveness, which can keep your premium from increasing after just one accident. Accident forgiveness programs vary, but they often:
- Apply only to one at-fault accident every three years
- Require a clean driving record for a certain number of years
- Need to be added to a policy prior to an accident
Accident forgiveness doesn’t erase an accident from your record, but it may limit how much it affects your premium. Availability and eligibility depend on the insurer and state.
Steps to take after an accident
What you do after an accident can make the claims process smoother and help protect you later. For example, keeping documentation — such as police reports, photos and repair estimates — can be helpful if questions about the claim or accident come up later.
After a crash:
- Check for injuries and move to safety if possible
- Call law enforcement when required
- Exchange information with other drivers
- Take photos of the scene and damage
- Report the accident to your insurer promptly
The information contained in this page is provided for general informational purposes only. The information is provided by Farmers® and while we endeavor to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability with respect to this article or the information, products, services, or related graphics, if any, contained in this article for any purpose. The information is not meant as professional or expert advice, and any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
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