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How long does an accident stay on your record?
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A new accident on your driving record will typically cause the cost of your car insurance to go up when your insurance company renews the policy. But the change isn’t permanent. While your insurer will likely add an extra charge to your policy as long as your accident remains on your DMV record, that added cost should go away when an accident is off your record — typically after three to five years. However, the exact timeline varies depending on your state laws, the details of the incident and your insurer’s protocols. Bankrate’s insurance editorial team investigated the possible options for drivers waiting for an accident to age off their insurance records.
How long an accident stays on your record
When an accident is added to your driving record with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), the amount of time it remains on your record depends on your state’s laws, as well as the nature and severity of the accident. Each state follows a different set of data retention laws regarding what driving data the DMV must keep, as well as how long an accident stays on your record.
In New York, for example, most accidents stay on your driving record for about four years — until the end of the year in which the accident occurred, plus three more years. After that, the accident will be removed from your standard driving record.
Some states also maintain lifetime driving records which show a complete list of all accidents and violations going back beyond the cutoff period for a standard driving record. However, insurance companies will typically look at the shorter version of your driving record in order to estimate your risk level when pricing coverage. In most cases, the motor vehicle report that your insurance company reviews will go back between three and five years.
It’s worth noting that some incidents could stay on your record for a longer period of time. Drug and alcohol-related convictions, for instance, might stay on your driving record for 10 years or more. Incidents like vehicular homicide are likely to be a permanent mark on your record. So if your driving history includes accidents that involve serious offenses like these, it may affect how long an accident stays on your record.
How accidents impact insurance rates
On average, drivers with full coverage pay 47 percent more for insurance following a single at-fault accident. However, you might see a greater increase if you were in an accident that resulted in injuries or fatalities or involved alcohol or drug use. Your insurance increase might also be larger if you were convicted of leaving the scene of the accident.
The table below indicates how much more drivers with an at-fault accident on their record pay for car insurance than drivers with clean driving records.
| Average annual premium for no incident | Average annual premium after an at-fault accident | |
|---|---|---|
| Average premium | $2,278 | $3,357 |
| Male | $2,320 | $3,366 |
| Female | $2,235 | $3,349 |
What is accident forgiveness?
Some auto insurance companies offer accident forgiveness programs. Accident forgiveness is a coverage option wherein your policy would not be surcharged after your first at-fault accident. Generally, you will pay an additional premium for enrolling in an accident forgiveness program, but some insurers offer policyholders the option to earn accident forgiveness by maintaining a clean record for a certain number of years — typically three to five.
Note that even if the accident is “forgiven” by your current insurance company, it may affect the quotes you receive from other companies if you try to switch insurers. The best way to find out which insurance company can offer you the best deal is to shop around and compare rates from a number of different providers.
How to lower your car insurance rate following an accident
No matter the circumstances, you may be able to offset the increase in your insurance premiums following an accident. Most car insurance companies offer incentives and discounts that may help policyholders save money on car insurance. To lower your rate after a car accident, consider taking the following steps:
- Look into telematics programs: Many insurance providers offer telematics programs that track your driving habits in real-time. Some providers offer a discount for simply installing the program. Plus, you might be able to earn a bigger discount by consistently exhibiting safe driving behaviors during the program’s data collection period.
- Check for other discounts: Each insurance company offers its own discount opportunities, and many of them allow you to combine discounts for even bigger savings. Common discounts include multi-car discounts, homeowner discounts, loyalty discounts and automatic payment discounts.
- Enroll in a defensive driving course: Some insurance companies reward you for improving your driving skills. Check the list of your state’s approved driving courses and see which ones your insurance company acknowledges. Ask your insurance company before enrolling in the course to confirm whether you’ll be eligible for a discount upon completion.
- Consider increasing your car insurance deductibles: If you have full coverage, increasing one or both of your deductibles could decrease your premium. But keep in mind that higher deductibles mean higher out-of-pocket costs in the event of a claim. Most insurance professionals recommend exploring other options for savings before increasing your deductible.
- Improve your credit: While this takes time, doing things like making payments on time, paying down debt and checking your credit report for inaccuracies can improve your creditworthiness. Most states allow insurance companies to use credit-based insurance scores to set insurance rates, so maintaining good credit can help earn lower premiums.
Frequently asked questions
Methodology
Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze July 2024 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a single, 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:
- $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $50,000 property damage liability per accident
- $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
- $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
- $500 collision deductible
- $500 comprehensive deductible
To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2022 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.
These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.
Gender: The following states do not use gender as a determining factor in calculating premiums: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania.
