Your car insurance rates are affected by accidents and tickets. In many cases, your car insurance premium will increase.
Below you'll see how much common accident claims and tickets raise rates. For example, Insurance.com rate data show that for one at-fault accident with property damage over $2,000, your rate will go up by an average of 53%. A ticket for speeding 16 to 29 miles over the limit hikes rates by 34%, on average.
Key takeaways
- Accidents and tickets can increase car insurance rates, although the extent of the increase varies.
- The severity of the accident or violation, fault determination, and insurance claim cost impact the rate increase.
- Increases are typically seen at policy renewal, but reporting delays can occur.
- Comparing quotes from different insurers and exploring options like accident forgiveness or defensive driving courses can help mitigate rate hikes.
How much will car insurance go up after an accident or ticket?
Among all the violations surveyed in Insurance.com rate data, a second DUI/DWI offense increases car insurance rates the most: by 186% or $3,565, on average. On the other hand, one comprehensive claim for under $2,000 results in a minimal rate increase of $100 or 5%, on average.
Here's a look at how different violations and accidents impact your car insurance.
| Accident/ticket | Average rates after accident/ticket | Average percentage increase in car insurance | Average dollar increase in car insurance |
|---|---|---|---|
| DUI/DWI second offense | $ 5,481 | 186% | $ 3,565 |
| 2 At-fault property damage accidents over $2k | $ 4,159 | 117% | $ 2,243 |
| SR22 with 1 DUI | $ 3,799 | 98% | $ 1,884 |
| Hit and run - injury | $ 3,750 | 96% | $ 1,835 |
| DUI/DWI first offense | $ 3,648 | 90% | $ 1,733 |
| Operating a vehicle in a race (highway racing) | $ 3,627 | 89% | $ 1,711 |
| Hit and run - property damage | $ 3,594 | 88% | $ 1,678 |
| Reckless driving | $ 3,483 | 82% | $ 1,568 |
| At-fault bodily injury accident | $ 3,061 | 60% | $ 1,146 |
| 2 speeding tickets 11 mph or over | $ 3,022 | 58% | $ 1,106 |
| 1 At-fault property damage accident over $2K | $ 2,938 | 53% | $ 1,023 |
| Single vehicle accident (so the drivers car only) | $ 2,923 | 53% | $ 1,008 |
| 1 At-fault property damage accident under $2K | $ 2,912 | 52% | $ 996 |
| Speeding 30+ over limit | $ 2,656 | 39% | $ 740 |
| Careless driving | $ 2,620 | 37% | $ 705 |
| Speeding ticket 11-29 MPH over limit | $ 2,574 | 34% | $ 658 |
| Passing stopped school bus | $ 2,550 | 33% | $ 635 |
| Distracted driving ticket | $ 2,492 | 30% | $ 576 |
| Driving without a license or permit | $ 2,461 | 28% | $ 546 |
| Following too closely | $ 2,450 | 28% | $ 535 |
| Improper turn | $ 2,443 | 28% | $ 527 |
| Improper/illegal pass | $ 2,458 | 28% | $ 542 |
| Failure to stop | $ 2,439 | 27% | $ 524 |
| Failure to yield | $ 2,436 | 27% | $ 520 |
| Talking on cellphone ticket | $ 2,424 | 27% | $ 509 |
| Texting ticket | $ 2,431 | 27% | $ 516 |
| Speeding ticket 1-10 MPH over limit | $ 2,414 | 26% | $ 498 |
| Lapse of coverage for over 30 days | $ 2,378 | 24% | $ 463 |
| Driving without insurance | $ 2,312 | 21% | $ 396 |
| Seatbelt infraction | $ 2,275 | 19% | $ 359 |
| Lapse of coverage for 7 to 30 days | $ 2,175 | 14% | $ 260 |
| Lapse of coverage for 7 days | $ 2,143 | 12% | $ 227 |
| 2 comprehensive claims for over $2k | $ 2,110 | 10% | $ 195 |
| 1 comprehensive claim for over $2k | $ 2,022 | 6% | $ 107 |
| SR22 Filing Only | $ 2,038 | 6% | $ 122 |
| 1 comprehensive claim for under $2k | $ 2,016 | 5% | $ 100 |
* Methodology: Average percent increases are derived from calculating increase from base rate of male driver, age 40 with clean record, good credit and full coverage with $500 collision and comprehensive deductible. Rates fielded by Quadrant Information Systems from major insurers in each state.
Will an accident or ticket always raise my insurance?
Whether you get dinged with an insurance hike after a claim or traffic violation depends on your car insurance company and your state's laws, as well as your driving record and how many driver license points you have already and your age, among other factors.
The chance of an increase in premium rises along with several factors:
- Accident severity
- Your degree of fault, unless you're in a "no-fault" state
- The value of the insurance claim you or the other driver files
- Type of violation, if you get a ticket at all
- Whether the violation or accident appears on your MVR (Motor Vehicle Report) or CLUE report (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange is a claims history database created by Choicepoint that allows insurance companies to assess your claims information while underwriting or rating a policy).
When will my car insurance go up after an accident or ticket?
These increases are typically seen at renewal time. However, if you didn't notify your insurance company and no one made a claim, it could take a while for the company to find out.
Rest assured that they will not be happy to uncover a ticket or accident you failed to report. If you're switching companies, they may not find out until they order your driving or claims history, at which time they may decide not to issue you a policy.
How can I still save on car insurance after an accident or ticket?
Accident forgiveness
Some insurance companies offer an accident forgiveness feature. If yours does -- and you qualify -- your rates may not increase if you're found to be at fault in a relatively minor accident.
However, note that some of the policies that include accident forgiveness charge a higher base rate.
Comparing car insurance quotes from multiple insurers
Your best bet is to compare auto insurance quotes so you know you're getting the best rate. No two companies will charge the same price for identical coverage, so if you don't shop around, you may overpay.
For instance, here are average percent rate increases from major insurers for common accidents, tickets and driver scenarios.
| Company Group | Average rates before Accident | Average rates after Accident | Average percentage increase in car insurance | Average dollar increase in car insurance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Family | $ 1,738 | $ 2,119 | 22% | $ 382 |
| Auto-Owners | $ 1,651 | $ 2,280 | 38% | $ 630 |
| Chubb Ltd | $ 2,539 | $ 3,532 | 39% | $ 993 |
| Automobile Club of MI (AAA) | $ 2,435 | $ 3,481 | 43% | $ 1,046 |
| Auto Club Enterprises (AAA) | $ 2,313 | $ 3,495 | 51% | $ 1,182 |
| Allstate | $ 2,513 | $ 4,029 | 60% | $ 1,516 |
| Company Group | Average rates before Accident | Average rates after Accident | Average percentage increase in car insurance | Average dollar increase in car insurance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chubb Ltd | $ 2,539 | $ 2,950 | 16% | $ 411 |
| American Family | $ 1,738 | $ 2,237 | 29% | $ 499 |
| Auto-Owners | $ 1,651 | $ 2,299 | 39% | $ 649 |
| Auto Club Enterprises (AAA) | $ 2,313 | $ 3,316 | 43% | $ 1,003 |
| Automobile Club of MI (AAA) | $ 2,435 | $ 3,699 | 52% | $ 1,264 |
| Company Group | Average rates before Accident | Average rates after Accident | Average percentage increase in car insurance | Average dollar increase in car insurance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $ 2,513 | $ 5,044 | 101% | $ 2,530 |
| Chubb Ltd | $ 2,539 | $ 5,633 | 122% | $ 3,094 |
| Auto Club Enterprises (AAA) | $ 2,313 | $ 5,487 | 137% | $ 3,174 |
| Automobile Club of MI (AAA) | $ 2,435 | $ 6,604 | 171% | $ 4,170 |
| American Family | $ 1,738 | $ 2,521 | 45% | $ 784 |
| Auto-Owners | $ 1,651 | $ 3,288 | 99% | $ 1,638 |
Taking a defensive driving course
Some state car insurance laws allow you to remove license points or get an insurance discount for taking defensive driving courses, so that's another way to mitigate the hike in what you pay for coverage.
