How Long Car Accidents Stay on Your Insurance Record

How long an accident affects your insurance rates

A car accident typically stays on your insurance record for three to five years, though the exact length depends on your state, your insurance company, and whether you were at fault. Most insurers use a period of three years as standard, but some states allow companies to look back five years or longer. The accident will stop affecting your rates once that window closes — your insurer must stop using it to calculate your premium.

Being at fault for an accident usually keeps it on your record longer than being not at fault. A not-at-fault accident may drop off after two to three years with some insurers, while an at-fault accident often stays the full three to five years. A few states, like California, limit how long insurers can use accidents to set rates, regardless of fault.

The accident remains on your driving record separately from your insurance record. Your state's Department of Motor Vehicles keeps a driving record that may show the accident for five to seven years, even after your insurance company stops using it to price your policy. These are two different records kept by two different organizations.

Key Takeaways

• Most insurance companies use accidents from the past three years to calculate your rates, though some look back five years depending on state law.
• An at-fault accident typically stays on your insurance record longer than a not-at-fault accident, sometimes by a full two years.
• Your driving record with your state's DMV is separate from your insurance record and may show the accident for five to seven years.
• Once the accident falls off your insurance record, your insurer must stop using it to set your rates, though you may still see it on your driving history.
• Some states cap how long insurers can use accidents; checking your state's insurance laws can tell you the exact window that applies to you.

Why insurers look back different lengths of time

Insurance companies use your accident history to estimate the risk of insuring you. An accident in the past year signals recent risk; an accident five years ago signals less. Each company sets its own lookback period within the limits your state allows. Some insurers use three years as their standard window; others use five. A few use two years for not-at-fault accidents but five for at-fault ones.

State law sets the outer boundary. Some states, like California and Virginia, prohibit insurers from using accidents older than three years. Others, like Texas and Florida, allow five years or longer. A handful of states have no legal limit, though most insurers still use three to five years as a business practice. Your state's insurance commissioner's office can tell you the legal limit in your state.

The type of accident also matters. A minor fender-bender may affect your rates less than a major collision, and some insurers weight recent accidents more heavily than older ones. A single accident usually raises your rate by 20 to 40 percent, though the exact increase varies by insurer and state.

How to find out when your accident will stop affecting your rates

Call your insurance company and ask directly: "How far back do you look at accidents when setting my rate?" They can tell you their specific lookback period. Then count forward from the accident date. If your insurer looks back three years and your accident was two years ago, it will stop affecting your rates in about one year.

You can also request your insurance score or rating factors from your insurer. Many companies will send you a document that lists what factors are currently affecting your rate — including the accident, if it is still in their window. This document shows you exactly what is being used to price your policy right now.

Check your state's insurance laws to see if there is a legal cap. Your state insurance commissioner's website usually has a consumer guide that explains how long accidents can be used. If your insurer's lookback period exceeds your state's legal limit, the state limit is what applies to you.

The difference between your insurance record and your driving record

Your insurance record is what your insurance company keeps and uses to set your rates. It includes accidents you reported to them, traffic violations they learned about, and claims you filed. Your insurance company owns this record and decides how long to keep each item.

Your driving record is kept by your state's Department of Motor Vehicles. It includes accidents reported to the police, traffic tickets, license suspensions, and convictions. The DMV decides how long to keep each item, and those timelines are usually longer than insurance company timelines. An accident may stay on your DMV record for five to seven years even after your insurance company stops using it.

When you shop for insurance, new companies will ask about accidents on your driving record, not your insurance record. They pull your driving history from the DMV and use that to set your rate. So even after your current insurer stops using an accident, a new insurer may still see it and factor it into their quote.

What happens when the accident falls off your record

Once the accident moves outside your insurer's lookback window, they must stop using it to calculate your rate. Your premium should drop, though the exact amount depends on how much the accident was raising your rate. If the accident was raising your rate by 25 percent, you should see roughly a 25 percent decrease once it falls off — though other factors on your record may still affect your rate.

You do not have to do anything to make the accident fall off. It happens automatically on the anniversary date. Some insurers will notify you when an accident is about to drop off your record; others do not. You can call your insurer a few weeks before the anniversary to ask them to recalculate your rate once the accident is no longer in their window.

If you are shopping for a new insurance company, the accident will still appear on your DMV record even after it falls off your current insurer's pricing. New insurers will see it when they pull your driving history. However, once it reaches the age limit set by your state's law, new insurers must also stop using it to set your rate.

How at-fault status affects how long the accident stays on file

Being at fault for an accident usually means your insurer will use it to set your rates for the full three to five years. Being not at fault usually means they will use it for a shorter period — often two to three years — or not at all. Some insurers do not use not-at-fault accidents to raise your rate, though they may still keep a record of it.

Fault is determined by the police report, your insurance company's investigation, or a court ruling. If the police report says you were at fault, your insurer will treat it as an at-fault accident. If the other driver was cited and you were not, it is usually a not-at-fault accident. If both drivers share fault, some states use comparative fault rules that split the responsibility, and your insurer may treat it as partially at fault.

Disputing fault can change how long the accident affects your rates. If you believe you were not at fault but your insurer initially classified it as at-fault, you can request a review. Provide the police report, witness statements, or photos that support your position. If your insurer agrees to reclassify it as not-at-fault, the lookback period may shorten.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will an accident stay on my record if the other driver's insurance paid for it?

Yes. Whether the other driver's insurance paid or yours paid, the accident still appears on your driving record and your insurance record. The fact that you were not at fault may shorten how long your insurer uses it to set your rates, but it does not erase it from either record.

Can I ask my insurance company to remove an accident from my record early?

No. Insurance companies must follow state law about how long they can use accidents. You cannot ask them to remove it before the legal or company-set timeline expires. Once the timeline is up, it falls off automatically.

Does a minor accident affect my rates as much as a major one?

Not always. A minor fender-bender may raise your rate by 10 to 15 percent, while a major collision may raise it by 30 to 50 percent. The exact impact depends on your insurer's rating formula and the damage amount. Some insurers also consider whether anyone was injured.

If I switch insurance companies, will the new company see my old accident?

Yes. New insurers pull your driving record from the DMV, which shows accidents reported to police. They will see the accident regardless of whether your old insurer is still using it to set your rate. However, once the accident reaches your state's legal age limit, new insurers must also stop using it.

What if I was in an accident but did not report it to my insurance company?

If you did not report it to your insurance company, it will not appear on your insurance record. However, if the police were called and filed a report, it will appear on your DMV driving record. If a new insurer pulls your driving history, they will see it and may ask about it when you explore.