Some drivers complain that their auto insurance companies raise their rates in the event of an at fault or unavoidable accident. For those that were injured, medical bills are added to repair bills, especially if the driver did not have comprehensive/collision coverage. When they apply for a renewal on their auto insurance policies, they find that the rate has increased, often significantly.

You may be wondering whether this happens frequently. If you are a driver with a history of bad driving, it becomes a part of life, especially if you file a large number of comprehensive claims. In addition, filing a claim for wide-ranging glass damage automatically raises the deductible on comprehensive coverage, meaning that you have to pay for some of the damage out of pocket. Nonetheless, your auto insurance rates will likely increase at renewal time regardless of your record if you have an at fault accident.

How Long Will An Accident Be On Your Driving Record?

So the all important question is how long does an accident stay on your record? In many cases, state law allows insurance companies to charge for an accident for three years after they begin to charge for it, not from the time you were in fact in the accident. In other words, if you had the accident in November, and your policy is renewed in March of the next year, the rate won’t go up until March and will thusly stay that way for three years starting that March.

How Much Will The Rate Go Up On Average?

Your next question is regarding how much the auto insurance rates will go up. In most cases, the rate increases from 20-40% biannually. Additionally, the company may opt to defer any discounts that may have been lowering your premium. In contradiction of what you may think, the company is not trying to get back the money they shelled out while settling your claim. The increase is designed to cover the risk of a similar accident within the next three years, so they charge you a higher premium. Quite simply, you now pose a bigger risk to the company and they intend to make you pay for it.

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