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Insurance goes up by about 45 to 60 percent after an at-fault claim, on average. ValuePenguin’s 2026 analysis of Quadrant Information Services data puts the average increase at 49 percent, or about $102 a month on a full coverage policy. CarInsurance.com’s August 2026 rate data puts a single at-fault accident with more than $2,000 in property damage at a 61 percent increase, about $1,575 a year. The range is wide: State Farm raised rates 14 percent after an at-fault crash in ValuePenguin’s study, while Progressive raised them 73 percent. This guide covers how much your rate rises by claim type, how long the increase lasts, and when filing the claim costs more than paying out of pocket.
How much does insurance go up after an at-fault accident?
An at-fault accident raises a full coverage premium by roughly half, and the exact number depends on what the accident involved. CarInsurance.com’s August 2026 data, compiled by Quadrant Information Services for a 40-year-old driver with a good record, starts from a $2,578 annual premium and shows how the increase scales with severity. A property damage claim under $2,000 adds $1,410 a year, a 55 percent jump. The same claim over $2,000 adds $1,575, or 61 percent. A bodily injury claim adds $1,660, or 64 percent. Two at-fault accidents in quick succession push the average increase to about 136 percent, which more than doubles the premium.
| Claim type | Annual premium before | Annual premium after | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| At fault, property damage under $2,000 | $2,578 | $3,988 | +$1,410 a year (55%) |
| At fault, property damage over $2,000 | $2,578 | $4,153 | +$1,575 a year (61%) |
| At fault, bodily injury | $2,578 | $4,238 | +$1,660 a year (64%) |
| Two at-fault accidents | $2,578 | About $6,080 | About +136% |
Other 2026 analyses land in the same area. MoneyGeek’s August 2026 comparison of five large insurers found an average increase of 48.8 percent for a single at-fault accident. LendingTree’s 2026 study found 45 percent on average. Forbes Advisor’s 2026 cost analysis reports 45 percent after a property damage accident and 47 percent after an injury accident, or about $1,167 and $1,189 a year respectively. The studies disagree on the exact figure because they use different driver profiles and different coverage levels, but they agree on the shape: expect roughly a 50 to 60 percent increase on full coverage, and expect the dollar amount to run past $1,000 a year.
Liability-only policies rise less in dollars, because there is no collision coverage to surcharge. Insurify’s November 2026 quote data puts the jump at about 34 percent for its sample, which reflects liability-heavy profiles. That is why one source says 34 percent and another says 61 percent, and both can be right. Always check whether a figure is for full coverage or liability only before you compare it with your own policy.
How much does your insurer matter?
Your insurer matters more than most drivers expect. ValuePenguin’s 2026 study found State Farm raising full coverage premiums just 14 percent after an at-fault crash, while Progressive raised them 73 percent. MoneyGeek’s August 2026 comparison found a similar spread: 24.3 percent at State Farm and 58.1 percent at Progressive for a single at-fault accident with $1,000 to $1,999 in damage. The same accident, the same driver, and the same coverage can cost five times more at one carrier than another.
| Carrier | Increase after one at-fault accident |
|---|---|
| State Farm | 14% (ValuePenguin) to 24.3% (MoneyGeek) |
| Progressive | 58.1% (MoneyGeek) to 73% (ValuePenguin) |
| National average | 45% to 49% |
This spread is the single most useful fact in this guide. If your renewal jumps after a claim, the first thing to do is shop the same coverage at other carriers. A driver who stays with a carrier that surcharges 73 percent is paying for loyalty that runs one way. Our guide to cheapest car insurance for high-risk drivers lists where to look when your record has a claim on it, and our traffic violations and car insurance rates guide shows how tickets and accidents stack in an insurer’s rating.
How long does the increase last?
The surcharge from an at-fault accident usually stays on your policy for three to five years, and the first renewal after the accident hits hardest. Most insurers apply the full surcharge at the first renewal, then let it fade gradually as the accident ages. Bankrate’s 2026 analysis puts the typical window at three to five years. That is the rating window, and it is different from the reporting window: the CLUE report maintained by LexisNexis keeps claim data for seven years, so a new insurer quoting you can see the claim long after your current carrier stops surcharging for it.
State rules change the timeline. North Carolina sets the surcharge by law: 40, 55, or 70 percent of each coverage’s base premium for a one-, two-, or three-point accident. California compounds the hit, because an at-fault accident can cost you the state’s good-driver discount under Insurance Code section 1861.025, which pushes the total increase past 70 percent in some cases. LendingTree’s analysis found California drivers see the biggest percentage increase after an at-fault accident, while Pennsylvania sees the smallest.
Accident forgiveness changes the timeline too, but only if you already have it. Some carriers sell accident forgiveness as an add-on or include it after several claim-free years, and it can waive the surcharge for a first at-fault accident. It does not erase the claim from your record, and it does not help with a second accident. Our accident forgiveness guide covers what it costs and whether it is worth buying before you need it.
What about claims that are not your fault?
A not-at-fault accident still costs you something at many carriers, just far less. Insurify’s data shows liability rates about 22 percent higher after a not-at-fault accident. Other analyses put the national figure at 4 to 10 percent. The reason is that insurers price on risk, and a driver who has been in any accident, even one they did not cause, files more claims on average than a driver who has never been in one. A few states restrict this practice, but most do not.
Comprehensive claims are the exception. Hail damage, theft, a cracked windshield, or a tree falling on your car generally do not trigger a surcharge the way collision and liability claims do. These are the claims where filing is usually the right call, because the premium cost of filing is small and the repair bill is not. Collision claims are the ones to think twice about, because the surcharge applies to the coverage you used and it lasts for years.
Homeowners claims work on a different clock and a different scale. On the auto side, the surcharge is based on what the insurer actually pays out, and our post on how car insurance claim payouts are calculated explains how that number is worked out.
Should you file the claim or pay out of pocket?
Do the three-year math before you file a collision claim. Take the repair bill and compare it with the surcharge the claim will cost you over three years. A $1,200 repair that triggers a $1,410 annual increase costs you $4,230 in higher premiums over three years, plus your deductible. Paying the repair yourself costs $1,200. The claim is the expensive choice.
| Scenario | Cost over three years |
|---|---|
| Pay a $1,200 repair yourself | $1,200 |
| File the claim, $500 deductible, $1,410 yearly increase | $500 plus $4,230 in higher premiums, or $4,730 |
| File the claim, $1,000 deductible, $1,410 yearly increase | $1,000 plus $4,230 in higher premiums, or $5,230 |
The math flips when the repair is large. A $8,000 repair with a $500 deductible costs you $500 out of pocket and $4,230 in surcharges over three years, or $4,730 total, against $8,000 to pay yourself. Filing wins. The break-even point sits near the size of one year’s surcharge plus your deductible. Below that, paying out of pocket is usually cheaper. Above it, file.
Two warnings before you decide. First, your policy may require you to report any accident, even if you pay for it yourself, and failing to report can cause problems if the other driver files a claim later. Read your policy’s reporting clause. Second, a claim you do not file does not appear on your CLUE report, but an accident the other party reports will. Paying out of pocket works best for single-car damage with no other party involved, like a scrape against your own garage door.
A clean record is worth protecting for another reason. Our guide to claim-free discounts shows how insurers reward drivers who go years without a claim, and losing that discount is a second cost on top of the surcharge. After a claim, the fastest way back to a low rate is time plus shopping: get fresh quotes at every renewal while the surcharge ages off, because carriers price the same aging accident differently.
Frequently asked questions
How much does insurance go up after one claim?
About 45 to 60 percent on a full coverage policy after one at-fault claim, or roughly $1,000 to $1,660 more per year. ValuePenguin’s 2026 analysis puts the average at 49 percent, about $102 a month. The exact increase depends on your carrier, your state, and how serious the claim was.
How long does an accident affect your insurance rates?
Usually three to five years. The surcharge is highest at the first renewal after the accident and fades as the accident ages. The claim stays on your LexisNexis CLUE report for seven years, so a new insurer can still see it after your current carrier stops surcharging.
Does a not-at-fault accident raise your insurance?
Often yes, but by much less. Insurify’s data shows liability rates about 22 percent higher after a not-at-fault accident, while other analyses put the national figure at 4 to 10 percent. Comprehensive claims for hail, theft, or glass usually do not raise your rate at all.
Which insurance company raises rates the least after an accident?
State Farm, in the 2026 studies. ValuePenguin found a 14 percent increase at State Farm after an at-fault crash, and MoneyGeek found 24.3 percent, both the lowest in their samples. Progressive was the highest in both, at 58 to 73 percent.
Should I file a claim for a small accident?
Usually not, if the repair costs less than about one year’s surcharge plus your deductible. A $1,200 repair that triggers a $1,410 annual increase costs about $4,730 over three years once you add the deductible. Pay out of pocket for small single-car damage, and file when the repair bill is large.
Does accident forgiveness stop the increase?
It can, for a first at-fault accident, if you already have it on your policy. Accident forgiveness waives the surcharge, but it does not erase the claim from your record, and it does not help with a second accident. You cannot buy it after the crash.
Sources: LendingTree, How Much Does Car Insurance Go Up After an Accident? (45 percent average increase, 2026 study), ValuePenguin 2026 analysis of Quadrant Information Services data (49 percent average, $102 a month, State Farm 14 percent, Progressive 73 percent), CarInsurance.com August 2026 Quadrant data (55 to 64 percent by claim type, $2,578 base premium), MoneyGeek August 2026 (48.8 percent average), Insurify November 2026 (34 percent liability-only, 22 percent not-at-fault), Forbes Advisor 2026 cost analysis (45 to 47 percent).
