Will Your Insurance Increase After a Not At-Fault Accident?

A common misconception among drivers is that if you get into a car accident and are not found to be not at-fault, your insurance premiums will not be affected. Unfortunately, this is simply not the case.

First Not At-Fault Accident

There are some insurance companies that promise not to raise premiums after your first not at-fault accident, however, your car insurance rates will most assuredly increase if you are unlucky enough to get into another not at-fault accident. This is why it is imperative to ask auto insurance providers about their policies on not at-fault accidents before choosing which company to go with. While it may be impossible to avoid an increase in your premium after multiple not at-fault accidents, you can at least find a provider who will not punish you for the first one.

Severity of The Accident

Another factor in determining how your rates will be affected after a not at-fault accident is how bad the accident was. If your car was rear ended in a parking lot and the bumper got knocked loose, there is a good chance your premium will either go up every slightly or not increase at all. However, if your car was totaled in an accident on the freeway, there is a fairly good chance your car insurance premium will see an increase.

Rising Premiums

The unfortunate rule of thumb when dealing with car insurance prices is the more you are in contact with your auto insurance company, the higher your auto insurance premiums will rise. The idea behind this rule of thumb is that every time you are issued a traffic ticket or are involved in a car accident, you can be sure there will be a representative from your car insurance company contacting you about your new adjusted premium.