Does Your Insurance Rise After an Accident That Is Not Your Fault?

Last Updated on December 12, 2025

Accidents are expensive — and confusing. One of the biggest questions drivers have after a crash is whether their car insurance will go up even when they did nothing wrong.

In many cases, a single not-at-fault accident won’t raise your premium — especially if you didn’t file a claim on your own policy and you have an otherwise clean driving record. But it’s not a universal rule. In some states and with some insurers, a not-at-fault claim can still affect pricing indirectly (like losing a discount) or because insurers consider claim frequency when setting rates.

Below is what to expect, why it varies so much, and what you can do to protect yourself.

Key Takeaways

• A single not-at-fault accident often won’t raise your premium, especially if the other driver’s insurer pays and you have a clean recent record.
• Your costs can still rise indirectly if you file a claim on your own policy, have multiple recent incidents, or lose a “claim-free”/safe driver discount.
• “No-fault states” usually refers to how injury/PIP claims work — it’s different from being “not at fault” for a crash.
• If you get penalized unfairly, gather proof (police report, photos, insurer letters) and dispute any incorrect fault coding or claims history errors.

A Single Not-At-Fault Accident Often Won’t Raise Your Rate

If you have a clean record with no recent accidents, speeding tickets, or other incidents, one not-at-fault accident is less likely to trigger a surcharge.

In a typical “fault” state, the other driver’s liability insurance pays for the damage they caused. If their insurer accepts fault and handles the claim, your own insurance company may simply note the incident — and your renewal may look the same.

That said, many drivers do end up using their own policy at first (for example, if repairs are urgent, fault is disputed, or the other driver is uninsured). When your insurer pays and then pursues the other driver’s insurer for reimbursement, that process is called subrogation. If you’re ultimately found not at fault, you may be reimbursed for your deductible — and a surcharge is less likely than if you were responsible.

When a Not-At-Fault Accident Can Increase Your Insurance Costs

Even if you weren’t responsible for the crash, your overall cost can still rise in a few common situations:

• You have multiple recent claims or accidents. Some insurers become less forgiving after repeated incidents within a few years — regardless of fault.
• You filed a claim on your own policy. In many states, insurers can consider your claims history when setting prices at renewal.
• You lose a “safe driver” or “claim-free” discount. Your base rate might not be “surcharged,” but losing a discount can still make the bill go up.
• Fault is unclear or shared. If the insurer decides you were partially responsible, the crash may be treated more like an at-fault loss (rules vary by state).
• The claim is coded incorrectly. Mistakes happen — and a mis-coded at-fault claim can raise rates until it’s corrected.

If your insurer treated your not-at-fault crash like an at-fault accident, it’s worth disputing it (more on that below).

“No-Fault” States vs. “Not-at-Fault” Accidents (They’re Not the Same)

A not-at-fault accident means you didn’t cause the crash.

A no-fault state usually refers to how injury claims work after a crash. In many no-fault states, drivers turn to their own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage first for medical bills — regardless of who caused the accident. Property damage claims (vehicle repairs) may still rely on fault, depending on the state and situation.

The 12 states commonly considered “no-fault” states are: Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Utah.

Do You Lose Your Safe Driving Discount After a Not-At-Fault Accident?

Some insurers offer safe driving discounts (or “accident-free” discounts) for drivers who go several years without claims or violations.

Depending on the company, any claim — even a not-at-fault one — can reduce or remove certain discounts. This is one reason you may see a higher renewal price even if your insurer says you weren’t surcharged for the accident.

State law may limit certain types of surcharges, but it doesn’t always prevent every kind of discount change. The details depend on your insurer, your state, and how your policy defines “claim-free” or “accident-free.”

Bottom line: check your policy documents and renewal breakdown (or call your insurer) and ask: “Did my base rate change, did I get a surcharge, or did I lose a discount?”

Chargeable vs. Non-Chargeable Accidents

Some states and insurers distinguish between chargeable (surchargeable) and non-chargeable accidents. The general idea is simple:

• Chargeable accident: an accident that can be used to increase your price (often because you were mostly at fault, or because the loss meets certain thresholds set by the state/insurer).
• Non-chargeable accident: an accident that shouldn’t be used as a surcharge trigger (often because you were not at fault, or because it falls into a protected category).

Examples of Common Non-Chargeable Situations

• Hit and run collisions
• Incidents where the other driver was 50% at fault or greater (in comparative-fault states)
• Accidents with low damages or no injuries (depending on state/insurer rules)

Because rules vary widely, the safest approach is to ask your insurer whether your state treats your crash as chargeable or non-chargeable — and what documentation they need to code it correctly.

How to Prove You Were Not At Fault

Fault disputes are common — especially in lane changes, intersections, parking lots, and rear-end chain collisions. If the insurer doesn’t have enough proof, they may mark fault as “undetermined” or assign partial fault.

To strengthen a not-at-fault determination, gather and keep:

• A police report (or incident number) when available
• Photos/videos of vehicle positions, damage, plates, street signs, and skid marks
• Witness contact info (and written statements if possible)
• Dash cam footage (if you have it)
• A claim letter or email from the other driver’s insurer accepting fault (if they do)

If your insurer coded the accident incorrectly, ask them what evidence would be needed to change it from at-fault/undetermined to not-at-fault — and request the correction in writing once it’s updated.

Check Your Claims History (and Fix Errors)

Even when you do everything right, claims can be reported with incomplete details. Many insurers use industry claims databases when underwriting and pricing policies.

You can request your consumer disclosure (claims history report) from LexisNexis here: https://consumer.risk.lexisnexis.com/. If you see an error (wrong fault code, wrong driver, duplicate claim), follow the dispute instructions so it doesn’t keep affecting your quotes.

How to Get Cheaper Car Insurance After a Not-At-Fault Accident

Whether or not your price changes, a crash is a smart time to shop — because insurers treat claims differently. Compare quotes from different providers and look closely at how each company treats accident history.

Also consider:

• Compare rates: get multiple quotes to make sure your renewal is competitive.
• Bundle policies: combining auto + home/renters can reduce your total premium.
• Use discounts: ask about all available discounts (multi-car, good student, defensive driving, telematics, etc.). Many drivers miss at least one. some types of discounts
• Choose claims strategically: for small damage amounts, it can be worth comparing the repair cost vs. your deductible and the possibility of losing a discount.

Some companies also offer features like accident forgiveness (availability and rules vary by insurer and state).

FAQs on Not-At-Fault Accidents and Insurance Rates

Final Word on Not-At-Fault Accidents and Insurance Rates

A not-at-fault accident is a crash you didn’t cause — but whether your price changes depends on your state, your insurer, your claim history, and whether the accident affected discounts.

Many drivers see no change after a single not-at-fault accident. But if you’ve had multiple incidents in a short period, if fault is disputed, or if a claim impacts your discounts, your renewal can still increase.

If your premium jumped, ask your insurer exactly why (surcharge vs. discount change vs. general rate increase), verify the accident was coded correctly, and then shop around. If you believe your insurer penalized you incorrectly for a not-at-fault crash, consider contacting your state insurance department.