What Happens With Insurance If You Are At-Fault in an Accident?
Last Updated on December 7, 2025
If you’ve been involved in an at-fault collision, you can expect several consequences—including higher insurance premiums. Insurance companies rely heavily on your driving record when calculating your rates, and accident history is one of the most important factors they consider. Even a single at-fault accident can significantly impact what you pay.
Below, we explain what happens after an at-fault accident, how insurers determine fault, how much your rates may increase, and how long an at-fault crash stays on your record.
Key Takeaways
- A first at-fault accident typically raises your insurance rates by 10%–40%, depending on the insurer and state.
- A second at-fault accident can increase premiums by 40%–150%, and may result in policy cancellation.
- At-fault accidents usually stay on your driving record for 3–5 years, but serious incidents (like DUIs) can stay far longer.
- The severity of rate increases varies widely by state—Minnesota and California see some of the biggest surcharges.
- What Happens After a Collision That’s Your Fault?
- How Much Will Insurance Rates Rise After an At-Fault Collision?
- After a Second At-Fault Collision, Rates Increase Even More
- Rate Increases Vary Between States and Insurers
- How Long Does an At-Fault Collision Stay on Your Record?
- FAQs
- Final Word on At-Fault Accidents and Insurance
What Happens After a Collision That’s Your Fault?
After an accident, your insurance company will investigate to determine who is at fault. This is true even if you think the situation is straightforward. Fault is determined based on evidence such as police reports, witness statements, traffic laws, and photos of the scene.
Examples:
- Single-vehicle accidents: You’re almost always considered at fault.
- Rear-end collisions: The rear driver is often—but not always—at fault.
- Left-turn accidents: The turning driver is often—but not always—at fault.
In many cases, both drivers share some responsibility. The driver who is found to be more than 50% responsible is typically labeled the “at-fault driver.”
If you are found at fault, you will likely face increased insurance rates. If you are not at fault, your rates may not change at all—and in some states, it is illegal for insurers to raise your rates after a not-at-fault accident.
How Much Will Insurance Rates Rise After an At-Fault Collision?
An at-fault collision almost always raises your insurance premium. The exact amount depends on the insurer, the state you live in, and the severity of the crash. Typically:
• First at-fault accident: Expect a 10%–40% increase.
• With accident forgiveness: Your rate may not increase, but you could still lose good-driver discounts.
Minor accidents may barely affect your premium, while serious collisions with bodily injury claims can trigger steep surcharges.
After a Second At-Fault Collision, Rates Increase Even More
Insurers are generally lenient with your first at-fault accident, especially if your driving record was previously clean. But a second at-fault crash signals a pattern.
• Second at-fault accident: Rate increases often range from 40% to 150%.
Two serious at-fault accidents may lead an insurer to label you a high-risk driver, making you subject to much higher premiums—or even policy cancellation.
Rate Increases Vary Between States and Insurers
Some states penalize drivers more harshly than others. Some insurers increase premiums aggressively; others raise them only slightly.
According to data from CarInsurance.com:
- Minnesota drivers see the biggest average increase (≈87%) after their first at-fault accident.
- California drivers see increases around 73% after their first at-fault bodily injury crash.
- Alaska drivers see some of the smallest increases—just 11% on average.
States with lower-than-average premium hikes (below 20%) include Alabama, Arkansas, Hawaii, Mississippi, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Meanwhile, states with consistently higher increases (40%+) include California, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, and Washington.
See the full table of rate increases by state:
| State | Average Annual Premiums | Premiums After Accident | Percent Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $1,339 | $2,503 | 87% |
| California | $1,783 | $3,081 | 73% |
| Louisiana | $2,228 | $3,348 | 50% |
| Michigan | $2,368 | $3,502 | 48% |
| Delaware | $1,838 | $2,592 | 41% |
| North Carolina | $1,170 | $1,647 | 41% |
| Georgia | $1,815 | $2,552 | 41% |
| Utah | $1,212 | $1,699 | 40% |
| Texas | $1,644 | $2,301 | 40% |
| Maryland | $1,541 | $2,154 | 40% |
| Iowa | $1,073 | $1,479 | 38% |
| Nevada | $1,578 | $2,169 | 37% |
| Oregon | $1,325 | $1,801 | 36% |
| Florida | $2,250 | $3,045 | 35% |
| Alabama | $1,304 | $1,764 | 35% |
| Washington | $1,307 | $1,766 | 35% |
| Wisconsin | $1,147 | $1,531 | 33% |
| West Virginia | $1,467 | $1,934 | 32% |
| Connecticut | $1,980 | $2,589 | 31% |
| Colorado | $1,675 | $2,190 | 31% |
| South Dakota | $1,250 | $1,634 | 31% |
| Tennessee | $1,339 | $1,750 | 31% |
| Illinois | $1,176 | $1,523 | 30% |
| DC | $1,887 | $2,438 | 29% |
| New Hampshire | $1,156 | $1,493 | 29% |
| Rhode Island | $2,011 | $2,591 | 29% |
| Arkansas | $1,556 | $2,001 | 29% |
| Nebraska | $1,287 | $1,640 | 27% |
| Idaho | $1,019 | $1,294 | 27% |
| Pennsylvania | $1,438 | $1,824 | 27% |
| Virginia | $993 | $1,250 | 26% |
| New Mexico | $1,498 | $1,852 | 24% |
| Wyoming | $1,577 | $1,938 | 23% |
| Mississippi | $1,504 | $1,844 | 23% |
| Missouri | $1,288 | $1,576 | 22% |
| Kansas | $1,412 | $1,725 | 22% |
| Ohio | $959 | $1,170 | 22% |
| Arizona | $1,399 | $1,702 | 22% |
| Oklahoma | $1,469 | $1,783 | 21% |
| Vermont | $1,166 | $1,405 | 20% |
| Maine | $884 | $1,058 | 20% |
| New Jersey | $1,419 | $1,697 | 20% |
| North Dakota | $1,123 | $1,338 | 19% |
| Indiana | $1,057 | $1,259 | 19% |
| Kentucky | $1,611 | $1,915 | 19% |
| Montana | $1,589 | $1,877 | 18% |
| Massachusetts | $1,616 | $1,893 | 17% |
| Alaska | $1,246 | $1,458 | 17% |
| South Carolina | $1,353 | $1,559 | 15% |
| Hawaii | $1,255 | $1,414 | 13% |
| New York | $1,214 | $1,360 | 12% |
How Long Does an At-Fault Collision Stay on Your Record?
An at-fault collision typically stays on your driving record for 3 to 5 years. However, the timeline varies by state and by the severity of the incident.
Examples:
- California: Minor accidents remain on record for 3 years, while major violations (like DUIs) stay for 10 years.
- Florida: DUI-related offenses can stay on your record for 75 years.
As your record ages and you drive without additional incidents, your premiums will gradually decrease again. Once the accident drops off your DMV record, it will no longer affect your rates.
FAQs
Final Word on At-Fault Accidents and Insurance
Your driving record is one of the biggest factors insurers use to calculate premiums. A single at-fault collision can raise your rates by around 30% and may stay on your record for years.
If the accident involved a DUI or caused severe injury, the impact on your premiums may last even longer. Avoid additional violations, compare quotes regularly, and practice safe driving to reduce the long-term financial impact.
