Do Car Recalls Affect Car Insurance Rates?

Last Updated on February 5, 2026

Got a recall notice for your car and wondering what it means for your insurance? In most cases, a recall won’t change your premium overnight—but it can affect your costs indirectly (and it can absolutely affect your safety).

Below is how recalls work, whether you need to tell your insurer, what happens if you get into an accident with an open recall, and the smart next steps to protect yourself.

• A recall is handled by the manufacturer (usually a free fix), so it typically doesn’t change your insurance premium directly.
• Recalls can affect insurance indirectly over time if they change a model’s crash risk, repair costs, or loss data.
• Insurance generally doesn’t pay for recall repairs, but your coverage can still apply to separate accident damage and injuries.
• Check your VIN on NHTSA’s recall tool and schedule the remedy ASAP—especially if there are “Do Not Drive” warnings.

Recalls vs. Insurance Claims: What’s the Difference?

How Car Recalls Work

In the U.S., most safety recalls are tracked through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). A recall usually happens when a manufacturer (or NHTSA) determines a vehicle, equipment, tire, or car seat has a safety-related defect or doesn’t meet federal safety standards.

If your car is recalled, the automaker must provide a remedy—typically a free repair, replacement, or refund—through dealerships or authorized repair facilities. Some recalls are quick (software updates, small part replacements). Others can take longer if parts are backordered or the recall is widespread.

How to Check If Your Car Has an Open Recall

The fastest way is to look up your vehicle by VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). You can check your VIN on NHTSA’s recall tool here: https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls. If you have an open safety recall, schedule the repair as soon as possible.

Some recalls come with special warnings like “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside” instructions. If you see that language, treat it as urgent.

Does a Recall Affect Car Insurance Prices?

Usually, no—at least not directly. A recall is handled by the manufacturer, not your insurer. It’s not the same as an insurance loss, and it doesn’t work like a car insurance claim, where your company pays for repairs after a covered accident.

So if your car is recalled and you get the free repair, you’ll typically pay the same premium you were paying before. Insurance rates are driven more by factors like your driving history, location, vehicle type, and claims history—plus broader trends in repair costs and loss data (here’s why car insurance premiums change over time).

When a Recall Can Impact Insurance Indirectly

While a recall doesn’t usually trigger an immediate rate change, it can influence insurance costs over time in a few ways:

• Safety and loss data: If a defect leads to more crashes or injuries for a specific model, insurers may eventually adjust pricing for that vehicle based on updated loss experience and risk models. Safety is one factor insurers consider (learn more about how vehicle safety ratings affect insurance rates).
• Repair complexity and parts availability: Some recalls involve high-demand parts or complex repairs. If those same components are also expensive in normal collisions, that can contribute to higher overall claim costs for that model.
• Vehicle value shifts: Major recalls can sometimes affect resale values. This usually has a small effect on premiums, but it can matter for comprehensive/collision pricing on certain vehicles.

Bottom line: recall-related rate impacts are typically slow, model-wide, and based on data—not a direct “you got a recall, so your premium goes up” situation.

Does Insurance Pay for Recall Repairs?

Generally, no. Recall repairs are the manufacturer’s responsibility and are usually performed at no cost to you.

However, your auto insurance may still apply to separate damage that happens around the same time. For example, if you’re in a crash and your airbags deploy, that collision damage is handled through your policy (if you carry the right coverage), even if the vehicle also has an unrelated open recall.

What If You Have an Accident Before the Recall Is Fixed?

If you’re in an accident, your claim is generally handled based on your coverage (liability, collision, comprehensive, etc.) and the facts of the loss. An open recall doesn’t automatically mean your insurer will deny a claim.

Can an Open Recall Ever Complicate a Claim?

Usually, your insurer still adjusts the claim normally. But an open safety recall can become relevant if the defect contributed to the crash or injuries. For example, if an investigation shows a recalled part failed and that failure caused the loss, insurers may look closely at causation and liability (especially in injury claims).

In plain English: a recall doesn’t “void” your policy, but fixing known safety recalls quickly is the best way to reduce risk—and avoid any avoidable arguments later.

That said, it’s still a bad idea to ignore recalls—especially safety recalls—because defects can increase the chance of an accident, increase injury severity, or cause a breakdown at the worst possible time.

Do You Need to Tell Your Insurance Company About a Recall?

In most cases, no. Your insurer typically won’t request recall documentation and doesn’t coordinate recall repairs. Your priority should be getting the free remedy completed.

If you’re shopping for a new policy and want to estimate what coverage might cost in general, try our car insurance calculator for a quick starting point.

What to Do If Your Vehicle Is Recalled

1. Check your VIN on NHTSA’s recall page and read the remedy instructions.
2. Schedule the free repair with an authorized dealership or repair facility.
3. Follow safety instructions (especially “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside” warnings).
4. Keep paperwork showing the recall work was completed (useful for resale and peace of mind).

FAQs on Car Recalls and Car Insurance

Conclusion

A car recall usually won’t change your insurance rate directly. But recalls can affect safety, repairs, and long-term loss trends—so it’s still smart to take them seriously. Check your VIN, get the free fix, and keep documentation once it’s done.