Why Is My Insurance So High With No Accidents?

Last Updated on December 16, 2025

You’re a careful driver. You haven’t caused a crash. You may have never even filed a claim on your car insurance policy. So why does your premium still feel outrageously high?

Because car insurance pricing is based on risk and cost to repair/replace—not just your accident history. Insurers look at your location, vehicle, mileage, coverage limits, credit-based insurance score (in many states), claims trends, and even broad inflation in repair and medical bills. In some years, rates rise across the board—even for people with spotless records.

Below are the most common reasons your insurance is high with no accidents, plus a checklist to lower your rate.

Key Takeaways

• Your car insurance can be high with no accidents because insurers price many factors—location, vehicle, mileage, coverage limits, and (in many states) credit-based insurance scores—not just crash history.
• Broad market trends like rising repair, medical, theft, and lawsuit costs can push rates up for large groups of drivers even if they’ve had a perfect year.
• Age and experience matter: drivers under 25 usually pay the most, while many drivers see lower rates in midlife if they maintain a strong record.
• The fastest ways to lower your premium are stacking discounts, right-sizing coverage/deductibles, fixing any record or credit errors, and comparing quotes from multiple insurers.

What Goes into the Price of Car Insurance?

Your premium is more than a “good driver vs. bad driver” score. You can have a clean driving record and still pay more than someone who’s had an accident—depending on everything below.

• Your driving record and tickets: Insurers review your driving history, not just accidents. Speeding, reckless driving, and DUI-related violations can trigger surcharges even with no crash history.
• Your annual mileage and commute: The more you drive, the more exposure you have. A long commute or high annual mileage can raise rates.
• Your credit-based insurance score (where allowed): In many states, your credit history can influence your price—especially if you’ve had recent late payments, collections, or high utilization.
• Your location: Rates vary wildly by state and ZIP code. Dense traffic, theft rates, severe weather, uninsured drivers, and lawsuit costs all matter. (This is one reason Louisiana is often expensive.)
• Age, sex, and marital status: These demographics often impact your auto insurance rates because they correlate with historical claim frequency and severity.
• Your vehicle: Newer cars tend to be pricier to repair (sensors, cameras, headlights, etc.). And if you hit an expensive car, liability payouts can be massive—another reason insurers price risk carefully.
• Your coverage and deductible choices: Higher limits, lower deductibles, rental coverage, roadside assistance, and add-ons all raise the bill. (Medical-related coverages like MedPay can also add cost depending on your state.)

Other Reasons Why Your Car Insurance May Be High with No Accident History

Even with no accidents, your rate can be high if any of these apply:

• You have tickets/violations that create points-related offenses (even if you’ve never crashed).
• You have claim activity (including not-at-fault claims) or “small” claims that suggest higher future claim likelihood.
• You drive a lot (commute, rideshare, delivery, frequent road trips).
• Your credit profile changed recently (where allowed).
• You had a coverage lapse or cancelled insurance in the past (insurers often charge more for “non-continuous coverage”).
• You have a DUI or serious violation (often treated more harshly than an accident).
• You’re in a higher-priced demographic group (for example, young drivers are usually expensive to insure).
• You drive a vehicle that’s statistically riskier or costlier to insure (performance models, high theft targets, costly parts). For broader risk ideas, see how to reduce insurance costs by reducing risk.
• Your deductible is very low (lower deductible = higher premium).
• You’re carrying coverage you don’t need (or you’re over-insuring an older vehicle).
• You’re not bundling home/renters + auto, which often unlocks big discounts.
• There’s an error or identity issue (wrong tickets, wrong claims, or mixed files).

A Big One People Miss: Rates Can Rise Even When You’re “Perfect”

If repair costs, medical bills, theft, weather losses, and lawsuit payouts rise in your area, insurers often raise prices at renewal for large groups of customers—not because you did anything wrong, but because claims are getting more expensive overall.

If you want an “am I imagining it?” sanity check, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) reported that average auto insurance costs and premiums rose significantly in 2023 compared to prior years—meaning many drivers saw increases even without accidents.

What States Have the Highest Insurance Rates?

States price differently because laws and claim costs differ. For example, no-fault rules, minimum coverage requirements, litigation trends, theft rates, severe weather, and medical costs can all move prices.

Based on NAIC’s combined average premium (a statewide average of liability + collision + comprehensive, per insured vehicle), some of the higher-cost areas in 2023 included:

• Florida
• Louisiana
• New York
• District of Columbia
• Georgia
• Texas
• Rhode Island
• New Jersey
• Colorado
• Maryland

Even if your state isn’t on that list, you can still pay a lot in a high-cost ZIP code. And “cheaper” states aren’t always cheap for every driver profile (see: why auto insurance can be expensive in Ohio).

Also remember: statewide averages are just averages. Your premium depends heavily on your vehicle, coverage choices, and personal rating factors.

What Age Groups Pay the Most for Insurance?

Age is one of the most powerful pricing factors—even with no accidents.

• Drivers under 25 usually pay the most because they have less driving history and higher claim rates as a group. If you’re around that age, this guide may help: car insurance for 23-year-olds.
• Rates often start to improve with more years of licensed driving—many drivers notice changes around age 25 (though it varies by insurer and state).
• Many drivers see their lowest prices in their 50s/60s if they maintain a strong record—see: is auto insurance cheaper in your 50s?
• Rates can rise again in later years as insurers evaluate changes in crash risk and injury severity. Here’s more: does car insurance increase at age 70?

Because every company “weights” age differently, comparing quotes matters a lot—especially for teens, young adults, and older drivers.

How Your Driving Record Can Increase Your Rates (Even With No Accidents)

You can be accident-free and still get hit with higher prices because of tickets, serious violations, or risky patterns.

Telematics and driving apps: Some insurers offer usage-based programs that track things like mileage, hard braking, phone distraction, and speeding. Safe drivers may earn discounts, while risky patterns may reduce (or eliminate) discounts at renewal. Some programs also clarify they won’t add a surcharge, but your discount can go up or down.

Speeding tickets: One minor ticket might not matter much, but repeated speeding or a major violation can raise rates for years.

Reckless driving: Reckless driving is often treated as a major risk factor—sometimes close to DUI pricing, depending on the state and insurer.

Other citations: Parking tickets usually don’t affect premiums, but moving violations often do.

DUI: A DUI can spike premiums more than an accident, and it can stay relevant for a long time. See: how long a DUI stays on your record.

Credit changes (where allowed): In most states, insurers can factor in credit-based insurance scores. But some states restrict or ban this practice; California is one example—learn more here: car insurance in California.

How to Save Money on Insurance

If you’re accident-free, you’re a desirable customer. The key is making sure your insurer is rewarding you appropriately—and that you’re not overpaying for coverage you no longer need.

• Stack discounts: Ask about every discount you qualify for, then confirm it’s actually applied. Start here: best auto insurance discounts.
• Shop around (especially after a big increase): Pricing varies wildly by company. Some insurers are simply a better fit for your profile. Also, companies don’t always “notice” old tickets at the same time—see: how long it takes an insurer to find out about a speeding ticket.
• Right-size coverage: Raise deductibles if you can afford the out-of-pocket risk, or reconsider add-ons. If your car is older and paid off, it may make sense to drop collision and comprehensive coverage.
• Try telematics if you truly drive smoothly: If you’re a calm, low-distraction driver, usage-based programs can help.
• Check for errors and mixed files: Request your LexisNexis consumer disclosure and review your claim/driver history for mistakes. You can start here: LexisNexis Consumer Disclosure.
• Review your credit reports (where credit is used): Errors can hurt you. The official site is: AnnualCreditReport.com.

If you’re still paying too much, speak with your agent or compare quotes. And if you’re unsure whether a renewal increase is “normal,” ask your insurer what changed (vehicle symbol, territory, mileage, discount eligibility, prior term pricing, etc.).

FAQs on High Car Insurance With No Accidents

So, Why Is My Car Insurance So High?

You can be accident-free and still pay a lot because insurance is priced on risk and repair costs—not just crash history. Maybe your ZIP code has more theft. Maybe your vehicle is expensive to fix. Maybe your coverage is richer than you realized. Or maybe you have tickets or traffic violations that matter even without a wreck.

The best next step is simple: confirm your coverage makes sense, then compare quotes. Accident-free drivers often find meaningful savings just by shopping around and tightening up coverage.

Extra reading (optional): NAIC’s consumer overview of auto insurance is here: NAIC Auto Insurance. For how motor vehicle insurance prices are tracked in inflation data, see: BLS CPI: Motor Vehicle Insurance.