Does my car insurance go up if someone hits me?
Your car insurance rates probably won't go up if someone hits your car. If you aren't to blame, your insurer will not penalize you. If you caused a car accident, your car insurance rates can increase.
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Brandon Frady
Licensed Insurance Agent
Brandon Frady has been a licensed insurance agent and insurance office manager since 2018. He has experience in ventures from retail to finance, working positions from cashier to management, but it wasn’t until Brandon started working in the insurance industry that he truly felt at home in his career. In his day-to-day interactions, he aims to live out his business philosophy in how he treats hi...
Licensed Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Apr 15, 2024
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Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Apr 15, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- If someone hits me does my insurance go up? There are many variables in determining whether or not your insurance rates will rise if someone hits you.
- If the accident was not your fault, there is a good chance your insurance premiums will not be raised.
- If the accident was your fault, your rates will probably increase unless you have accident forgiveness on your policy.
If someone hits my car does my insurance go up? How much does insurance go up after a minor accident?
Upon any car accident, you must report it to your insurance company regardless of who is at fault.
No one wants to have a car accident but it is a fact of life that accidents do happen. It’s also a fact that accident history can affect your car insurance rates.
If you are in this particular situation, read on and answer these three important questions to figure out if your rates will rise.
Do you know how much coverage you need for car insurance? Make sure you’re covered if someone hits your car.
Be sure to use the FREE tool on this page to compare quotes for car insurance! You might be surprised by how much you could save.
#1. If someone hits my car will my insurance go up?
Who is at fault? What if someone else is at fault? What if they hit you? Will that still affect your rates?
Does hitting a parked car affect car insurance rates? or Does an accident in a parking lot affect car insurance rates, will my insurance go up?
Well, the safe is, “it depends.” Many factors weigh into this answer, including:
- Whether you live in an at-fault state or not
- Whether you have an insurance policy through a company that automatically raises rates after every claim
- Whether you were a careless driver and created a bad situation
- Things beyond a person’s control, such as mechanical failure, problems with the road they are traveling, weather-related conditions and so on. The U.S. DOT reports weather-related traffic statistics.
Regardless of the cause of an accident, if there is damage it is likely that all of the participants in the accident will need to contact their car insurance carriers to make a claim and to ensure that all of the damages are covered.
Does your car insurance go up if you get hit? That depends on who is found to be at-fault in the accident.
How does car insurance work when you are not at fault?
Usually, the first thing that will influence whether or not your insurance rates will go up after an accident is who is at fault for the accident. In order to determine fault, even in a no-fault state, the police or other authorities will assign blame for an accident.
This video goes over how fault is determined.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok_ZCuWpnno
While it may seem confusing, a no-fault state does not mean that no one takes the blame for an accident, only that no one can be sued for causing an accident unless the personal injury damages are extreme.
If you’re found to be at-fault, the table below shows how much your car insurance premium may increase after claim.
Car Insurance Rates After One At-Fault Accident
Company | Clean record | With one accident |
---|---|---|
USAA | $1,933.68 | $2,516.24 |
Geico | $2,145.96 | $3,192.77 |
State Farm | $2,821.18 | $3,396.01 |
American Family | $2,693.61 | $3,722.75 |
Nationwide | $2,746.18 | $3,396.95 |
Progressive | $3,393.09 | $4,777.04 |
Farmers | $3,460.60 | $4,518.73 |
Travelers | $3,447.69 | $4,289.74 |
Allstate | $3,819.90 | $4,987.68 |
Liberty Mutual | $4,774.30 | $6,204.78 |
How much would my insurance go up after an accident? With these major car insurers, your rates will raise anywhere from 24 to 49 percent.
Why does your insurance go up? If you’re found at fault for an accident, your insurer will see you as more high-risk.
Will insurance increase after a no-fault accident? It’s unlikely to increase if you are not found at-fault, though it can in some instances.
People who live in no-fault states, like Florida, are required to carry uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection.
Many people think that simply because someone else strikes their vehicle that they aren’t at fault in an accident. That, however, is not necessarily true.
If it is found that you created a situation where a person cannot avoid striking your vehicle, you will be found at fault and it is your insurance that will increase.
This is the case even if you cause an accident to avoid striking someone else, unfortunately.
Read more:
- How do you deal with insurance after someone hits your parked car?
- What do I do if my car got rear ended?
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#2. Who is your car insurance carrier?
What happens if somebody hit me? It’s usually straightforward, but it’s important to check with your car insurance company.
Another factor that will affect your insurance rates is your insurance carrier. There are several things to consider when reviewing your policy and deciding to stay with your current provider or switch.
Here are a couple situations you will want to know how your company will handle:
- Accident Forgiveness – If you cause an accident but you are with an insurance company that has an accident forgiveness policy for drivers who have never caused an accident before, you may get a pass from your insurance company. All that matters is that you meet their criteria for accident forgiveness.
- Number of Accidents – Another consideration that your insurance carrier might make is how many accidents you have been in, even if you have never been at fault. A person who makes a lot of claims is considered a higher risk.
There are some insurance companies that automatically raise insurance rates anytime a claim is made.
This possibility is something that you need to know about your insurance carrier because there are many insurance companies that don’t have this policy. If your insurance company does have this policy, you may want to consider switching insurance companies.
This simple fact will often put you in a position of paying more regardless of how well you drive. Part of the risk factor may be the area that you live in or the places that you have to drive through to get to work and so on.
#3. Was it a hit and run car accident?
There are incidences that occur that are completely out of your control. Hit-and-run accidents are one of them.
This type of accident can occur on the road or in places where you are away from your vehicle, such as a parking lot. Here are the steps you should follow:
- Decide whether or not to report to the police – Sometimes people wonder if the police will respond to a parking lot hit and run incident (many won’t). If the hit-and-run occurs while you are driving, you must call the police and get them involved if you need to file a claim.
- Make an insurance claim – Fortunately, most reputable insurance companies will accept a claim of a stationary hit and run without too much fuss, especially if you have never made such a claim before. If you file many hit-and-run claims your insurance company is going increase your insurance rates and may require more documentation.
Read more: Does an accident in a parking lot affect car insurance rates?
If someone hits you does your insurance go up if you don’t make a claim?
As you can see, having a good insurance carrier can make quite a bit of difference when it comes to whether or not you will see an increase in your insurance rates if someone hits your vehicle in an auto accident.
Choosing the right insurance carrier with great customer service and good policies is just as important as getting affordable rates.
You may find yourself paying more in the long run if you choose a company that has less than stellar policies regarding auto accidents.
The place to start when it comes to determining which insurance company is best for you is using a free quote tool. This will provide you a list of insurance companies along with the rates you can expect to pay for different levels of insurance.
You should take the time to do a little research on each of these companies and learn their policies. You should also check on how well they pay their claims and their customer service satisfaction rates, as well.
Read more: Compare Car Insurance Rates After an At-Fault Accident
Case Studies: Does My Car Insurance Go Up If Someone Hits Me?
Case Study 1: John’s Experience
John was driving home from work when another driver ran a red light and collided with his car. Thankfully, John was not at fault in the accident. He reported the incident to his insurance company, who assessed the damage and handled the claim. Since John was not responsible for the accident, his car insurance rates did not increase.
Case Study 2: Sarah’s Situation
Sarah parked her car outside her apartment building, and when she returned the next morning, she discovered that someone had hit her parked car and left without leaving any information. Sarah contacted her insurance company to report the hit-and-run incident. In this case, Sarah’s rates did not go up because she was not at fault for the accident and made a claim for the damages caused by an unknown driver.
Case Study 3: Mark’s Accident
Mark was driving on the highway when he accidentally rear-ended the car in front of him due to a momentary lapse in attention. He immediately reported the accident to his insurance company. Since Mark was at fault in the accident, his car insurance rates increased after the claim was processed.
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Finding the Best Car Insurance Rates
Do insurance rates go up after no-fault accident?
For many drivers wondering, “if my car gets hit, does it affect my insurance?” or “does insurance go up if I’m not at fault?” The best methods for protecting themselves and ensuring the best coverage for their vehicle can be easily learned. Even in a single car accident, your insurance may be affected.
With an insurance rate quote tool, you can take the first steps to finding a car insurance company or replacing the one you currently have.
The process is fast and easy and you will find that in no time at all you will have found the perfect insurance company for your needs.
We can help you find car insurance companies that are right for you and can cover you if you get in an accident. Compare car insurance rates now by entering your ZIP code into the box below!
Case Studies: Does My Car Insurance Go Up If Someone Hits Me
Case Study 1: John’s Experience
John was driving home from work when another driver ran a red light and collided with his car. Thankfully, John was not at fault in the accident. He reported the incident to his insurance company, who assessed the damage and handled the claim. Since John was not responsible for the accident, his car insurance rates did not increase.
Case Study 2: Sarah’s Situation
Sarah parked her car outside her apartment building, and when she returned the next morning, she discovered that someone had hit her parked car and left without leaving any information. Sarah reported a hit-and-run to her insurance, but her rates stayed the same since she wasn’t responsible and filed a claim for the damages caused by an unknown driver.
Case Study 3: Mark’s Accident
Mark was driving on the highway when he accidentally rear-ended the car in front of him due to a momentary lapse in attention. He immediately reported the accident to his insurance company. Since Mark was at fault in the accident, his car insurance rates increased after the claim was processed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my car insurance go up if someone hits me?
In most cases, your car insurance premium is not likely to go up if someone hits you and you are not at fault. When you file a claim with your insurance company after being involved in an accident that was caused by another driver, it is generally considered a “not-at-fault” claim. Insurance companies typically do not penalize policyholders for accidents they did not cause.
Will my car insurance premium increase if I am at fault in an accident?
Yes, if you are at fault in an accident, it is likely that your car insurance premium will increase. This increase is due to the higher risk you pose to the insurance company as a policyholder who has been involved in an at-fault accident.
How long will an at-fault accident affect my car insurance rates?
The duration for which an at-fault accident affects your car insurance rates can vary depending on the insurance company and your specific policy. In general, at-fault accidents can impact your rates for three to five years.
Does my car insurance cover a rental car after an accident?
It depends on your policy. Some car insurance policies include coverage for rental cars while your vehicle is being repaired due to an accident. This coverage is typically optional and may have certain limits and restrictions. Check with your insurance provider to see if rental car coverage is included in your policy.
Will my car insurance rates increase if I file a claim for minor damages?
Filing a claim for minor damages can potentially lead to an increase in your car insurance rates. Insurance companies consider the frequency of claims when determining premiums. If you frequently file claims, even for minor damages, it may result in higher rates.
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Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.
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Brandon Frady
Licensed Insurance Agent
Brandon Frady has been a licensed insurance agent and insurance office manager since 2018. He has experience in ventures from retail to finance, working positions from cashier to management, but it wasn’t until Brandon started working in the insurance industry that he truly felt at home in his career. In his day-to-day interactions, he aims to live out his business philosophy in how he treats hi...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.