Last updated: October 23, 2026
Your renewal notice came in the mail today. The crash was in the spring, the repairs are done, and now the new price is higher. You want to know if that’s the crash, how long it lasts, and whether it’s even allowed.
How much does car insurance go up after an accident? There’s no single number. Each company sets its own accident surcharge in a rating plan it files with the state. The size depends on who was at fault, what the claim paid, and your record. In Washington, a crash on your driving record that wasn’t your fault can’t be used to raise your rate.
The short answer: It depends on your company and on fault. An at-fault crash often raises your rate for a few years. Washington law says an insurer can’t raise your rate based on a crash on your driving record unless you were at fault. Your renewal must show the price change, and you can ask why.
How much does car insurance go up after an accident?
It depends on the company. Each insurer has its own rating plan, and Washington makes it file rate changes with the Insurance Commissioner. The Commissioner doesn’t set rates. It approves or denies them. So the same crash can cost one driver a small increase and another a big one, depending on the company and the claim.
Comparison sites publish national averages. The one we checked uses a single sample driver and doesn’t name its data source, so we don’t repeat those numbers here. Your company’s real surcharge is in its filing, and you can ask it directly. (Washington Insurance Commissioner, rate reviews)
Example only: how a surcharge adds up
Does insurance go up after an accident that wasn’t your fault?
It shouldn’t, based on your driving record. Washington law says a policy can’t be canceled, nonrenewed, denied, or have its rate raised because of a crash on your driving record unless you were found at fault. So if the other driver caused the crash, that record entry alone shouldn’t cost you more.
Your insurer also keeps its own claim files and makes its own call on fault. If your rate went up after a crash you didn’t cause, ask what it relied on. (RCW 46.52.130)
| Situation | What Washington rules say |
|---|---|
| You caused the crash | Your insurer can raise your rate at renewal |
| A crash on your record wasn’t your fault | It can’t be used to raise your rate, cancel, or refuse to renew |
| You filed claims with your own insurer | The number of claims can be a rate factor |
| Your rate goes up at renewal | The renewal offer must show the change at least 20 days before it expires |
| Your policy is more than 60 days old | It can be canceled mid-term only for nonpayment or a suspended license |
What can an insurance company see about your crash?
Two records, mainly. The first is your Washington driving record, and insurers can get only the last three years of it. The second is a claims report called C.L.U.E., run by LexisNexis. It can list up to seven years of auto claims, with the date, the type of loss, and the amount paid.
How far back insurers can look
You can get a free copy of your C.L.U.E. report from LexisNexis and dispute mistakes. How long the surcharge itself lasts is up to your company. See how long a car accident stays on your record.
Can your insurer drop you after an accident?
Not in the middle of the term, once the policy is past 60 days. After that, Washington lets an insurer cancel only for nonpayment or a suspended license. At renewal it can refuse to renew, but it must give you written notice at least 20 days ahead. That notice must give the actual reason.
If a renewal comes with a higher price instead, the offer must show the new premium and how much it changed. (RCW 48.18.292)
When switching insurers, do you report recent accidents?
Yes. Answer the new company’s questions truthfully, including recent crashes and claims. It will check anyway. Insurers get your driving and claims history from outside companies when you apply or ask for a quote. Under Washington law, a false answer given to deceive can void the policy. That’s a bad surprise to find after your next crash.
When switching insurers, report recent accidents the way they happened, including who was at fault. Keep the police report and any letter where the other insurer accepted fault. (RCW 48.18.090)
- Get your free C.L.U.E. report and check it for mistakes.
- Find the police report and any fault letter from the other insurer.
- Get at least three quotes for the same coverage.
- Answer every question about crashes and claims truthfully.
- Line up the new policy before you cancel the old one, so there’s no gap.
How can you find out why your rate went up?
Ask in writing. Washington’s premium rules let you ask your insurer to explain a renewal increase. Starting March 1, 2027, the answer must also list up to three main reasons. From 2029, an increase of 10 percent or more brings a notice without asking. If you don’t get a clear answer, call the Insurance Commissioner’s consumer line.
The number is 1-800-562-6900. You can also look up your company’s rate filings online through SERFF Filing Access.
| Starting | What your insurer must give you at renewal |
|---|---|
| June 1, 2024 | A reasonable explanation of an increase, if you ask in writing |
| March 1, 2027 | The explanation plus up to three main reasons, if you ask in writing |
| January 1, 2029 | A notice sent on its own for an increase of 10% or more, with reasons and amounts |
How can you lower your car insurance after an accident?
Shop, then adjust. Prices for the same driver differ between companies, so get at least three quotes for the same coverage. A higher collision deductible lowers the premium if you have savings to cover it. Ask about discounts, and ask whether your policy has accident forgiveness for a first crash. Then compare again at your next renewal.
Don’t cut the coverage that protects you after someone else’s mistake. Underinsured motorist coverage pays when the other driver has too little insurance. PIP pays medical bills no matter who caused the crash. See what car insurance you need in Washington. (Insurance Commissioner, setting premiums)
Who pays for your losses if the other driver caused it?
The at-fault driver’s insurance. Washington is a fault state, so their liability coverage pays for your car repairs, medical bills, lost pay, and pain. That claim goes against their policy, not yours. Your own PIP can pay medical bills first, while fault is being sorted out. A higher premium is a cost. The injury is the bigger one.
Their insurer can also owe you a rental car while yours is in the shop and the value your car lost, even after repairs. (Grothe v. Kushnivich, 2022)
We can’t change your premium. We can make the other side pay for what the crash took from you. Rich handles each case himself and prepares every case for trial. See what to do after a crash that wasn’t your fault and who pays if someone else wrecks your car.
FAQ
Do I have to tell my insurer about a crash?
Most policies require prompt notice, so check yours. Separately, Washington requires a police report within 4 days if anyone was hurt or damage is $1,000 or more.
Does a PIP claim raise my rate?
That depends on your company’s rating plan. Ask your insurer how it treats a PIP claim for a crash you didn’t cause.
What if my insurer says I was at fault and I wasn’t?
Ask in writing what it relied on, and send the police report and witness names. If it won’t explain, call the Insurance Commissioner.
When does an accident stop affecting my rate?
Your company decides how long its surcharge lasts. Insurers can get only 3 years of your driving record, but claims can stay on C.L.U.E. for up to 7.
What does No Win, No Fee mean?
You pay nothing up front. Our fee comes out of the money we win for you. No hourly bills. No retainer. If we don’t win, you owe us nothing. Not even the case costs.
Talk to Rich about your crash
How much does car insurance go up after an accident? That’s up to your company. Getting paid for your injuries is where we help. If another driver hurt you, call Rich Martin. He has handled more than 2,000 injury cases in 28 years and taken more than 30 to a jury. He was named to the National Association of Distinguished Counsel’s Nation’s Top One Percent in 2023 and 2024.
We help people in Bellevue, Seattle, Tacoma, and across Washington. Your case review is free. No Win, No Fee. We speak English and Korean.
Call (425) 635-2000 or see how we handle car accident cases.
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