When another driver causes an accident, one of the first questions that often comes up is whether your own insurance premium will increase. A not-at-fault crash does not automatically mean a higher rate, but the outcome can change depending on the state, insurer, claim history, and how the accident is classified. Auto Insure News examines whether your insurance can go up if someone hits you, how large the difference can be, which states protect not-at-fault drivers, and what to check if your renewal becomes more expensive after the crash.
Can my insurance go up if someone hits me?
Yes, your total premium can be higher after someone hits you, but a properly documented not-at-fault accident usually has a much smaller pricing impact than an at-fault crash – and several states prohibit insurers from surcharging you for the accident at all.
Current rate data shows how large the difference can be.
| Driver / claim profile | Average premium or change | What the number means |
|---|---|---|
| Clean driver – Bankrate benchmark | $2,697/year | 2026 national full-coverage benchmark |
| One at-fault accident – Bankrate | $3,862/year | About $1,165 more, or 43% |
| One at-fault accident – ValuePenguin | About +49% | Approximately $102 more per month in its 2026 analysis |
| At-fault property-damage accident – Forbes Advisor | About +45% | Average increase across its analyzed insurers |
| At-fault accident with injuries – Forbes Advisor | About +47% | Slightly larger national average increase |
| Not-at-fault accident – current The Zebra sample | $185 → $200/month | About $15/month or $180/year more in that sample |
Sources: Bankrate’s current accident-rate analysis and The Zebra’s current rate data. These sources use different driver profiles and methodologies, so the figures should be treated as benchmarks rather than predictions of an individual renewal.
The data makes the central point clear: an at-fault accident can add roughly 40% to 50% to the cost of insurance in current national analyses. A not-at-fault accident can have a much smaller effect in markets where insurers are legally allowed to consider it, while several states reduce that accident-related increase to zero by law.
There is another important distinction: your renewal premium can rise even when the insurer is prohibited from surcharging the accident itself. General rate increases, vehicle costs, location, discounts, coverage changes, or other permitted rating factors can still change your final price.
At-fault vs. not-at-fault accidents: the cost difference
The difference between at-fault and not-at-fault accidents is not merely legal terminology. It can translate into more than $1,000 per year in insurance cost.
| Factor | At-fault accident | Not-at-fault accident |
|---|---|---|
| Current national rate evidence | About +43% to +49% in major 2026 analyses | Often no surcharge; the current Zebra sample shows a much smaller difference |
| Example annual cost | Bankrate: $2,697 → $3,862 | The Zebra sample: $185/month → $200/month |
| Typical accident surcharge | Common when accident meets the state’s chargeable criteria | State-dependent; prohibited in several states |
| Property damage claim | Your liability can pay the other party | Other driver’s liability or your collision coverage can pay |
| Collision deductible | Applies if you claim damage to your own vehicle under collision | Usually $0 if the other insurer pays directly; your deductible can apply if you use your own collision coverage |
| Rating period | Often around 3–5 years for a chargeable accident | Do not assume a 3–5 year surcharge; state law can prohibit one entirely |
Example: using Bankrate’s current national benchmark, the difference between a clean record and one at-fault accident is approximately $1,165 per year. If a comparable surcharge persisted for three years without other pricing changes, the difference would exceed $3,400.
That is why accident classification matters financially.
What does at fault mean?
When you are legally responsible for causing the accident, your liability coverage can pay covered injuries and property damage suffered by other people, up to the policy limits.
Damage to your own vehicle requires collision coverage if you want your insurer to repair or replace it after an at-fault crash.
What does no-fault mean?
A no-fault state does not eliminate fault. The term primarily describes how certain injury benefits are paid.
New York, for example, provides basic no-fault benefits of up to $50,000 per person for qualifying economic losses. The state’s basic benefits include 80% of lost earnings up to $2,000 per month for up to three years, plus certain other expenses.
Fault still matters for property damage and for whether an accident can become a chargeable event under New York’s merit-rating rules.
See how New York’s no-fault insurance system works for the full state-specific rules.
How much does insurance increase after an at-fault accident?
A realistic 2026 national benchmark is approximately 40% to 50% after one at-fault accident, but company differences can be much larger.
Bankrate’s current analysis of Quadrant Information Services data reports:
| Coverage | Clean record | After one at-fault accident | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full coverage | $2,697/year | $3,862/year | +43% |
| Minimum coverage | $820/year | $1,203/year | +47% |
ValuePenguin’s July 2026 analysis yields a similar national result: approximately 49% higher after an at-fault accident, or about $102 more per month for full coverage.
Forbes Advisor reports approximately:
- 45% increase after an at-fault accident involving property damage.
- 47% increase after an at-fault accident involving injuries.
Three independent current analyses clustering in roughly the same range give drivers a far better planning benchmark than simply saying “rates may increase.”
Insurer differences can be enormous
Forbes Advisor’s insurer-level data also shows why switching companies after a chargeable accident can matter.
| Insurer | Average increase after an at-fault property-damage accident |
|---|---|
| State Farm | 21% |
| Erie | 34% |
| Travelers | 34% |
| Auto-Owners | 37% |
| USAA | 40% |
| Farmers | 41% |
| Nationwide | 53% |
| Allstate | 53% |
| Progressive | 59% |
| Geico | 73% |
These are sample national averages, not guaranteed renewal increases. The important finding is the spread: the same broad accident category can produce dramatically different pricing across insurers.
How much can a not-at-fault accident increase insurance?
There is no reliable nationwide not-at-fault surcharge percentage because state law can reduce the accident-related increase to zero.
However, current quote data still gives us a useful benchmark for markets where a not-at-fault accident can affect pricing.
The Zebra’s current 2026 rate table shows:
| Profile | Average monthly premium | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| No accident | $185 | – |
| Not-at-fault accident | $200 | About +$15/month |
| Comprehensive claim | $201 | About +$16/month |
| At-fault accident over $2,000 | $277 | About +$92/month |
Based on the displayed premiums, the not-at-fault difference is approximately $180 per year, while the at-fault difference is approximately $1,100 per year.
Do not turn that $180 figure into a national rule. It is sample pricing data. California, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania, for example, provide protections against not-at-fault accident surcharges.
The older figure of approximately $67 per year, which frequently appears in insurance articles, comes from The Zebra’s 2020 rate data. It can still be mentioned as historical context, but it should not be presented as a 2026 national estimate.
State laws can completely change the answer
Not-at-fault pricing is one of the clearest examples of why national insurance averages must be paired with state law.
| State | Not-at-fault protection | Useful number/rule |
|---|---|---|
| California | The insurer does not charge more because of an accident that was not your fault | Surcharge can apply when you are at least 51% at fault |
| Oklahoma | Insurer cannot increase premium, assign points, cancel or nonrenew because of a collision in which you were not at fault | Chargeable surcharges are typically applied for about 3 years |
| Louisiana | An insurer cannot increase the rate, add a surcharge, cancel, or nonrenew based on a non-fault incident | Violation can trigger a refund plus a penalty equal to triple the refund or $1,000, whichever is greater |
| Pennsylvania | No surcharge for a claim arising from an accident where the insured was not at fault | From July 1, 2026, the accident-surcharge threshold is $2,350 over the applicable 3-year period |
| New York | Merit-rating surcharge generally requires a chargeable at-fault event | At-fault property damage must exceed $2,000 unless bodily injury or another qualifying condition applies; the experience period is typically about 3 years |
California is particularly clear: its Department of Insurance tells consumers that when an accident is not their fault, the insurer does not charge them more for it.
Louisiana provides an even stronger statutory remedy. R.S. §22:1284 prohibits rate increases, surcharges, cancellations, and nonrenewals based on non-fault incidents. If an insurer violates the law, the insured may be entitled to a refund of the excess premium, plus a statutory penalty.
New York gives us another useful numerical example. The Department of Financial Services says that under many insurers’ merit-rating plans, a first at-fault accident can result in a surcharge of up to 40%. But the accident generally needs to involve bodily injury or more than $2,000 in property damage, and the insured driver must be at fault.
Why your premium can rise even when the accident surcharge is $0
This is where many drivers misread their renewal.
Suppose your premium was $2,000 before someone rear-ended you.
Your state prohibits a not-at-fault accident surcharge, but the insurer also receives approval for an 8% general rate increase.
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Previous annual premium | $2,000 |
| Not-at-fault accident surcharge | $0 |
| 8% general rate increase | +$160 |
| New annual premium | $2,160 |
Your premium increased after the accident, but the accident did not cause the $160 increase.
Other common renewal changes include:
- Base-rate increases
- Changes in ZIP-code or territory pricing
- Higher vehicle repair costs
- Loss of a discount
- Higher annual mileage
- Different coverage limits
- Different deductibles
- Adding a driver or vehicle
- Another chargeable violation or accident
See how auto insurance rates are determined for the rating factors that can move a renewal independently of fault.
Should you file with your insurer or the at-fault driver’s insurer?
The best claim path depends on speed, deductible, available liability limits and whether fault has already been accepted.
| Claim option | Deductible | Main advantage | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| At-fault driver’s liability insurer | Usually $0 | No collision deductible when liability is accepted | You wait for the other carrier’s liability and coverage investigation |
| Your collision coverage | Your collision deductible applies | Your insurer can move repairs forward | You initially absorb the deductible |
| UM/UIM | State/policy dependent | Protects against uninsured or inadequately insured drivers | Limits and rules vary substantially by state |
| PIP / no-fault | Policy/state dependent | Pays qualifying injury benefits regardless of fault | Does not replace every other coverage |
Filing with the at-fault driver’s insurer
This route works well when the fault is clear, and the other carrier has accepted liability.
For example, if your repair cost is $6,000 and the responsible driver’s insurer accepts the entire loss, you normally do not pay your own $500 or $1,000 collision deductible.
The disadvantage is having to wait for the third-party insurer to investigate.
Using your own collision coverage
Suppose your vehicle has $8,000 of covered collision damage and your deductible is $1,000.
Your insurer can pay approximately $7,000 toward the covered repair while you initially pay the $1,000 deductible.
The insurer can then pursue the responsible party through subrogation.
If it successfully recovers the full covered amount, your deductible can also be reimbursed. Partial recovery can result in only partial deductible reimbursement, depending on state law and the claim.
Using collision does not automatically convert the crash into an at-fault accident.
For the full process, see how an auto insurance claim works.
Does a not-at-fault accident stay on your insurance history?
Yes. A not-at-fault accident can remain visible in insurance claims data even when state law prevents an accident surcharge.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau states that LexisNexis C.L.U.E. can collect and report up to seven years of auto insurance claims history.
That does not mean a not-at-fault accident raises your rate for seven years.
| Timeline | Typical meaning |
|---|---|
| Up to 7 years | Claims information can appear in a C.L.U.E. consumer report |
| About 3 years | Example: New York’s typical merit-rating experience period |
| About 3 years | Oklahoma says chargeable accident surcharges are typically applied for three years |
| 3–5 years | Common benchmark for at-fault accident pricing across many carriers |
| 0 years of accident surcharge | A properly classified not-at-fault accident in states that prohibit the surcharge |
Recorded, rated and surcharged do not mean the same thing.
You can also request a free copy of your applicable consumer report and dispute incorrect information if an accident is being reported inaccurately.
What if your insurer lists the accident as at fault?
An incorrect fault classification can be costly because it can turn a protected, not-at-fault claim into a chargeable accident.
Keep:
- Police report
- Dashcam footage
- Photos and video
- Witness statements
- Citation issued to the other driver
- Written liability acceptance from the other insurer
- Subrogation recovery documents
- Repair records
Pennsylvania regulations provide a useful example of how this evidence matters. The state specifically treats several situations as not at fault for surcharge purposes, including being rear-ended without a related traffic conviction, having a legally parked vehicle struck, obtaining reimbursement from the responsible party, and certain reported hit-and-run collisions.
What about accident forgiveness?
Accident forgiveness matters mainly when an accident would otherwise be chargeable.
It should not be treated as the reason a state-protected not-at-fault accident receives no surcharge.
The financial value can still be significant.
If your normal full-coverage premium is $2,700 and a first-at-fault accident would otherwise produce a 43% increase comparable to Bankrate’s current national benchmark, the first-year difference would be roughly $1,160.
Accident forgiveness that prevents a qualifying surcharge can therefore have real value, but eligibility, price, and accident definitions vary by insurer.
You generally cannot buy accident forgiveness after a crash and expect it to retroactively erase that crash.
Diminished value after a not-at-fault accident
Repair cost is not always the only financial loss after someone hits your car.
A vehicle with documented structural damage or a significant collision history can be worth less in the used market, even after proper repairs.
For example:
| Value example | Amount |
|---|---|
| Pre-accident market value | $30,000 |
| Post-repair market value | $27,500 |
| Potential measurable value loss | $2,500 |
That simple example does not determine what an insurer legally owes. Diminished-value law, proof requirements, vehicle age, prior damage and whether the claim is first-party or third-party vary by state.
But it shows why a repair check alone may not capture the full financial impact of a serious, not-at-fault accident.
What to do when your renewal increases after someone hits you
Start with the numbers rather than assuming the accident caused the entire increase.
Use this audit:
| Check | Example |
|---|---|
| Previous premium | $2,000/year |
| Renewal premium | $2,300/year |
| Total increase | $300 / 15% |
| Accident surcharge shown? | Yes / No |
| Discount changed? | Example: $100 safe-driver discount removed |
| Base rate changed? | Ask the insurer or agent |
| Coverage changed? | Compare declarations pages |
| Competing quote | Compare the same limits and deductibles |
- Confirm the accident is coded as not at fault.
- Check whether an accident surcharge appears.
- Compare your previous and renewal declarations pages.
- Ask whether a base-rate change occurred.
- Check whether any accident-free or safe-driver discount disappeared.
- Review the law in your state.
- Dispute an incorrect accident classification.
- Compare competing policies.
When comparing car insurance quotes, keep liability limits, UM/UIM, comprehensive and collision deductibles, drivers, vehicles, and mileage identical.
Should you avoid filing a not-at-fault claim to protect your rate?
Do not leave a major covered loss unpaid solely because you are worried about a possible premium increase.
Compare the economics.
If your car has $7,500 of damage and your collision deductible is $500, avoiding a valid claim to protect against a possible modest future rate difference rarely makes financial sense.
A $400 repair with a $1,000 deductible is completely different because collision coverage would pay nothing.
| Example | Damage | Deductible | Potential collision payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor damage | $400 | $1,000 | $0 |
| Moderate crash | $3,000 | $500 | About $2,500 |
| Major crash | $10,000 | $1,000 | About $9,000 |
These are simplified examples and assume the loss is otherwise covered.
How Auto Insure News evaluates a not-at-fault rate increase
The most useful way to evaluate a renewal after someone hits you is to separate the accident, the claim record, and the final premium.
At Auto Insure News, we use five checks:
- What was the fault determination? A 100% not-at-fault rear-end claim should not be analyzed the same way as a 50/50 liability dispute.
- What does state law permit? California, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania demonstrate that not-at-fault surcharge rules can be very restrictive.
- How much did the premium actually change? Current at-fault benchmarks cluster around roughly 43% to 49%, while available not-at-fault sample data shows a much smaller difference.
- What else changed at renewal? Base rate, vehicle, address, mileage, coverage, and discounts can move the price independently of the accident.
- Can another insurer price the same risk better? Current at-fault insurer data alone range from increases of nearly 20% to more than 70%, underscoring why comparison shopping matters.
Our recommendation: if someone hits you and you are not at fault, preserve the evidence and make sure the accident is coded correctly. Do not panic simply because the renewal premium is higher. Determine how much of the increase comes from the accident, how much comes from general rating changes, and whether your state prohibits a not-at-fault surcharge. Then compare equivalent quotes. The difference between at-fault and not-at-fault classifications can amount to hundreds or even thousands of dollars over the next several policy terms.
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