Can my insurance go up if someone hits me in 2026?

When another driver causes an accident, one of the first questions that often comes up is whether your own insurance premium will increase. Although a not-at-fault crash doesn’t automatically mean higher rates, the outcome can vary based on your insurer, state regulations, and claims history. Auto Insure News explores whether your insurance can go up if someone hits you, why some drivers still see premium increases, and what you can do to reduce the long-term financial impact.

Can my insurance go up if someone hits me?

A premium increase is possible even for a blameless driver, although it is considerably less common than after an at-fault collision. Whether insurance goes up when a driver is not at fault depends on the interaction of fault determination, state regulation, and the insurer’s risk assessment; consequently, two drivers involved in comparable accidents may experience different outcomes.

In the majority of cases, a driver found to bear no responsibility, where the opposing party’s insurer accepts liability, retains a stable premium at renewal. Stability is not guaranteed, however, because insurers price policies according to statistical risk, and any claim becomes a recorded data point. The specific conditions that determine the outcome are detailed in the sections that follow.

At-fault vs. no-fault accidents: understanding the distinction

A clear understanding of the governing insurance system is essential before estimating any premium impact, because the at-fault versus no-fault accident distinction determines both responsibility for payment and the manner in which claims are processed. The two terms are frequently confused, and this confusion often leads drivers to misjudge their exposure.

The meaning of “at-fault.”

In a conventional at-fault, or tort, state, auto insurance coverage usually starts with the driver who caused the accident. That driver’s liability coverage pays the other party for covered bodily injury and property damage, up to the policy limits. This is why liability coverage is the foundation of most basic auto policies, but it does not pay for the at-fault driver’s own vehicle damage unless that driver also carries collision coverage.  When a not-at-fault driver is struck in such a state, the responsible party’s insurer is generally liable, which is advantageous for the blameless driver because filing against one’s own policy may be unnecessary.

The meaning of a “no-fault” state

The term does not indicate the absence of responsibility; rather, it requires each driver to file an injury claim with their own insurer through Personal Injury Protection (PIP) after an accident, regardless of who caused the collision. PIP typically reimburses medical expenses, a portion of lost wages, essential or replacement services, and, in some states, funeral costs—for the policyholder and their passengers alike.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, twelve states currently operate under a no-fault system: Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Utah. Each mandates PIP coverage, although the required limits vary considerably—Kentucky’s basic PIP, for example, provides $10,000 per person per accident, whereas Michigan allows drivers to select coverage ranging from a capped amount up to unlimited lifetime medical benefits. Three of these states—Kentucky, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania—are “choice” no-fault states, in which a driver may elect either a no-fault policy or a traditional tort policy that preserves the full right to sue.

A defining feature of the no-fault system is the tort threshold, which restricts lawsuits for minor injuries. A driver may sue the at-fault party for pain and suffering only when the injury satisfies this threshold, expressed either as a verbal (descriptive) threshold—such as death, permanent disability, or significant disfigurement—or a monetary threshold based on a specified dollar amount of medical bills.

Why a no-fault designation does not prevent rate increases

Because a PIP claim is paid by the policyholder’s own insurer, the insurer incurs a cost and may revise the policyholder’s risk profile accordingly. For this reason, a not-at-fault accident can still produce a premium increase in a no-fault state, even when the driver bears no responsibility for the collision.

Why a premium may increase when the accident was not the driver’s fault

Many drivers find it difficult to accept that a premium can rise after a blameless accident; the explanation lies in risk-based pricing. A not-at-fault accident insurance increase occurs because insurers assess policyholders according to statistical risk rather than moral responsibility, treating any claim as a signal regarding the probability of a future claim.

Statistical evidence indicates that drivers who have experienced any accident are more likely to be involved in a subsequent one, regardless of fault, which may place a blameless driver in a marginally higher-risk category. The specific contributing factors include:

• The official determination of fault, and whether it is clearly documented in the claim file.
• Claim frequency, as multiple claims within a short interval may raise premiums even in the absence of fault.
• The severity and cost of the claim, with a total loss involving injuries, are treated very differently from minor property damage.
• Uninsured or underinsured motorist payouts, since the policyholder’s own coverage absorbs the cost when the responsible driver cannot pay, and that cost is frequently reflected in subsequent premiums.

Understanding this reasoning enables a policyholder to contest an unjustified increase more effectively, as discussed below.

When a premium is likely to remain unchanged

In numerous circumstances, a premium will not change, particularly where fault is clearly established, and the policyholder carries appropriate protections; accident forgiveness is one feature capable of preventing an increase entirely. The following scenarios illustrate when a driver may reasonably expect stability.

When the fault is clearly established

A police report, a citation issued to the other driver, dashboard-camera footage, or independent witnesses render fault well-documented and difficult to dispute. Because a clear determination of fault is the strongest safeguard against an unwarranted premium increase, the supporting evidence should be preserved at the scene whenever possible.

When the claim is filed against the at-fault driver’s insurer

When a policyholder pursues a third-party claim against the responsible driver’s insurance, their own policy is generally unaffected with respect to property damage, and the deductible is typically waived. Because the policyholder’s insurer disburses no payment, the risk profile remains unaltered.

States that prohibit not-at-fault surcharges

Certain states provide explicit protection. California, under Proposition 103, and Oklahoma, for example, generally prohibit insurers from increasing a premium following an accident the policyholder did not cause. Because such regulations vary considerably, verification with the relevant state Department of Insurance is advisable.

When the policy includes accident forgiveness

Accident forgiveness is a provision that waives the premium increase following a first qualifying accident. Major carriers, including Progressive, GEICO, and Allstate, offer versions of this feature, and policyholders with a clean record may already possess such coverage without being aware of it.

The typical magnitude of a premium increase after an accident

When a premium does rise, the relevant question concerns the extent of the increase. Although no universal figure exists, available data regarding how much insurance increases after an accident indicates a clear pattern, and the disparity between at-fault and not-at-fault outcomes is substantial.

For at-fault accidents, national averages indicate an increase of approximately 30 to 50 percent, and some drivers report increases exceeding $500 following a single claim. For not-at-fault accidents, the impact is considerably smaller: many drivers experience no increase, while surveys suggest the average not-at-fault increase is modest, on the order of $67 per year in one frequently cited study, though minor not-at-fault claims in certain states have produced increases closer to $200 annually.

These figures represent averages rather than guarantees. A driver’s age, location, vehicle, and history all influence the result; state law remains determinative, since jurisdictions that prohibit not-at-fault surcharges reduce the effective increase to zero; and multiple claims compound rapidly, as a second or third claim is penalized far more heavily than the first.

Filing with one’s own insurer or the at-fault driver’s insurer

When another party causes a collision, the policyholder generally has two avenues for recovery, and a considered choice can protect both finances and future premiums, particularly where subrogation is involved. The principal considerations are outlined below.

Filing with the at-fault driver’s insurer

Pursuing recovery directly through the responsible party’s liability coverage generally relieves the policyholder of the deductible and leaves the policyholder’s own policy unaffected. The principal disadvantage is dependence upon the other insurer’s processing timeline and degree of cooperation, which may be slow or contentious.

Filing with one’s own insurer and the role of subrogation

Filing under one’s own collision coverage is frequently more expeditious. Because collision, liability, PIP, and uninsured motorist protection work differently, drivers should understand the main coverage parts of a car insurance policy before deciding which claim path to use. The policyholder must pay the deductible initially; thereafter, subrogation applies, whereby the insurer recovers its costs from the at-fault party and, upon success, refunds the deductible. The disadvantage is the recording of a claim, even when it is ultimately classified as not-at-fault.

The diminished value claim

Even after a fully satisfactory repair, a vehicle generally retains a lower market value because its history now includes a recorded accident. A diminished value claim, typically filed against the at-fault driver’s insurer, permits the recovery of that lost value. The Insurance Information Institute confirms that most states permit such third-party claims, although older vehicles may not qualify.

The duration of a not-at-fault accident’s effect on premiums

A premium increase, where it occurs, is not permanent, and an understanding of how long an accident affects insurance assists policyholders in planning around renewals and comparison shopping. The relevant period commences when the claim is filed.

In most states, an accident remains on the insurance record for three to five years, with the precise duration determined by state law and the individual carrier. As the accident ages, its weight within the risk assessment diminishes, and a sustained period of accident-free driving gradually returns the premium toward its baseline. A policyholder who maintained a clean record before the collision generally experiences a faster and smaller recovery.

Measures to limit a premium increase after being hit

A policyholder is not without recourse, and at renewal, the most effective course is generally to compare car insurance quotes before accepting any increase. The following measures, presented in order of practical priority, are recommended.

• Verify that the fault is recorded accurately. Errors occur, and the policyholder should confirm that both insurers have recorded a not-at-fault designation.
• Inquire about accident forgiveness. Where it is not already in place, adding this provision before the next renewal may be advisable.
• Compare quotes at renewal. If the current insurer imposes an unwarranted increase, another carrier may assess the not-at-fault claim differently; shopping for comparable car insurance quotes is the most effective available measure.
• Maintain a clean record and apply available discounts. Bundling automobile and home policies, participating in safe-driver programs, and adopting telematics may fully offset a modest increase.