Car insurance rates can go up almost 50% a year on average — around $688 — if you cause an accident with $10,000 in damage, NerdWallet’s analysis found.
But if you switch to the cheapest insurer in your state, you may find better rates.
The bottom line: To get cheap car insurance after an accident, it’s time to shop around.
» MORE: How long auto accidents can affect your insurance rates
How an accident affects your car insurance rates
NerdWallet compared average car insurance rates nationwide for 40-year-old drivers with a recent at-fault crash and those with no recent accidents, keeping all other factors the same. We used full coverage policies for a 2016 Toyota Camry and a hypothetical accident that resulted in $10,000 worth of property damage and no injuries.
Our analysis found that:
- In 41 states and the District of Columbia, average annual rates were more than $500 higher for drivers who’d caused a recent accident than for those who had not.
- In 18 states, average rates increased at least 50% after an at-fault accident.
- In Louisiana, California, Michigan, Kentucky and New Jersey, average rates increased by more than $1,000 per year after an at-fault accident.
See how your state fares.
average car insurance rate increases after an at-fault accident, by state
| States ranked by average % increase | Average rate before an accident | Average rate after an accident | % increase from accident-free rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $1,627 | $2,927 | 80% |
| Massachusetts | $1,299 | $2,290 | 76% |
| North Carolina | $1,075 | $1,833 | 71% |
| Ohio | $1,051 | $1,702 | 62% |
| New Jersey | $1,759 | $2,802 | 59% |
| Georgia | $1,594 | $2,512 | 58% |
| Connecticut | $1,683 | $2,644 | 57% |
| Arkansas | $1,427 | $2,231 | 56% |
| Vermont | $993 | $1,540 | 55% |
| Louisiana | $2,971 | $4,593 | 55% |
| New Hampshire | $1,056 | $1,629 | 54% |
| Michigan | $2,331 | $3,566 | 53% |
| Oklahoma | $1,595 | $2,440 | 53% |
| Pennsylvania | $1,167 | $1,780 | 53% |
| Indiana | $994 | $1,502 | 51% |
| North Dakota | $1,235 | $1,865 | 51% |
| Kentucky | $2,161 | $3,238 | 50% |
| Rhode Island | $1,684 | $2,522 | 50% |
| Nevada | $1,881 | $2,811 | 49% |
| Tennessee | $1,170 | $1,746 | 49% |
| Illinois | $1,163 | $1,731 | 49% |
| Arizona | $1,409 | $2,086 | 48% |
| Washington | $1,261 | $1,866 | 48% |
| Mississippi | $1,385 | $2,049 | 48% |
| Virginia | $960 | $1,417 | 48% |
| Montana | $1,252 | $1,848 | 48% |
| Oregon | $1,228 | $1,808 | 47% |
| New Mexico | $1,241 | $1,827 | 47% |
| Nebraska | $1,181 | $1,738 | 47% |
| Wisconsin | $1,005 | $1,473 | 47% |
| Texas | $1,471 | $2,150 | 46% |
| Iowa | $997 | $1,450 | 45% |
| Alabama | $1,401 | $2,035 | 45% |
| Maryland | $1,595 | $2,311 | 45% |
| Kansas | $1,306 | $1,887 | 44% |
| Colorado | $1,570 | $2,265 | 44% |
| South Carolina | $1,458 | $2,100 | 44% |
| Utah | $1,248 | $1,793 | 44% |
| Maine | $916 | $1,314 | 43% |
| West Virginia | $1,307 | $1,872 | 43% |
| Alaska | $1,180 | $1,687 | 43% |
| Missouri | $1,339 | $1,910 | 43% |
| Wyoming | $1,184 | $1,678 | 42% |
| District of Columbia | $1,527 | $2,158 | 41% |
| Delaware | $1,559 | $2,170 | 39% |
| Minnesota | $1,280 | $1,779 | 39% |
| South Dakota | $1,245 | $1,726 | 39% |
| Idaho | $937 | $1,286 | 37% |
| Florida | $2,352 | $3,220 | 37% |
| Hawaii | $1,176 | $1,581 | 34% |
| New York | $1,962 | $2,576 | 31% |
» MORE: Average car insurance costs
Cheapest car insurance companies after a crash
Car insurance companies have wildly different viewpoints on how much to raise rates due to a crash. In some states, a few companies in our analysis didn’t charge more after a small accident.
At the other extreme, several companies showed rates more than twice as high for a driver who’d caused an accident than for an identical driver who hadn’t. And in a few cases, average rates were more than $1,500 a year higher after an at-fault accident.
That’s why to get cheap car insurance after an accident, it’s essential to compare car insurance rates from several companies.
State Farm, Geico, Progressive and Allstate, the nation’s four largest car insurance companies, together make up more than half of the auto insurance market.
To see how they price policies after at-fault accidents, we looked at average rates across 48 states and the District of Columbia, areas where all four companies have a significant presence.
Geico returned the lowest average rates for drivers who’d caused an accident, as well as for drivers who had not, while State Farm showed the smallest percentage increase in rates between drivers with a clean record and those with a recent crash.
average rates from the biggest auto insurers after an at-fault crash
| Company | Average rate before an accident | Average rate after an accident | Average % increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geico | $1,198 | $1,557 | 30% |
| Progressive | $1,766 | $2,281 | 29% |
| Allstate | $1,834 | $2,172 | 18% |
| State Farm | $1,511 | $1,784 | 18% |
The fifth-largest car insurance company, USAA, is available only to active military members, veterans and their families. For drivers who qualify, USAA frequently has the lowest rates we find — both before and after an accident.
But in some cases, USAA is no longer the cheapest option once a driver has caused an accident. In Alaska, Connecticut and Indiana, for example, USAA is cheapest for drivers with a clean record — but other companies return the lowest rates after an at-fault crash.
So if you’re insured with USAA and you get in an accident, it’s smart to check rates.
It’s possible to get a lower rate after an accident
Shopping around after an accident is the best way to ensure you are getting the cheapest rate, and our analysis shows why:
- Shopping for the cheapest car insurance after a crash could save you big. Our analysis shows that shopping for the cheapest possible rate after a crash could potentially save you more than $700 a year, depending on your state.
- No single car insurance company is cheapest for everyone. Across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, 21 different insurers were the cheapest option after an accident in at least one state.
- The cheapest insurer before an accident may not be the cheapest afterward. In about half of states, at least some drivers who were already insured with the cheapest company available would need to switch insurers to continue getting the lowest possible rates after an accident.
- Big-name insurance companies aren’t always cheapest. Although the nation’s 10 largest auto insurance companies together account for nearly three-fourths of the car insurance market, smaller companies returned the lowest rates after an accident in 26 states and the District of Columbia. Erie, for example, showed the lowest rates after an at-fault crash in Indiana, Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia, Wisconsin and West Virginia. Some smaller insurers are available in only a few states.
» MORE: Compare car insurance rates
There are other ways to ensure you are getting the lowest rate possible. You may be able to lower the rates on your current policy by:
- Raising your deductible, which is the amount reduced from a potential claim check from comprehensive or collision insurance. This will cause a greater out-of-pocket cost to repair your own car if you get into an accident in the future.
- Adding discounts to your policy could help offset the increase in your rate from the accident — check with your insurer or agent to see if any more are available to you.
- Improving your credit. While improving credit is a long-term strategy, a healthy credit report will likely result in a more affordable car insurance rate in most states.
» MORE: Smart ways to lower your car insurance rate
What if the accident wasn’t your fault?
If you weren’t to blame for an accident, you might see an increase in your auto insurance rate anyway. A study by the Consumer Federation of America found that some companies raise rates 10% or more for not-at-fault accidents.
In the 12 no-fault states, everyone involved in an accident files a claim to their own insurance policies for injuries. Because of this, residents of those states are more likely to see rate increases after an accident no matter who is at fault.
If you have accident forgiveness on your policy and this is your first accident, it’s likely that your rate may not go up. And a few states, including Oklahoma and California, don’t allow insurers to increase your rates if a crash was not your fault. Some companies, such as USAA, even say they won’t raise rates if you aren’t responsible for an accident.
But regardless of whether it’s your fault, it’s always a good idea to compare car insurance quotes to make sure you’re getting the lowest price.
» MORE: How long auto accidents can affect your insurance rates
Alternative car insurance for high-risk drivers
If you have multiple accidents or other serious marks on your record, it could be hard to get car insurance.
If no one will sell you a policy, you may need to look for a state-run assigned risk plan. To find your state’s high-risk insurance pool, locate your state in the directory of the Automobile Insurance Plan Service Office, an industry organization, or ask your auto insurance agent for help.
