Quick answer: an at-fault accident typically affects your insurance premium for 3 to 5 years. That’s a separate thing from how long it stays on your official driving record with your state’s DMV, which can last longer depending on where you live — and once it drops off your DMV record, it generally stops affecting your rate too.
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Your Driving Record vs. Your Insurance Rating Period
This is the part that trips people up: your state DMV’s driving record and your insurance company’s “look-back window” for pricing aren’t the same thing, and they don’t always match.
- DMV driving record: how long an accident is officially on file varies by state. In California, for example, most accidents stay on record for three years — but that stretches to 10 years for accidents involving commercial vehicles or hazardous materials. In Florida, most accidents stay on record three to five years, though alcohol-related incidents are tracked for 75 years.
- Insurance rating period: separately, most insurers only factor in the last 3 to 5 years of your accident history when setting your premium — and some states cap this further. Massachusetts, for instance, limits insurers to considering at-fault accidents for only six years, regardless of company policy.
Once an accident falls off your DMV record, it typically stops affecting your insurance rate as well.
How Much Will Your Rate Actually Go Up?
There’s no single number that applies to everyone — it depends on your insurer, your state, your prior driving history, and how severe the accident was. As a data point: Progressive has reported an average nationwide rate increase of 28% for customers after an at-fault accident. Other insurers may increase rates by more or less, and some barely move the needle for a first minor accident, especially if you qualify for accident forgiveness (more below).
Does It Matter If You Weren’t at Fault?
Generally, yes — a not-at-fault accident is far less likely to raise your rate than one where you’re found responsible, since insurers are primarily pricing in the risk you personally represent as a driver. That said, some insurers will still note any accident on your file, and rules vary by state and company, so it’s worth asking your insurer directly how they handle not-at-fault claims.
What Is Accident Forgiveness?
Accident forgiveness is optional coverage that prevents your first at-fault accident from raising your rate at all. A few things worth knowing:
- You typically have to qualify for it — often by going a set number of years (commonly around five) without an accident
- It usually can’t be added retroactively after you’ve already had the accident you want forgiven
- Availability and rules vary by insurer and by state, so check before you assume you have it
Does This Vary by State?
Yes, in two ways: how long an accident sits on your official DMV record, and how many years insurers in your state are allowed to factor it into your premium. If you want the specifics for where you live, your state DMV’s website and your insurance company can both tell you exactly how your situation is handled — the ranges above are typical, not universal.
(Facts on DMV record retention, insurer rating periods, and state variation based on NerdWallet’s reporting on accidents and insurance rates; the 28% average rate increase figure is reported for Progressive customers via Fox Business.)
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for an accident to go off insurance?
Most insurers stop factoring in an at-fault accident after 3 to 5 years, though this can vary by state and company.
How long does an accident stay on your record in Florida?
Typically three to five years for most accidents, though alcohol-related incidents are tracked much longer — up to 75 years in Florida.
How much does car insurance go down after 1 year with no claims?
Many insurers offer some form of safe-driver or claims-free discount that grows the longer you go without a claim, though the exact amount varies significantly by company and state — ask your insurer what their specific discount schedule looks like.
How long does an accident affect your insurance in New York?
As with most states, expect an at-fault accident to factor into your New York premium for a few years, typically in the 3-to-5-year range — check with your insurer or New York’s DMV for the exact window that applies to your policy.
Curious what your premium might actually look like? Try our car insurance calculator. And if you’re still figuring out what your policy should cover in the first place, see our guide to what full coverage car insurance covers.
This article is for general information only and isn’t insurance or legal advice. Rules on record retention, rating periods, and accident forgiveness vary by state and insurer — confirm specifics with your insurance provider or state DMV.
Last updated: September 2026
