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What are the consequences of not informing my insurance of an accident?

Are there any consequences if I don't report an accident to them? I heard your insurance rate can go up after an accident. I can't afford for that to happen.

Emily Maracle · Updated on Aug 30, 2023

Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.

“The biggest consequence of not reporting an accident to your insurance is no coverage for any damages.

Should you discover additional damage or have issues with the other driver, your insurance will not help you.

The point of having

is to transfer risk from you to your insurance company. You pay a premium to be protected. If you choose to not report an accident, they aren’t required to extend coverage to you.

You can inform your insurance company of an accident without

submitting a claim

. Your insurance company can also close claims if no payment was made or no further action was taken. Your rate is less likely to increase if that’s the case.

If you are concerned about your rate increasing once you submit a claim, you always have the option of shopping around.”

MORE:

How Much Does Your Insurance Go Up After an Accident?

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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

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