PriceProtect™
DriveShield™
GarageGuard™
Services
Insurance
Car Insurance
Compare Car Insurance with Jerry
Jerry’s Expert Advice
Car Insurance Estimates
Home & Renters Insurance
Renters Insurance
Repairs
Car Repair Estimates
Repair Estimates for Popular Services
Advice
Read Car Content
Browse Jerry Car Advice
Check Out Expert Car QnA
Learn About How We Create Content
Jerry Data & Research
Why did my car insurance go up after a claim when I wasn't at fault for the accident?
Another driver rear-ended me a few months ago. They were uninsured, so I filed a claim with my own insurance company to repair my car. Now my policy has been renewed and my rate has shot up. Why am I being penalized when I wasn't at fault for the collision?
Shannon Martin · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
“That sounds like such a bad experience! It might be time to look for a new
car insurance
company, and here’s why. Your driving history is used to rate your insurance policy. While the accident was deemed not at fault, it might have been accounted for during the underwriting process as the carrier rated the risk of insuring you.
This means that you might pay slightly more for your policy than someone who doesn’t have a not at-fault accident in their history.
And yes, at first glance, this seems unfair. However, even though you weren’t at fault, since you were in an accident, your behavior as a driver was probably impacted. You might have become a more timid or aggressive driver, which could put you at risk for more accidents in the future.
That being said, this should only have impacted your rate slightly. If your current carrier paid to fix your car, they would have sought reimbursement from the at-fault party through a process called subrogation.
Try getting new
car insurance quotes online
and make sure to include the accident in your history. This way, you can see if what you are currently paying is in line with the available options. “View full answer
- Gregory R.
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
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.
Join 4M+ members in lowering their car insurance
You Might Also Be Interested
Read Advice From Car Experts At Jerry
What Others Are Asking
Browse More Content
Insurance in Your State
Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance
No long forms
No spam or unwanted phone calls
Quotes from top insurance companies