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Can I Get Car Insurance After An Accident?

While you can buy insurance after an accident, it could be more difficult to find a company that offers affordable rates for the auto coverage you want.

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Key Points:

  • You can purchase insurance at any time, but it won’t cover accidents that happened in the past.
  • Your insurance rates may increase after an accident, and purchasing a new policy could be expensive.
  • Compare rates and coverage from providers, including those with accident forgiveness, to find the best rates for your coverage needs.

If you were recently in an accident, you may be wondering if you can purchase an insurance policy to cover the damages. Unfortunately, car insurance companies won’t retrofit an insurance policy for a previous accident. However, if you’re wondering if you can shop around for new coverage after a recent at-fault accident, it’s easier than you may think. Many providers offer accident forgiveness or discounts that make rates lower for drivers with otherwise clean driving records.

In this article, we’ll explain what happens with car insurance after an accident and what you can expect in different coverage scenarios. We’ll also show you how accidents impact rates, and offer tips for ways to lower your car insurance premiums. You’ll also find our recommendations for the best car insurance companies to work with after an accident.

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Can I Get Car Insurance After An Accident?

Yes, you can purchase car insurance at any time. However, you can only purchase coverage for future incidents. Insurance companies don’t retrofit new insurance policies to cover prior accidents. In fact, you may be required to verify that your car hasn’t been in an accident during a given period of time. 

Can I Add Full Coverage After An Accident?

You can add full coverage to your policy at any time, but it will only cover accidents that happen after you add it. Auto insurance coverage isn’t retroactive, and that includes comprehensive and collision insurance.

How Long After An Accident Can You Make An Insurance Claim?

Depending on the company, you may have as little as a day or two to begin filing a claim through your insurance. Depending on the state, you have between two and four years to file a bodily injury or property damage lawsuit, which is different from filing an insurance claim.

Will Insurance Companies Go After Uninsured Drivers?

Insurance companies settle claims with other insurance companies, not individuals. However, the victim of an accident can sue the at-fault driver for damages. In other words, individuals can go after uninsured drivers for past accidents for up to two to four years depending on the state.

Our recommendation is to avoid driving as an uninsured motorist. You don’t need comprehensive or collision coverage to satisfy state liability insurance requirements. Having minimum coverage limits is much better than foregoing insurance altogether.

The flip side of this is that it’s a good idea to have uninsured motorist coverage as a policyholder. Depending on the state, about five to twenty percent of the population drives without insurance. According to the Insurance Research Council, one in seven drivers were uninsured between 2017 and 2022. You’ll have to file a civil suit to get compensation from one of these drivers unless you have uninsured motorist coverage.


What To Do If You Get Into A Car Accident

Being involved in a car accident can be traumatic and disorienting. In the moment, it may be unclear how to respond, so it’s a good idea to internalize the following steps before an accident ever occurs.

Knowing exactly what to do can help keep you calm and safe. In general, treat safety as your first priority. Handling repairs and insurance is secondary.

If you’re ever in an accident, follow these steps:

  • Check yourself for injuries.
  • Check others for injuries.
  • Remove yourself to a safe place.
  • Report details of the accident to the police.
  • Trade contact information, driver’s license, license plate and policy numbers, and insurance information with the other driver.
  • Document damages by taking pictures if you can.
  • Contact your insurance agent.

Remain at the scene of the accident until the police arrive. You may have to adjust some of these steps depending on your specific situation. For example, if you’re injured, you may not be able to take photos of the damages, and that’s okay.

Even if nobody is hurt, contact the police so a police report can be filed. This will be a key tool for the insurance adjuster.

If you aren’t at fault for the accident, you may not need to file a claim with your insurance company, but you should still notify them of the incident. In the meantime, you should file a third-party claim with the other driver’s insurance carrier.


What Happens If You Get Into An Accident Without Insurance?

Driving without insurance is a bad idea in most cases. Unless you live in one of the states where car insurance isn’t mandatory and are financially able to cover the cost of any potential damage and injuries yourself, you need car insurance.

The penalty for driving without liability coverage varies by state and how many times you’ve been caught driving without insurance in the past. Penalties range from fines to incarceration. You could have your license suspended and your car impounded. If an accident results in personal injury or property damage, you can be arrested on the spot.

Even if you aren’t at fault for an accident, you’ll be punished for not carrying insurance. And regardless of where you live, getting a new policy after an accident won’t keep penalties at bay.

No Pay, No Play Restrict Insurance Claims

If another driver causes the accident and you don’t have insurance, you can’t collect damages in states with “no pay no play” policies. States with such policies include:

  • Alaska
  • California
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Louisiana
  • Michigan
  • Missouri
  • New Jersey
  • North Dakota
  • Oregon

No-Fault States Also Restrict Insurance Claims

In most situations, you also can’t file third-party claims in a “no-fault” insurance state. In these states, you make claims through your own insurance, no matter who caused the crash. If you don’t have insurance, you won’t be able to fix your car or pay your medical bills. The no-fault states are:

  • Florida
  • Hawaii
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • North Dakota
  • Pennsylvania
  • Utah

Can you get insurance after an accident? Yes, you can get car insurance after an accident, but it’s a lot better to buy it before an accident to avoid fines, imprisonment, and a potentially massive civil lawsuit.


How Much Do Insurance Rates Go Up After An Accident?

Depending on your driver profile and what you pay now, your premiums could go up by as much as 50 percent or more after an accident. Providers raise prices in different amounts, but you should expect a rate increase, since insurers will see you as a higher risk driver. Some companies, like Geico, offer accident forgiveness that can prevent your rates from going up after your first accident.

Below, is a side-by-side comparison of full-coverage annual quotes our team received from the top insurance companies in the industry. In one column, you’ll find quotes for a 30-year-old male driver with good credit and a clean driving record. In the other, we list quotes for the same driver but with one at-fault accident.

Insurance CompanyNo Accidents1 Accident
State Farm$1,907$1,997
USAA$2,032$2,078
Travelers$1,990$2,142
Nationwide$2,481$2,594
Progressive$2,126$2,742
Geico$2,518$2,748
Allstate$2,981$3,844

How To Lower Your Rates After An Accident

If your provider doesn’t offer accident forgiveness or you have multiple accidents in your driving history, you still have options for lowering your insurance premiums. Many providers will lower your rates if you complete a defensive driving class. You may also choose a higher deductible or reduce your coverage to lower your monthly policy rate.

If your auto insurance provider raises your rates after an accident, you may consider switching providers. Other insurers will see the accident on your driver report and factor that into your average rates, but they may calculate your driver discounts differently. Shop around and compare insurance quotes to decide for yourself.


Car Insurance After An Accident: Our Take

While your rates will likely go up after an accident, you can still find affordable coverage from many providers. In fact, some providers offer accident forgiveness, which can keep your rates low. 

Our Recommendations For High-Risk Car Insurance

In our industry-wide research, we found that Progressive and Geico are some of the best providers for drivers who’ve had a car accident. 

Progressive: Best For High-Risk Drivers

Progressive car insurance offers many good discount options for high-risk drivers. We found that it’s typically more affordable for drivers with a DUI or DWI on record than other auto insurance companies.

Progressive also has an accident forgiveness program. In states where it’s available, Progressive’s loyalty program forgives small accidents (less than $500) automatically. If you’ve been a Progressive customer for five years and maintain clean records, you’ll be forgiven for one accident over $500.

Progressive discount options include the Snapshot® safe driving app and a deductible savings bank. You can also save money by bundling your car insurance policy with another one of Progressive’s insurance products, such as homeowners insurance.

Read more in our Progressive insurance review.

Geico: Best For Basic Coverage

Geico is a well-known name among insurance customers and has a rock-solid industry reputation. It offers affordable minimum coverage and good rates for drivers with bad credit. 

We list Geico here, however, because the company also offers an accident forgiveness program. You can get forgiveness for free as a result of reaching a loyalty milestone with the company, or choose to add it on when you buy the policy or at renewal. Geico’s accident forgiveness applies to your first accident only.

Learn more about the company’s coverage and rates in our Geico insurance review, and compare the two providers in our Geico vs. Progressive review


FAQ About Insurance After An Accident

Below, we cover answers to the questions many drivers have about car insurance after an accident:

Can I get insurance the same day as an accident?

You can buy insurance any time. However, you can’t buy insurance to cover an accident that happened before the time of purchase.

How long after buying insurance can I file a claim?

You can file an auto insurance claim as soon as your insurance is issued. Some other types of insurance policies, such as life insurance, may only activate a set amount of time after purchase. This would be indicated in your insurance contract.

How can I lower my insurance after an accident?

Lowering your insurance after an accident may be different depending on your provider. Some providers offer accident forgiveness and won’t raise your car insurance rates in the first place. In many cases, you can lower your insurance by completing a defensive driving course. You can also try switching to an auto insurance policy with a higher deductible or change providers altogether.

By how much does car insurance go up after an accident?

How much your insurance will go up after an accident depends on your provider, your policy, your state, and the amount of damage caused by the accident. Some providers offer accident forgiveness for at-fault accidents, and your rates won’t increase at all.


How We Rate Auto Insurers

Our review team extensively researches auto insurance providers to deliver informed and unbiased assessments of leading companies. We evaluate several key rating factors that are important to consumers to determine which providers are the best in the industry:

  • Reliability: It’s important that an auto insurer is able to meet its claims obligations. Companies with a strong financial strength rating from AM Best score best in this category. Established insurers with a long history of reliable service also receive positive marks.
  • Availability: Insurance companies that offer wider availability to consumers in terms of state availability and few eligibility requirements are more likely to meet consumer needs.
  • Coverage: To determine our coverage score, we look at the number of coverage options available as well as coverage limits and deductible options. Our ratings also take into account additional services and benefits like roadside assistance.
  • Pricing: Cost can be difficult to compare between insurers because so many factors impact annual premiums. The cheapest insurer for one driver may not be the cheapest for another. To determine our cost score, we look at insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services, discount opportunities, and consumer reports.
  • Service: We comb through customer reviews on sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to learn about customer experiences. Insurers with a low volume of complaints score well in this area. We also consider the claims process, giving higher ratings to car insurance providers that offer a smooth experience.
  • Technology: Providers with an online quote tool, easy-to-use claims app and a usage-based insurance app score best in this category.

*Data accurate at time of publication.