How Long Do Accidents And Violations Affect Car Insurance Rates?

The price you pay for auto insurance is made up of a lot of different factors added together, and one of the top factors that will cause your premiums to increase is your driving record and claim record. When you get a ticket of any kind or file a claim against your car insurance policy, you will most likely pay more for your premiums. Over time, though, these incidents will drop off your record, and when this happens, your premiums might decrease.

How long do accidents stay on your record?

The first thing to understand is the length of time an accident will stay on your record. In most cases, accidents will normally drop off a person's record after three years, but there are times when they last for five years on a person's record. This is assuming that you caused the accident and filed a claim with your own insurance company. If you filed a claim with a different person's insurance company, your accident might not be reflected on your driving record, as it would not have been your fault. Accidents that affect you negatively are those that you cause and require filing a claim on your policy.

How long do violations stay on your record?

Traffic violations also affect your driving record and your insurance premiums, and most traffic violations will drop off your record within three years as well; however, it greatly depends on the type of traffic violation you received. For example, getting a speeding ticket is not nearly as bad as getting a DUI charge. Because of this, you should expect a DUI charge to stay on your record a lot longer than a normal speeding ticket.

Is there anything you can do to help lower your premiums?

There may be very little you can do to remove claims you filed and traffic violations you incurred from your driving record, but you can aim to avoid tickets and violations in the future. Avoiding accidents and tickets will help you work towards having a clean driving record, and eventually, this will result in saving money on your car insurance premiums. You may also be able to improve your driving record by completing a driver's education course.

If you are overpaying for your car insurance, or if you currently do not have car insurance, contact an auto insurance company to request a free quote for insurance coverage.