At a glance
Your car insurance will most likely go up after an accident.
Even if the accident wasn’t your fault, providers may see it as a sign of increased risk.
An at-fault claim will probably result in a higher increase than a non-fault claim.
You must tell your insurance provider if you’ve been in an accident, even if you don’t intend to claim.
Will my car insurance always increase after an accident?
Regardless of whose fault the accident was, making a claim on your policy is likely to lead to an increase in your car insurance premium, especially if you’re planning to stay renew with your current insurance provider.
A non-fault claim shouldn't affect your premium as much as an at-fault claim.
But even if you don’t make a claim after an accident, you could still see an increase in your insurance premium.
This may be because your provider needs to recoup the costs of a claim made by the other driver or because they now consider you to be at risk of another accident.
Why does having an accident impact my car insurance?
Insurance providers will want to recoup the cost of any pay out after an accident, hence a hike in premiums.
It seems a bit unfair, but that’s down to some insurance providers believing that drivers who’ve had an accident (even if it wasn’t their fault and they didn’t claim for it) are more likely to be involved in another accident later on. As a result, your premium will rise to cover the greater risk of them having to pay out.
See more about how car insurance premiums are calculated.
How much does car insurance increase after an accident claim?
The amount will vary depending on who’s to blame, the severity of the accident, and your own driving record.
But you should expect your car insurance to increase by about 20-50% after making a claim.,
To give you an idea of how much your insurance could go up when you’ve had an accident, we’ve checked our data for the average premium in September 2025.
Let’s assume this is the price for your annual insurance if you haven’t had an accident. Then compare it to a 20% increase upon renewal if you’re involved in an accident which was your fault:
Cost of insurance | |
|---|---|
Avg. premium no accident | £606[1] |
Avg. premium accident (driver at fault) | £727[2] |
[1] 51% of our customers were quoted less than £606 for their comprehensive car insurance in December 2025.
[2] Assuming an average premium of £606, plus an increase of 20%.
What’s a non-fault car insurance claim?
A non-fault car insurance claim is when the liability (or fault) for the accident lies completely with someone else.
For example, if your car was stationary and another driver backed into it, then that driver was at fault.
After an accident, your insurance provider will try to recoup the costs of any repairs to your vehicle from the person whose fault it was. If they’re successful in getting back all of the costs, your claim will be recorded as a non-fault claim on your insurance history.
What’s an at-fault insurance claim?
If an accident is your fault, your claim will be recorded as an at-fault claim on your insurance history.
Unfortunately, you’ll also be considered at fault if your insurance provider can’t find anyone else to blame for an accident you were involved in.
So if your car is vandalised and the culprits aren’t caught or your insurance provider can’t recover all the costs associated with the repairs, you could find yourself footing the bill.
Am I covered if I get hit by an uninsured driver?
It depends, as not all insurance providers deal with claims against uninsured drivers in the same way.
If you have a comprehensive policy, it could include an uninsured driver promise that protects your no-claims discount and reimburses your excess. However, you may need to prove the accident wasn’t your fault for this to apply.
If your cover is third-party only or third-party, fire and theft, you won’t be able to make a claim on your insurance.
However, you can try and claim compensation through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB). The MIB is a non-profit organisation working in partnership with the police and DVLA to tackle uninsured driving and help those affected by this crime.
Did you know?
The Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) estimates that every year, uninsured and hit and run drivers cost the insurance industry nearly £2.4 billion.
Will making a claim affect my no claims discount (NCD)?
If you’ve protected your no claims discount (NCD), then making a claim shouldn’t affect the number of years that contribute to your NCD.
But if you’ve had an accident, the basic cost of your premium is likely to go up. So although your NCD remains the same, it’s applied after your premium is calculated, resulting in an overall increase.
If you haven’t protected your NCD, making an at-fault claim for an accident will almost certainly affect your NCD years.
Do I need to tell an insurance provider about previous car accidents?
Yes. When you apply for car insurance, you’re expected to disclose details of all previous vehicle accidents you’ve been involved in as a driver in the past five years. Even if they weren’t your fault or no claim was made.
This includes accidents in all vehicles, from cars to motorbikes, trucks to vans and everything in between. You’ll also need to mention if you’ve been involved in any accidents while driving a company car or rental car.
Honesty is always the best policy and will give you the best chance of being able to claim in future if you have an accident. Failing to tell your insurance provider about previous accidents is known as non-disclosure and could invalidate your cover.
What will happen if I don’t inform my insurance provider about an accident?
Insurance providers carry out cross-reference checks between different vehicle insurance databases, including the Claims and Underwriting Exchange (CUE).
The CUE is a UK central database that stores data about all reported car and home insurance incidents. So your insurance provider will see anything you have or haven’t disclosed.
If you fail to tell your insurance provider about an accident, your policy could be declared void and invalidated, leaving you without cover.
What can I do if my insurance claim is declined because of non-disclosure?
Your first step should be to make a formal complaint if you believe your insurance provider has acted unreasonably in rejecting a claim on the grounds of non-disclosure.
If you’re not happy with the outcome of your complaint and you want to take it further, you can then refer your case to the independent Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).
How to lower your car insurance premium after an accident
While you should expect to pay more for your car insurance after an accident, there are some ways to help lower the cost of your premium.
Consider buying a less powerful car – economical cars with a smaller engine size tend to be in the lowest car insurance groups and are typically cheaper to insure.
Reduce your annual mileage – limiting the number of miles you drive could reduce your risk of having another accident, and it could lower your premium.
Consider a black box policy – a small telematics device installed in your car can show insurance providers how you’re driving. If you drive safely, you may be rewarded with a cheaper premium.
Add a named driver – if someone with experience and a clean driving record is willing to drive your car occasionally, it could help to bring down the cost of your premium.
Shop around – comparing quotes from a range of different providers is one of the best ways to find a cheaper car insurance deal.
Compare car insurance quotes in minutes to see if you can save.
FAQs
How many years will a claim affect my insurance for?
Insurance providers will want to know about any claims you’ve made within the last five years.
Do I need to tell my partner’s insurance provider if I’m a named driver on their policy and I make a claim on my own insurance?
It’s probably best to check with their insurance provider. If you’re a named driver on your partner’s policy, it could affect the cost of their premium too. But it’s always best to be honest.
How do I check my car insurance claims history?
The quickest way to check your claims history is to contact your insurance provider.
You can also request information about your claims history held on the CUE database at the MIB website. Just be aware that requests can take up to a month, so try your insurance provider first.
Do I still need to pay the excess if an accident wasn’t my fault?
In most cases, yes, you’ll still need to pay the excess if you make a claim – even if it wasn’t your fault. However, some providers might waive the excess if the third party admits liability or if you’re hit by an uninsured driver.
Check your policy to be sure.
Looking for something else?
With more than eight years’ experience in writing and sub-editing content, Karen started her career in fashion before making the move to insurance. She now specialises in producing clear, engaging content that helps people make better financial decisions.
Karen’s areas of expertise include insurance products, such as car insurance, travel insurance and life insurance, as well as utilities such as energy comparison.
Stephen Maunder is an experienced personal finance editor, having spent more than a decade working for consumer print and online titles. He won several industry awards for his personal finance features at Which?, before becoming Deputy Editor at Compare the Market.
Amy helps make sure you get the best value when choosing insurance. Thanks to more than four years’ experience at Compare the Market, she understands what people look for, working closely with insurance providers to offer you deals and services that are fair, easy to understand and right for your needs.
Our content is written by a Compare the Market expert, backed by data and enhanced by technology. Find out how we ensure accuracy and quality in our Editorial Guidelines.
