HOW LONG DOES A CAR ACCIDENT STAY ON MY CAR INSURANCE RECORD?

Technically, car accidents never really disappear from your insurance record. But they do not affect your insurance rate and ability to get insurance coverage from insurers throughout your active years.

Most insurance companies in the United Kingdom will inquire about accident claims you made in the last three years or more. Some will also consider incidences in your insurance history in the past seven years or even up to ten years. 

Ideally, a car accident should remain in your insurance record and affect your premium for about five years. Some insurers will want to get more details about your claims before offering you auto insurance coverage. 

The importance of having adequate auto insurance cannot be overemphasised. It will protect the car, the car owner, and other road users from all manners of accidents and unforeseen circumstances. car insurance, however, is affected by some of the factors it protects you from. An accident, for instance, will affect your auto insurance in many ways. 

How long does an accident affect your insurance? 

This is a question that most people ask after an accident or even several years afterward. There is no one answer to this question, and we will discuss some of the most important things you need to know in that regard. 

How Will An Accident Affect Your Car Insurance? 

Insurance companies consider the risks involved in selling coverage to drivers. One of the ways they estimate the risks is to look at your driving history and insurance claims made in the past. Of course, accidents are integral parts of your driving history, and insurers will always consider it. 

Ideally, a recent accident or multiple accidents will increase your insurance premium. This is because insurance companies will treat you as a bigger risk than someone who has had an accident in many years of driving. Accidents can also affect your chances of getting insurance from some companies. 

Factors That Affect How Long A Car Accident Can Stay In Your Insurance Record

As mentioned already, the number of years an accident history will appear in your insurance record is not certain. There are different factors that can affect it, including the following major ones: 

• The insurance company you are trying to buy from 

• How long you have been using a particular insurance company 

• Your age 

• The type of accident 

• Whether you were at fault for the accident or not. 

Must You Report All Accidents To Your Insurer? 

To avoid tainting their insurance records, some drivers will decide to cover up an accident by not reporting to the insurance company. This is the wrong thing to do. Even if you have the money to
fix your car and don’t want to make a claim, inform your insurer about any accident you are involved in. All accidents are recorded in the Claims and Underwriting Exchange (CUE). If you don’t report an accident and your insurer finds out through other means, your insurance policy may be terminated. 

Conclusion 

In the United Kingdom, a car accident can remain in your insurance record for about five years or more. This doesn’t mean you should cover up an accident. Inform your insurer and make a claim if possible. To improve your driving safety in a manner that can impact your record positively, you can downsize your engine, fit an alarm, and take the Pass Plus qualification. Anything that can enhance safe driving can cushion the effect of an accident on your insurance.