There is no single percentage by which car insurance increases after an accident in California.
The amount depends on whether the driver was principally at fault, the insurer’s approved rating plan, the driver’s accident and violation history, current discounts, annual mileage, years of driving experience, and other permitted factors.
An accident-related increase generally appears at renewal rather than immediately after the collision. A driver found principally at fault may face a surcharge or lose a discount.
A driver who is not determined to be principally at fault generally should not receive an accident surcharge based on that accident.
The best way to identify the actual increase is to compare the current premium with the renewal offer and ask which rating factors changed.
Is There an Average Insurance Increase After an Accident?
California does not require every insurer to apply the same surcharge. Each company uses its own approved rating plan, so published averages may not predict what an individual driver will pay.
A renewal increase may also reflect a companywide rate change, lost discount, updated mileage, a new driver, a vehicle change, or a different rating territory. Avoid relying on one advertised percentage as a guaranteed result.
When Can an Accident Increase Insurance in California?
An accident may affect the premium when the insurer determines that the insured driver was principally at fault.
For California automobile-rating purposes, a driver is generally considered principally at fault when the driver’s actions or omissions were at least 51% of the legal cause of the accident and the accident met the applicable injury, death, or property-damage threshold.
The insurer must investigate before assigning that classification.
Does Insurance Increase After Every Accident?
No. Reporting an accident or opening a claim does not automatically mean the premium will increase.
The insurer separately evaluates whether the loss is covered, what happened, whether another party shared responsibility, and whether the insured driver was principally at fault.
An insurance payment alone does not prove that the insured driver caused the accident.
Do not avoid reporting an accident only because you fear a premium increase. Delayed notice may create separate claim or policy problems. Provide accurate information, avoid guessing about fault, and follow the policy’s reporting requirements.
For the full reporting process, see How to File an Auto Insurance Claim After an Accident in California.
What Does “Principally At Fault” Mean?
Being involved in a collision is not the same as being principally at fault.
Under California Code of Regulations Title 10, Section 2632.13, an insurer must determine whether the driver was at least 51% responsible for the legal cause of the accident before assigning principal fault.
Circumstances that may support a finding that the driver was not principally at fault include when:
- The vehicle was lawfully parked
- The vehicle was struck from behind and the driver was not convicted of a related violation
- Another driver was convicted of a moving violation and the insured driver was not
- The vehicle was damaged in a properly reported hit-and-run
- A solo accident resulted from a hazardous condition a careful driver could not reasonably detect or avoid
The insurer must still review the specific facts and evidence.
Will Insurance Go Up After a Not-at-Fault Accident?
A not-at-fault accident should not create an accident surcharge against the driver.
However, the total renewal premium may still rise because of a companywide rate change, updated mileage, a new vehicle or driver, changed coverage, or removal of an unrelated discount.
If the renewal rises, ask whether you were classified as principally at fault, whether a surcharge was added, whether a discount was removed, and whether any policy information changed.
What Determines the Size of the Increase?
The exact amount depends on the driver, insurer, policy, and accident.
Important factors may include:
- The fault determination
- Previous accidents or violations
- Whether injuries occurred
- Claim severity
- Current discounts
- Annual mileage
- Years of driving experience
- Vehicle use and rating territory
- Coverage or deductible changes
- The insurer’s approved rating plan
A renewal may rise because the driver lost a discount even when the insurer does not display a separate surcharge.
How Long Can an Accident Affect Insurance Rates?
An at-fault accident may affect rates across multiple renewal periods.
The exact period depends on the insurer’s approved rating plan, the accident date and classification, whether injuries occurred, and the driver’s other accidents or violations.
California Good Driver eligibility generally considers the previous three years, but that does not mean every insurer applies the same surcharge for exactly three years.
Ask how long the accident will affect the premium and when the driving record will be reviewed again.
Can You Challenge an At-Fault Determination?
Yes. California rules require the insurer to investigate before determining that a driver was principally at fault.
The insurer should provide written notice explaining the decision and the right to request reconsideration.
A request may include photographs, dashcam footage, witness information, police-report details, vehicle-impact locations, and evidence correcting inaccurate facts.
Focus on the insurer’s stated reason, explain which fact is incorrect, and provide supporting evidence. Keep the determination, request, and response in writing.
What Should You Do When the Renewal Premium Increases?
Ask the insurer or agent for a written explanation.
Questions to ask include:
- Was an accident surcharge added?
- Was I classified as principally at fault?
- Did I lose Good Driver eligibility?
- Was another discount removed?
- Did the insurer change its base rates?
- Did my mileage, vehicle use, or rating territory change?
- Is any policy information incorrect?
- How long will the accident affect my rate?
When information is inaccurate, request a correction and submit supporting records.
If you believe California insurance requirements were not followed, you may request assistance from the California Department of Insurance.
A complaint does not guarantee a lower premium, but it allows the Department to review the insurer’s handling.
How to Reduce Insurance Costs After an Accident?
You may not be able to remove a valid at-fault accident immediately, but you can review the rest of the policy.
Compare written quotes using the same limits and deductibles, confirm available discounts, correct inaccurate driver or mileage information, and consider a higher deductible only when you can afford the added risk.
Maintain continuous coverage and avoid reducing important protection only to obtain the lowest price.
Does the Auto Body Shop Determine Whether Insurance Goes Up?
No. A collision repair facility does not determine fault, premiums, surcharges, Good Driver eligibility, policy renewal, or insurance coverage.
Those decisions are made by the insurer under the policy, California law, and its approved rating plan.
The repair facility’s role is to inspect damage, prepare the repair plan, document additional damage, submit repair information, and complete authorized work.
Need Help With the Repair Side of Your Insurance Claim?
A possible premium increase is something your insurance company determines, but you do not have to manage the collision-repair portion of the claim alone.
ER Collision & Auto Body Shop assists drivers in Huntington Beach and throughout Orange County with vehicle damage documentation, insurer estimate review, supplemental repair documentation, adjuster communication, repair authorization coordination, and collision repairs following procedures.
If your vehicle was damaged in an accident and you need help moving the repair portion of your claim forward, learn more about our auto insurance claim assistance services.
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal, insurance, or financial advice. ER Collision & Auto Body Shop does not determine fault, coverage, premiums, or claim outcomes and only assists with the repair-related portion of insurance claims.
