How Long Does an Accident Stay on Your Car Insurance Record In California?

Reader’s Question:

How long does a car accident stay on your insurance record in California?

Tom

Good question Tom.

All accidents are reported by the law enforcement officer to the Department of Motor Vehicle that will show upon your driving record unless another person is at fault in the event of accident.

The California assigns one point to at fault accidents. The points will be placed on your driving record and all the information regarding the incident. This information will stay on your record for three years.

Whenever a person applies for a policy, renews his insurance or makes any changes in their auto insurance policy, the car insurance companies check the individuals car insurance and driving records. If your accident is on the MVR, this will definitely affects your insurance rate.

Insurance companies keep records of your claims related to accidents as well as the California Department of Motor Vehicles. The insurance companies can access the comprehensive loss underwriting exchange to find out what previous claims you’ve had.

You may contact the California Department of Insurance to find out if California allows insurance companies to charge surcharges or raise premiums due to accidents.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

California Car Insurance Law – Do I Have To File a Claim?

California car insurance law doesn’t mandate that you file a claim after every accident. It’s entirely up to you to do so or not. Some people choose not to after some accidents because they don’t want the negative spot on their car insurance report, but you have to make the correct decision so that you don’t pay for it in the future. Most car insurance companies want you to at least tell them about an accident, even if you don’t file a claim, but in some cases that may not be advisable.

• Deductible.

Here’s the first test of whether or not you need to file a car insurance claim. There’s no California car insurance law about deductibles, but most companies have one for their extra insurance coverages, that is, not for liability but for all the rest. If your repairs are going to cost less than your claim, then there’s no reason for you to file a claim. However, if the repairs will cost more, then you should go ahead and file a claim.

Try to get an estimate from a reliable body shop before you make the decision about the price. If you aren’t sure about how much the repairs will cost, then you can’t make a valid decision about whether to file a claim or not.

• Other spots on your record?

Sometimes when you have a car accident, you’ll already have something on your car insurance record that makes you less than desirable, or high risk. If you already have a previous ticket for a moving violation, or if you have gotten into an at fault accident before, then you should check the law with the California department of insurance to see when a car insurance is able to decide on nonrenewal for you.

• Anybody there?

If you get injured, then you absolutely must make a car insurance claim. You never know what complications could happen, and even if you have health insurance, it is often the case that medical insurance will not elp you with things such as lost wages. If you need help with these things, then you will need to make a car insurance claim.

If there is another driver involved in the accident, then it is a good idea to at least tell your car insurance company. California car insurance law allows claimants to sue the other driver, so if the other driver comes up with a lawsuit and you haven’t said a word, then you’ll be in trouble.