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Will My Car Insurance Go Up If I Was Not at Fault?

By AutoInsuranceBundle.pro · Published November 6, 2026 · Reviewed November 6, 2026

Short answer: It can. Being found not at fault helps, but it does not always keep the premium the same. Some states limit extra rating points or surcharges for an accident that was not your fault, while companies may still count claim frequency when they decide whether to renew collision or comprehensive. A windshield or other comprehensive claim is not the same as an at-fault crash, yet it can still appear in underwriting. If your renewal notice says the increase came from a claim you believe was not your fault, ask the insurer to review it in writing and use your state's complaint process if one exists. State rules vary.

A crash that was not your fault still puts a claim on someone's books. That is why the premium question does not end when fault is assigned. The other driver's insurer may pay the loss, and your own company may still see a claim, a payout or a later underwriting review. Whether the price goes up depends on your state, your company and what kind of claim it was.

What people on X are saying

The public question is blunt: if I did not cause it, why am I paying more?

@BaneDurham asked, "Why does my insurance go up when there is an incident that wasn't my fault?" @MrTeatime10 made the same point as a broader complaint, asking why a proven not-at-fault accident should raise the premium at all. @D_Mark23 said rates go up after an accident even if you are not at fault. @TigermanRoar said a long-time USAA policyholder saw rates rise after an auto accident that was documented as not their fault. @jketnerofficial said an agent raised rates because of a not-at-fault accident claim and a windshield replacement after a rock from a semi.

Those posts describe frustration, not a single national rule. The windshield example also shows why "not at fault" and "no surcharge" are not always the same conversation. A comprehensive glass claim is not an at-fault wreck, and it can still be a claim.

A broader page on rates after an accident covers at-fault crashes. Why Did My Car Insurance Go Up With No Claims? covers increases with no claim at all. This page is about the in-between case: there was an incident, and you were not found at fault.

How fault, points and underwriting can diverge

The Insurance Information Institute lists driving record among the usual rating factors, along with mileage, location, the vehicle, credit-based insurance scores where allowed, and the coverages you choose. An accident on your record can affect that mix even when another driver caused it, depending on how your company and your state record the event.

The North Carolina Department of Insurance draws a useful split. On the one hand, North Carolina says an insurance company cannot charge insurance points for an accident that was not your fault. On the other hand, when asked whether a company can refuse to renew because of claims that were not your fault, North Carolina says the company can nonrenew collision and comprehensive (other-than-collision) coverages if you do not meet its underwriting criteria, as long as it gives proper notice. Many companies, the department says, use frequency of claims and take into account at-fault as well as fault-free claims.

That is one state's published answer, and it explains a lot of the confusion on X. You can be protected from extra rating points and still face a harder renewal, a higher price from another factor, or a decision to drop physical-damage coverage.

The Maryland Insurance Administration tells consumers what to do if the increase is tied to a claim and they do not think they were at fault. Maryland says you can contact your producer or insurer and ask them to review the increase. You may also file a complaint with the administration within 30 days of the mailing date on the notice that the premium is being increased because of a claim or a change in driving record. Maryland requires insurers to mail a notice of a renewal premium increase at least 45 days before the new term. If you file on time, the agency reviews whether the increase and the notice comply with the law. You still have to pay the billed premium while that review is open. If the increase is later found improper, Maryland says the insurer must reimburse any overpayment.

If the increase is a general rate change for many policyholders, not a claim surcharge, Maryland says there may be nothing the agency can require the company to remove, though you can still ask it to review whether the filing and notice follow the law. That general-increase path is the same story told in Why Did My Car Insurance Go Up With No Accidents?.

The Insurance Information Institute's cancellation page is the other bookend: a company can decide not to renew at expiration and must give notice and a reason under state rules. Claim frequency can be part of that review even when no single crash was your fault.

What to do if a not-at-fault claim changed your price

1. Compare the old and new declarations pages and the renewal letter. Mark whether the notice cites a claim, a ticket, a discount change or a general increase.
2. Ask the insurer, in writing, how it assigned fault, which claim number it used and whether any surcharge or points were added.
3. If you disagree, send the police report, photos and the other insurer's acceptance of liability. Ask the company to recast the premium.
4. Check your state's deadline for protesting a claim-related increase. Maryland's published window is 30 days from the mailing date of that kind of notice. Other states use different processes.
5. File a complaint with your state insurance department if the company's answer does not match the facts or the notice rules.
6. Compare quotes with the same limits before the renewal date. Another company may price a fault-free claim differently.
7. Think carefully before skipping a future claim only to protect the rate. If someone else was hurt or later sues, not reporting the incident can create its own problem.

:::template Subject: Request to review a premium increase after a not-at-fault claim

Hello,

I received a renewal or mid-term notice that appears to increase my premium after a claim I believe was not my fault. Please confirm in writing the claim number, how fault was assigned, whether any surcharge or insurance points were applied, and whether the increase is instead a general rate change.

I have attached any police report and correspondence showing the other party's liability. Please review the increase and tell me how to request a correction or how to file a state review.

Thank you. :::

A related glass-only situation is covered in Windshield Chip, Crack, and Glass Claims.

Edge cases and common mistakes

Do not assume "the other insurer paid" means your own company recorded no claim. If you used your collision coverage and were later reimbursed, the claim may still exist on your file.

Do not ignore a comprehensive claim when you ask why the price moved. Rock chips, hail and animal strikes are often not anyone's "fault" in the crash sense, and they can still count toward frequency.

Do not miss a protest deadline while you wait for a phone call to be returned. Send the request in writing and keep the mailing or email date.

More answers built from public X questions are collected at X Answers.

If you want to compare the same limits after a not-at-fault claim changed your renewal, a licensed agent can review the options side by side.

FAQ

Will my car insurance go up if I was not at fault?

It can. Some states limit extra rating points for a fault-free accident, but companies may still count the claim when they price the policy or decide whether to renew physical-damage coverage.

Can a company add points for a crash that was not my fault?

In North Carolina, the insurance department says a company cannot charge insurance points for an accident that was not your fault. That is a North Carolina rule. Ask how your state treats fault-free accidents.

Why would a windshield claim affect my rate?

A glass claim is still a claim. It is usually comprehensive, not an at-fault collision, but it can show up in underwriting or in a later conversation about claim frequency.

What if I think the company marked me at fault by mistake?

Ask for the fault finding in writing and send the evidence you have. In Maryland, you can also protest a claim-related increase within 30 days of the notice's mailing date. Other states have their own complaint process.

Can the company drop my collision coverage after fault-free claims?

North Carolina says a company can nonrenew collision and comprehensive if you do not meet its underwriting criteria and it gives proper notice. Frequency, including fault-free claims, can be part of that review.

How do I tell a claim surcharge from a general rate increase?

Read the notice. If it does not mention a surcharge for a claim or a ticket, the increase may be a broader filing. Ask the company to say which one it is.

Will shopping around make this worse?

Getting quotes is not the same as filing another claim. Compare the same coverage and do not cancel the current policy until a new one is bound.

Should I stop reporting accidents so my rate stays down?

No. If anyone is injured or later sues, not reporting the incident can make it harder for your insurer to defend you. Ask how a claim will be coded before you assume silence is safer.

Important: This article is general information, not legal, tax, or insurance advice, and coverage rules vary by state, insurer, and policy. AutoInsuranceBundle.pro is a free, independent insurance comparison and referral service. We are not an insurance company, we do not issue policies, and we do not provide insurance advice. Calls to the number on this site are routed to licensed insurance agents or agencies in our partner network, who may receive compensation. Calling is completely voluntary and there is no obligation to buy. Rates, discounts, and availability vary by carrier, state, and individual eligibility; not all carriers, products, or discounts are available in all states. Calls may be recorded for quality and compliance purposes.