There are times when you may have a fender bender and decide, between you and the other driver, that you do not want the car insurance companies to find out about the accident. The fear is a rise in insurance premiums. There are ways your insurance company may find out anyway. Especially if your car is in need of repair.

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If either vehicle is taken for repair, the accident may end up on the CLUE list. CLUE stands for Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange. This allows your carrier to check this report to see if a claim was filed under your name or the name of the other party to the accident.

Is it okay if my car insurance carrier finds out about my car accidents?

Many companies offer accident forgiveness in many cases. This is an incentive for your business. Therefore, if you have a fender bender or minor accident with minor injuries, your carrier may consider this accident forgiven.

On the other hand, if the accident results in major injuries or happens because of a DUI, your carrier may not be as forgiving. You may have to pay the consequences for this one.

Your fist concern is going to be the likelihood of license suspension in either case. This will depend on the state where the accident occurred and where your car is registered.

Since each state establishes its own laws regarding traffic violations, the state will be a determining factor. It can be easy to predict however since many state laws are similar.

For instance, if you live in a no-fault insurance state, it does not matter who is at fault in an accident. Each insurance carrier pays for his or her subscriber’s medical expenses and damages according the terms of the policy.

If the event happens in a state where liability exists, there may be an increase because of the expenses to the insurer. The amount of the increase may hinge on the state also. The state has a set standard of how much a company may raise your premiums.

Once my car insurance carrier finds out about my car accident, when will they raise my premium?

Your insurance carrier may not find out about your car accident for a few months. If you recently acquired or renewed your policy, it may be a couple of years before they examine your Motor Vehicle Record or MVR. This is not the case 100% of the time.

There are times when the accident requires the notification of carriers. If the accident warrants a look at the MVR, then the insurance carrier will look it over.

If your accident is due to a DUI/DWI, your options change. Your carrier will become aware of your accident and possibly cancel your policy immediately. If you go to court and your license is suspended or revoked, you will not need insurance.

How can I get my premiums back down after my carrier finds out about my car accident?

If you weathered the storm of an accident and it has been a few years since it occurred, then congratulations! It is now time to work on getting a rate reduction. Did you know you can call your carrier and request a reduction? Accidents may stay on your MVR approximately three, five, or seven years depending on the state.

If you live in a state where your accident remains five years, you may call your carrier after year three with no violations and make your case. If they do not consider it this year, they may consider it the following year. The point is as long as you continue driving without incident your chances increase.

Should I take a class after my insurance company finds out about my car accident?

If your car accident involves the police then you might have received a ticket. This could generate as many as six points on your MVR. Your insurance company will more then likely find out about the accident; however, your may be able to take a class to lessen the impact.

Taking a defensive driving class may knock three points off your MVR, which in turn may have an impact on the amount of increase to your insurance premiums. Some people have experienced increases as high as 20%-50%. So drive with awareness and caution.

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