You have worked hard to have a good driving record, and then it happens. You are in an auto accident. Now you are stressing because you are wondering if it will show up on your driving record.
The details about how it will appear and how long it will be there are dependent on several things including your state laws. If the police are called, which they should be for most accidents, and they file a report, then it will show up on your motor vehicle record through the state.
Now that state systems are digitized,
How Long Do Accidents Stay on My Record?
When you get into an accident unfortunately it will stay on your driving records for a length of time, even if you weren’t at fault in the accident. That accident can cause your insurance rates to go up and you may end up with some points on your license too if you were at fault in the accident.
The amount of time that the accident stays on your driving record depends on two things: the state you live in and the nature of the accident.
Each state has their own criteria for how long an accident will stay on your driving record but in most states a minor accident will stay on your record for between 3-5 years.
During that time your insurance rates may go up and you may find it difficult to get insurance, especially if you have a late model vehicle. But, for accidents that are very serious, have a lot of property damage, or are related to drugs or alcohol the length of time that accident will stay on your record is much longer.
For example, in California an accident related to alcohol or drugs where you were at fault for the accident will stay on your record for 13 years. In some states there are things that you can do to mitigate the impact of the accident on your record like take safe driving classes or complete a drug and alcohol education class.
Will My Insurance Go Up With an Accident on my Record?
After you’ve involved in an accident there’s a good chance that your insurance rates are going to go up even if you didn’t cause the accident. If you caused the accident you may end up with a big increase, but if you weren’t at fault you might only see a slight increase in your rates.
One way that you can protect against this happening to you is to sign up for insurance from a company that offers accident forgiveness for your first accident. If your insurance company offers accident forgiveness it’s usually only extended to your first accident that is your fault if you have an otherwise clean driving record.
If you have many accidents on your record then you probably won’t qualify for accident forgiveness. However, if you have a pretty good driving record and just want some peace of mind that your rates won’t go up if you do get into an accident you should ask your insurance company if they offer accident forgiveness or switch to a company that offers is.
How long Will My Insurance Rates Remain Increased?
The good news is that your rates won’t stay high forever. In general, the accident will only affect your insurance rates for about three states, although that varies based on the nature of the accident.
If you weren’t at fault for the accident or if it was a minor fender-bender then your rates should go back down after three years. But, if it was a major accident that was your fault, or if the accident was due to you driving under the influence, it could affect your insurance rates for up to ten years.
How Does My Driving Record Affect Me?
Your driving record will help you or hurt you in various ways. Your employer might use your driving record and include it as part of your background check. Your auto insurance company will review it when determining whether to insure you and what your premium rates should be.
There are several ways that a poor driving record can affect you – it can cause a license suspension, higher insurance premiums, and make you ineligible for some jobs. Your driving history is recorded so driver license agencies can refer to details about you as a driver.
The information kept in your record is used to determine points against you for violations and accidents and then to determine if you have attained enough points to have your driving privileges suspended.
Law enforcement can look at your driving record to see if you have a valid, active license and that you are entitled to operate a vehicle on the roads. If you move, the state where you move might access your records from your previous state to determine if you are eligible to be licensed.
