It is a query your insurer won’t ever reply: how a lot does your automotive insurance coverage go up after a declare?
Complicated algorithms, particular person circumstances, the character of the accident and a listing of different elements are all in play, making a definitive reply arduous to come back by – particularly when your premium typically rises annually regardless.
Two insurance coverage specialists we spoke to on the document could not provide any agency steering – although they did elevate the bonnet on the processes concerned and the way any improve is perhaps calculated.
Maybe the one dependable indicator is anecdotal proof – so we requested Cash weblog readers for his or her tales, a lot of which we have included on the backside of this piece.
They present enormous disparities, with some dealing with 10% to 50% will increase, whereas others have been – counterintuitively – quoted a less expensive value after they got here up for renewal.
One reader’s premium elevated by as a lot as 207% – and round one in 5 ended up paying not less than 170% extra.
A recurring theme was that preliminary renewal quotes jumped considerably, however a number of the edge was taken off by buying round.
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Are you able to type it out with out involving an insurer?
All of this may make you marvel if it is cheaper, after a minor accident, to type issues out immediately between each events.
It may be executed – nevertheless it’s a dangerous street to go down.
As one insurance coverage insider instructed us, agreements a number of hours after an accident usually dissolve.
“They all say they’re happy, and then…”
Accidents, actual or exaggerated, should not at all times obvious within the rapid aftermath, and what seems to be superficial harm on, say, your bumper, can find yourself requiring a brand new radiator.
So this route can go away you in a tough spot, legally and financially – it’s essential to be actually positive about who you are coping with and it is at all times greatest to hunt impartial recommendation.
Remember, too, that the majority insurance policies can be invalid if in case you have an accident and do not report this to your insurer. That does not imply making a declare – you may inform them for “information only” – however, as a few of your tales under show, a be aware in your file may have an effect on future quotes.
Fault or no-fault – it does not at all times matter
One factor which may shock folks is that fault is not at all times a decisive think about how a lot a premium could rise.
Jenny Ross, editor of Which? Cash, instructed us: “If you’re involved in an accident or something happens to your car, this affects your risk profile whether it’s your fault or not.
“The reason being, danger is not a press release of how good or conscientious a driver you’re, or how seemingly you’re to trigger accidents – however a statistical estimate of how seemingly you’re to be concerned in an incident which may result in a declare.”
For example, a recent incident could be reflective of difficult traffic conditions where you tend to drive, and this will be the factor that pushes up a premium.
Someone else’s accident can impact your premium
Stuart Masson, editorial director at The Car Expert, told the Money blog a premium may be affected if people with a similar profile to you have an accident.
“Insurance coverage corporations use demographic knowledge to calculate premiums based mostly on accident knowledge – and that may penalise you not directly,” he said.
For example, your postcode, type of car and job title are all factors that can influence your premium costs.
“If there was an accident (no matter fault) involving somebody together with your job, dwelling in your postcode and driving your mannequin of automotive, it is going to inevitably issue into the algorithm as an elevated accident danger and subsequently improve your premium,” stated Masson.
Does no-claims low cost safety work?
Many individuals pay additional to guard their no-claims, however they might not realise this safety will (often) solely stand up to a restricted variety of claims per yr.
And whereas NCDP is more likely to reduce the affect of any rise in your premium, it will not cease it altogether.
“The reason is, it’s not directly protecting your premium (which will probably increase if you claim), but the discount applied to it,” stated Ross from Which?.
She gave this instance:
In case your premium was £1,000, and also you had a reduction of fifty%, you’d pay £500. For those who claimed, and the underlying premium rose to £1,200, with out NCDP your low cost may fall to 30% – which means you’d pay £840 (a rise of 68%). For those who had NCDP preserving your 50% low cost, you’d pay £600 – nonetheless an total improve of 20%.
Loyalty doesn’t pay
In case your renewal quote does rise, it is essential to buy round – each our specialists and many of the readers who wrote in concur.
“Don’t give your insurer any loyalty, because they won’t show you any,” stated Masson.
Your tales
My premium went from £387 to £569 for a no-fault declare that is not closed but and hasn’t gone to courtroom, although the opposite driver claimed duty. Had I not added the declare to my insurance coverage quote, my premium this yr would have been £418. If it isn’t my fault, I do not perceive why I’ve to pay extra.Bharat – 47% improve
Shortly after leasing our automotive someone hit it in a grocery store automotive park and drove off. We known as our insurer to examine if we may declare and the way that will have an effect on our premium. We did not ultimately and paid for the restore ourselves (about £300). Once we got here to resume, the quoted premium had gone from £550 to greater than £1,200 so we shopped round and settled on a coverage with a £530 quote. Once we have been finalising the fee, the agent ran a examine and stated there was an incident famous on “CARE” and that the coverage was now going to be £650.Steven London – 18% improve
I had an accident in February – an at-fault declare. My insurance coverage went up from £700 to £850 a yr, which I believed was cheap. 33M, Porsche Macan, £400 extra, £1,600 complete declare worth for repairs to each automobiles.Nameless – 21% improve
I had an accident the place I used to be deemed at fault in March. At renewal time in Might, I used to be nonetheless quoted £100 lower than the earlier yr, even with this declare settled. Perhaps my age (now 25) introduced it down. William Ferguson – lower
A lady driving a big SUV got here out of a facet street with out stopping and wrote my automotive off. Her insurers, Direct Line Motability, straightaway admitted full legal responsibility as I used to be not at fault. Later, after I purchased a Ford Fiesta, my Aviva premium jumped from £249.86 final January to a citation of greater than £1,000 as a result of I used to be “in an accident”. I used all of the comparability websites to get new quotations (some didn’t even trouble to ask who was responsible for the accident!). Premium quotes ranged from over double (Admiral – £510.41) to properly over five-fold my January premium – all as a result of I used to be “involved” in an accident!Christopher, Chester – 104% improve
My automotive insurance coverage with John Lewis went up from round £650 to £1,150 after a declare for a no-fault accident. This after paying for protected NCB and being with them for years. I needed to store round and received cowl elsewhere for £690.Nameless – 6% improve
After 15 years claims-free, my automotive was broken in a single day by an unknown driver. Since I could not show a accountable celebration, I used to be deemed at fault. My premium skyrocketed from £280 to £860 after that single incident. The repairs price simply £500. I’d have been higher off footing the invoice privately.Anthony, Portsmouth – 207% improve
Having had no claims for 20 years, I used to be unlucky to be on the receiving finish of two situations of unhealthy driving, and one other of simply unhealthy luck, in a number of months. Having added these no-fault claims to my AA quote, the worth went as much as greater than £480 (from £297). I phoned to ask why, arguing the premium should not go up as I used to be 64, retired and doing fewer miles. I used to be successfully instructed that retirees are thought-about increased danger, and my claims historical past, regardless of the circumstances, nonetheless confirmed I used to be increased danger.Carol Sim – 61% improve
In 2023, after I was 20, I had an accident in my 2018 1.5 Mini Cooper when a driver went into the again of me at a roundabout. My insurance coverage went up from £655.25 to £1,001.25. However seeing as I had modified car to a 2021 Cooper S in addition to modified places from Cornwall to Kent (which added £130.70 to the worth), I did not suppose this was too unhealthy.Ross – 53% improve
I reinsured my Audi A7 after a rear-end shunt that was my fault. I’ve driving document with full no-claims low cost. It was going to price me £300 extra to resume, however utilizing comparability web sites I received it £50 cheaper than earlier than the bump (£480). I do have no-claims safety which is taken into consideration, in addition to my age, 59.Neil Pannett, West Sussex – 10% lower
My quote with Admiral was cheap contemplating the extras. I used to be 32 and my spouse was 29 after I purchased the automotive. Insurance coverage was roughly £760, which went down through the years to about £480. In 2023, a driver who had handed their take a look at two days earlier hit our car. All paperwork have been despatched off and my insurance coverage stated it clearly wasn’t my fault – it went down as a non-fault. A yr later when my insurance coverage was due for renewal, Admiral wished simply shy of £1,300. Evidently, after being with them seven or so years from a earlier car, I went to Hastings Direct which gave me the identical coverage for £560.Ross Curtis, Kent – 17% improve
After a declare the place I struck a submit at a espresso drive-through (it was a newly erected submit and in my nearside blind spot) my renewal premium went from round £370 to only over £1,000! It was my solely declare ever with a most non-claims low cost on document.Graeme – 170% improve
I used to be hit from behind by a automotive that had left no hole and had been tailgating me for some time – I went from paying £44 to £77 a month on renewal. The accident was classed as a no-fault on my insurance coverage. My motorcycle insurance coverage additionally elevated from £90 to £240.Tony Reilly – 167% improve
I had an accident in London close to Edgware Highway the place I used to be discovered to not be at fault. However in the course of the investigation my premium went up from £400 to £660. After a yr and being pressured to pay the additional £160, I received my no-claims bonus again and my insurance coverage went all the way down to the £400 area once more.M’hamed Naana – 65% improve
I’ve needed to make two no-fault claims (October 2023 and June 2025). I’ve simply come to resume my insurance coverage, however the value elevated by greater than £100. Utilizing comparability websites I discovered a premium virtually £200 cheaper. I rang to verify the second no-fault declare, nevertheless it elevated the quote by £65. The individual on the cellphone apologised as “although I am not at fault, the rules are it increases the risk”.Barry Horne – lower
I had two non-fault claims over a yr. Each occasions I wasn’t within the automotive and each occasions the total quantity was recovered from the opposite celebration. Regardless of this, my protected no claims insurance coverage coverage went from £334 to £960 a yr.Martin – 187% improve
My car was concerned in an accident final yr which was decided to be no-fault to me and the third celebration paid the declare. After I got here to resume this yr I received some quotes, first with out declaring the declare, then declaring the declare. The second lot of quotes have been constantly 10% increased.Ian – 10% improve
I made a no-fault declare via Admiral Insurance coverage when a automotive bumped into my Audi. The opposite driver and his insurer admitted it was totally their fault. My automotive was written off by Admiral. Two months later my renewal quote went up from £678 to £1,059.MC, London – 56% improve
