How do multiple car insurance claims impact insurance?

What happens if you have multiple car insurance claims?

If you've filed one car insurance claim and have another car-related incident, you'll need to file a separate claim for the second incident. Find out the steps involved for filing an auto insurance claim.

Your car insurance company will treat each claim separately. But if they consider you to be a higher risk after you file your claims, you could end up with a higher rate, depending on your state and insurer. They may even decide not to renew your policy.

Will multiple car insurance claims raise your rate?

Depending on your state, insurer, and type of claim, your auto policy's rate may increase because of multiple claims — even just one accident can raise your rate. And filing several claims during a short time may result in your insurer choosing not to renew your auto insurance policy when you reach the end of your term.

Can an insurance company cancel your policy if you have multiple car insurance claims?

Apart from discriminatory factors like race, gender, or disability, insurance companies can generally decide not to renew your policy for any reason in most states. If your policy is cancelled or your rate is no longer within your budget, you can switch to a new car insurance company. Understand that your new insurer may also view you as a higher risk for an accident because of your previous claims and set your rate accordingly.

What happens when you file multiple claims and you weren't at fault?

Claims that are out of your control such as weather-related damage, vandalism, or theft can still cause a rate increase, depending on your state and insurer. If another driver hits you, your policy's rate may go up, even though the accident wasn't your fault.

You can help prevent claims by practicing defensive driving and storing your car in a secure place where it's less likely to be damaged.

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