What Affects Your Car Insurance Rates After a Crash?

You were just in a crash, and beyond the dented bumper and the sore neck, a nagging worry sets in: is this going to spike my premium? The honest answer is that it depends, and understanding what it depends on puts you in a much stronger position. Here is what actually drives your car insurance rates after a car accident in Florida, and what you can do about it.

The fear of a rate hike after a crash is real, and it stops some people from doing things they should do, like using their own coverage or filing a legitimate claim. The truth is more nuanced than a simple yes or no. Your premium is shaped by several factors, only some of which have anything to do with the crash you were just in.

Will your car insurance rates go up after a crash?

It depends, and the most honest answer is yes, no, or maybe, depending on the circumstances. The outcome turns on a handful of factors: whether you were at fault, how many claims you have had, where you live, and the business decisions your insurer makes about its book of customers. A single not-at-fault crash sits at the low-risk end of that spectrum.

Understanding which of these factors applies to you is the key to knowing what to expect, and to spotting an increase that should not be happening in the first place.

When should your rates not go up?

As a general rule, if the crash was not your fault, your premium should not increase because of it. When another driver causes the wreck, their insurance is responsible for the damage, and Florida law under Florida Statute § 626.9541 generally prohibits an insurer from surcharging you or refusing to renew your policy solely because you were in an accident, absent a good-faith finding that you were substantially at fault.

A single claim, especially a not-at-fault one, also should not by itself push your rates up. We cover the specific legal protections against improper surcharges, including the situations that entitle you to a reimbursement, in depth in our guide to what happens to your rates after a car accident. That article is the place to go if you believe you have been surcharged unfairly.

What factors actually make your rates rise?

Several factors genuinely influence your premium, and most have to do with risk rather than any single crash:

• Fault and your at-fault history. Being at fault in a crash, and especially having a pattern of at-fault accidents, is the factor most likely to raise your rates.
• Frequency of claims. One claim is one thing. Several claims in a short span, even minor ones, signal risk to an insurer and can drive an increase.
• Where you live. Insurers rate by territory, so a ZIP code with high rates of accidents, theft, or vandalism can raise premiums for everyone in it, regardless of individual fault.
• Your driving record. Tickets, moving violations, and prior incidents all factor into how an insurer prices your policy.
• Coverage and vehicle changes. Adding a vehicle or a driver, changing your coverage, or switching to a more expensive car to insure can all move your premium.

Notice how few of these are about a single not-at-fault accident. That is the point. A crash that was not your fault is usually a small factor compared to your overall risk profile.

💡 Did You Know? There is a difference between a surcharge and a rate increase. A surcharge is aimed at you specifically because of your accident, and Florida law limits when an insurer can impose one. A general rate increase applies to everyone in your area or risk class, and it can raise your premium even with a spotless record, because it is not tied to your individual accident at all.

Why do insurers raise rates even when it’s not your fault?

Here is the reality the fine print does not advertise: an insurance company is a business, and its pricing decisions serve that business. Even when you did nothing wrong, an insurer may adjust rates across a region based on claim frequency, repair costs, litigation trends, and its own financial targets. Those increases are spread across many customers, and they are not a surcharge tied to your specific crash.

In some cases, repeated claims can also lead an insurer to price a customer higher or decline to renew, which is sometimes a way of steering higher-risk customers elsewhere. None of this means you did anything wrong, and it does not mean an improper surcharge is acceptable. It simply means it helps to understand the difference between a lawful business decision and a surcharge the law limits, so you know when to push back.

🛡️ Your Rights Under Florida Law: Florida law protects you from being surcharged solely because you were in a not-at-fault accident, and it lists specific situations that entitle you to have an improper surcharge reimbursed or your policy renewed. You also have the right to ask your insurer for the proof of fault behind any increase. We explain these protections in detail in our guide on your rates after a car accident.

What can you do if your rates go up?

You are not powerless when your premium rises. A few practical steps can protect you:

• Ask your insurer for the reason. You are entitled to understand why your rate changed, and to request the proof of fault behind any accident-based surcharge.
• Shop around. Insurers weigh the same factors differently, so a rate increase at one company does not mean the whole market will charge you more. Comparing quotes is often the fastest fix.
• Know your legal protections. If you were not at fault and were surcharged anyway, Florida law may entitle you to a reimbursement, as our detailed rates guide explains.
• Keep a clean record going forward. Time and safe driving are the most reliable ways to bring a premium back down.

Most importantly, do not avoid using coverage you have paid for out of fear of an increase that, in a not-at-fault crash, the law often does not permit in the first place.

⚠️ Deadline Warning: If you were injured in the crash, protecting your premium is only part of the picture. Under Florida Statute § 95.11, you generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. This was shortened from four years in March 2023, so worrying about your rates should not distract you from a claim that has its own hard deadline.

Watch: Will Your Car Insurance Rates Go Up?

If you prefer to hear it explained, the short video below covers whether your car insurance rates will go up after a crash and why.

When you are ready to talk through your own situation, The Reyes Firm offers free consultations with no obligation.

What should you do after a crash to protect your rates and your claim?

These five steps protect your premium and your case at the same time. The order matters.

1. Get medical care within 14 days. Florida’s no-fault system requires prompt care to access your PIP benefits, and your health comes first regardless of any worry about rates.
2. Document that you were not at fault. The police report, photos, and witness information protect both your injury claim and your position if an insurer tries to surcharge you.
3. Read any renewal notice carefully. If your premium rises after a crash you did not cause, look closely at the reason and ask your insurer to justify it in writing.
4. Understand your protections before you accept an increase. Florida law limits accident-based surcharges, and you may be entitled to a reimbursement.
5. Call The Reyes Firm about your injury claim. The fault determination that affects your rates also affects your case. Call 833-4 BAD DAY for a free consultation.

How The Reyes Firm handles your car accident case

The question of who was at fault sits behind both your premium and your injury claim, and getting it right protects you on both fronts. We handle that for you, throughout Tampa and Hillsborough County.

When we take on a car accident case, we typically:

• Build the record that you were not at fault, gathering the police report, scene photos, footage, and witness statements before they disappear
• Push back on attempts to shift blame onto you, since a fault determination affects both your recovery and whether an insurer can lawfully surcharge you
• Coordinate your PIP benefits, so you get treatment promptly within the 14-day window and know what covers your care once that $10,000 is exhausted
• Identify every coverage that applies, including the at-fault driver’s liability coverage and your own uninsured motorist coverage if that driver has little or no insurance
• Handle the property damage alongside the injury claim, so repairs and your vehicle are not treated as an afterthought
• Calculate full damages, covering past and future medical care, lost wages, and the real impact of your injuries

No lawyer can promise an outcome, and we do not handle insurance rate disputes or regulatory complaints. What we can promise is that we fight the fault fight properly, explain every step in plain language, and make sure you are not pressured into decisions that cost you later. You can read more about what drives the value of a car accident settlement in our detailed guide.

Frequently asked questions about car insurance rates after a crash

Will my rates go up if the accident wasn’t my fault?

Generally they should not. Under Fla. Stat. § 626.9541, an insurer generally cannot surcharge you or refuse to renew solely because you were in an accident unless it makes a good-faith determination that you were substantially at fault. Our detailed rates guide covers these protections and the reimbursement rules.

Do I have to use my own insurance after a crash in Florida?

Yes. Because Florida is a no-fault state, your own PIP pays your initial medical bills regardless of who caused the crash. Using it is required, but it does not automatically mean your rates will rise.

What factors make car insurance rates go up?

The biggest factors are fault and your at-fault history, the frequency of your claims, your driving record, where you live, and changes to your coverage or vehicle. A single not-at-fault crash is usually a minor factor compared to your overall risk profile.

Can my insurer raise my rates even if I’m not at fault?

An insurer generally cannot impose a surcharge aimed at you solely for a not-at-fault accident, but it can apply a broad rate increase across your region or risk class based on claim trends and its own costs. That kind of increase is not tied to your specific crash.

What’s the difference between a surcharge and a rate increase?

A surcharge targets you specifically because of your accident, and Florida law limits when one can be imposed. A general rate increase applies to many customers at once and can raise your premium even with a clean record, because it is not based on your individual accident.

Can I be dropped after one accident?

Florida law provides that an insurer may not refuse to renew based on a single at-fault accident within the current three-year period. Protections differ for drivers with several accidents in a short span, and our detailed rates guide explains the specifics.

Will simply filing a claim raise my rates?

Filing a claim by itself is generally not the trigger. What matters more is whether you were at fault and how your overall claim history looks. A single not-at-fault claim should not, on its own, drive an increase.

What can I do if my rates go up unfairly?

Ask your insurer for the proof of fault behind the increase, compare quotes from other insurers, and review your legal protections, since Florida law may entitle you to a reimbursement of an improper surcharge. You can also file a complaint with the Florida Department of Financial Services.

About the Attorney

Edward Reyes, Esq.

Edward Reyes, Esq. is a Florida Bar-admitted personal injury attorney and the founder of The Reyes Firm in Tampa, Florida. He represents people injured by the negligence of others in cases involving car accidents, truck crashes, and other serious injuries throughout Tampa and the surrounding counties. Edward Reyes, Esq. handles personal injury claims on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients pay nothing unless the firm recovers compensation for them.
Read more about Edward Reyes.

The information in this blog post is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Insurance rating and premium decisions vary by insurer, policy, and circumstance, and the statutes described here contain conditions and exceptions not fully summarized above. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship with The Reyes Firm. Every case is unique. If you have been injured in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, consult a licensed Florida personal injury attorney about your specific situation.