We are an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. Our goal is to help you make better financial decisions by giving you access to interactive tools and financial calculators, publishing original and unbiased content, and letting you research and compare information for free. This way, you can feel confident in the financial decisions you make.
Our content is backed by Coverage. com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage. com services are only available in states where it is licensed . Coverage. com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms of the policy that applies. The underwriting insurer is solely responsible for making decisions about coverage, premiums, commissions, and policy obligations, such as whether to cover something. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
Getting into multiple accidents or having your car damaged can be stressful. While your car insurance policy covers you for claims, most insurers limit how many you can file before consequences kick in. This article will look at how many claims you can make before your insurer takes action.
There’s No Hard Limit, But More Than 3 Claims May Lead to Trouble
There is no universal limit set by law on how many claims you can file with your car insurance provider per year. You could theoretically file 20 claims in a single year if you needed to.
However, just because there’s no hard cap doesn’t mean filing unlimited claims is a good idea. Most major insurers start scrutinizing your policy after just 3 claims over a 3 year period
While every situation is different expect your rates to increase significantly after 3 claims in 3 years. Some insurers may even drop you from coverage altogether if claims become excessive.
So while you won’t hit an absolute cut-off on claims, keeping them minimal gives you the best chance for affordable, continuous coverage.
Claim Frequency Affects Your Risk Profile
Insurance companies make money by accurately pricing risk. The higher risk a customer is, the more they pay in premiums to offset potential claims. When you file a claim, it signals to your insurer that you represent increased risk.
That’s why frequent claims drive up your rates over time. Each claim indicates you are more likely to file another claim down the road. Even if the claims are for relatively minor repairs, the frequency itself bumps up your risk profile.
After 3 claims in 3 years, most insurers classify you as a high-risk driver. This translates to much higher premiums or cancelled coverage.
To get the best rates, keep claims limited to major repairs only. Also, consider paying small repair bills yourself rather than filing a claim. This keeps your risk profile lower in your insurer’s eyes.
What Types of Claims Count Against Your Limit?
All types of claims count against you when your insurance company reviews your policy. Here are some examples:
- At-fault accidents where you cause damage to other vehicles
- Claims where you hit an object, like a guardrail or tree
- Comprehensive claims from vandalism, theft, or weather events
- Collision claims when you damage your car in any way
The only claims that don’t get counted are those where you are 0% at-fault. Examples would include:
- Another driver hitting your parked car
- You’re hit while stopped at a red light
- A tree falls on your car during a storm
Since these claims aren’t your fault, they don’t bump up your risk profile with insurers. But any claim where you hold even 1% of fault will count against your claim record.
Tips to Avoid Hitting the 3 Claim Limit
No one enjoys paying for unnecessary insurance claims or having their rates increased. Here are some tips to file fewer claims and keep your insurance affordable:
- Drive cautiously and defensively to avoid accidents
- Take a safe driving course for a discount from many insurers
- Park carefully away from other vehicles to prevent hits to your car
- Install an anti-theft system and security lights to prevent theft
- Move vehicles into a garage before severe weather when possible
- Review your deductibles and consider raising them to avoid small claims
- Pay minor repair bills yourself instead of filing a claim
Following these tips helps minimize claim frequency. For major repairs, don’t hesitate to file a claim with your insurer. But avoiding claims for small scratches or dents will benefit you in the long run.
What Happens If You Reach the Claim Limit?
Remember that most insurers start taking action after just 3 claims over a 3 year period. Here’s what may happen if you exceed this threshold:
-
Significant premium increase – Expect a steep rise in your insurance rates, likely several hundred dollars per month or more.
-
Policy cancellation – After review, your insurer may drop you completely from coverage.
-
High risk insurer – You may need to switch to a high risk insurer with higher rates.
-
Difficulty finding coverage – Too many claims can make it challenging to find affordable car insurance.
The specific consequences vary by your insurance company, state, and personal factors. But frequent claims almost always lead to higher rates or cancelled coverage.
Weigh the Cost of Claiming vs. Paying Out of Pocket
To avoid hitting your claim limit, consider paying for minor repairs yourself rather than filing a claim.
For example, let’s say you file a comprehensive claim for $500 of damage from a fallen tree branch. If your deductible is $500, the claim wouldn’t pay out anything. But it would still count against you as a claim on your record.
In cases like these, you may benefit by just paying the $500 yourself and avoiding a claim altogether. Think twice before claiming small amounts that are under your deductible.
Pay major expenses through insurance and handle minor repairs out-of-pocket. This balanced approach helps you get the most value from your policy.
Key Takeaways
While there is no absolute limit to how many claims you can file, excessive claims lead to consequences. Keep the following points in mind:
-
After 3 claims in 3 years, expect much higher premiums or cancelled coverage.
-
All at-fault claims count against you, raising your risk profile with insurers.
-
Drive safely, raise deductibles, and consider paying minor bills yourself to minimize claims.
-
Weigh the cost of repairs against potential rate hikes before filing a claim.
Being aware of how multiple claims impact your car insurance can help you make smart decisions. Limit claims to major repairs to keep your insurance affordable for the long-term.
At-fault versus not-at-fault claims
Even though at-fault accidents usually have harsher penalties, both at-fault and not-at-fault insurance claims can make your rates go up. At-fault accidents happen when one driver hits another while changing lanes on the highway or hits another from behind at a red light. In these situations, your liability for injuries and damage to property will probably help the other driver pay for their costs. And if you have collision coverage, that could help cover repairs for your own vehicle.
If, on the other hand, someone changes lanes and hits your car or hits it from behind while you’re stopped at a red light, it’s usually not their fault. Whether you are found to be at fault or not at fault in a claim will usually affect your car insurance rates and could also affect your ability to get coverage.
How We Make Money
The offers that appear on this site are from companies that compensate us. This payment might change where and how products show up on this site, like the order in which they show up in the listing categories, unless the law says otherwise for our mortgage, home equity, and other home lending products. But the money we get from this doesn’t change the information we post or the reviews you read on this site. We do not include the universe of companies or financial offers that may be available to you.
At Bankrate, we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. To help readers understand how insurance affects their finances, we have licensed insurance professionals on staff who have spent a combined 47 years in the auto, home and life insurance industries. While we adhere to strict , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Heres an explanation of . Our content is backed by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed entity (NPN: 19966249). For more information, please see our . Bankrate logo
Founded in 1976, Bankrate has a long track record of helping people make smart financial choices. We’ve kept this reputation for more than 40 years by making it easier for people to make financial decisions and giving them confidence in what to do next.
Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. Our content is written by professionals with a lot of experience and is edited by experts in the field to make sure it is fair, correct, and reliable.
Our insurance team is composed of agents, data analysts, and customers like you. They focus on what customers care about most—price, customer service, policy features, and chances to save money—so you can be sure that the provider you choose is the right one for you.
- We help you with your search and explain the different types of coverage you can get.
- We give you accurate, up-to-date market data to help you make smart choices.
- We cut down on industry slang so that you can get the clearest information possible.
All providers discussed on our site are vetted based on the value they provide. And we constantly review our criteria to ensure we’re putting accuracy first. Bankrate logo.
Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions.
We value your trust. We want to give readers information that is both correct and fair, and we have editorial standards in place to make sure that happens. Our editors and reporters thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate. We maintain a firewall between our advertisers and our editorial team. Our editorial team does not receive direct compensation from our advertisers.
Bankrate’s editorial team writes on behalf of YOU – the reader. Our goal is to give you the best advice to help you make smart personal finance decisions. We follow strict guidelines to ensure that our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. Our editorial team receives no direct compensation from advertisers, and our content is thoroughly fact-checked to ensure accuracy. That way, you know that the information you’re reading, whether it’s an article or a review, is reliable. Bankrate logo.
Auto Insurance Claims Process: Not-At-Fault Accident
FAQ
Can insurance drop you for too many claims?
What is the maximum number of insurance claims?
How many claims can I make in a year?
Will USAA drop you for too many claims?
How many claims are allowed in car insurance?
If you have ever wondered how many claims are allowed in car insurance, Bankrate can help. There’s no single answer—every insurance company follows its own regulations. Some carriers may have limits, such as two at-fault accidents in one year, while others may drop your policy after only one.
How many car insurance claims can I file in one year?
Generally, there is no set limit for the number of insurance claims you can file in one year. However, even the best car insurance companies may choose not to renew insurance policies or restrict coverage options if a certain number of claims were filed within a short period of time (usually three years).
How many claims can I file with my insurance provider?
You can file multiple claims with your provider if there is a car accident. Filing a claim against your policy will most likely cause your rates to go up for about three years. There is no limit to how many claims you can file with your insurance provider. However, you risk higher rates, denial of renewal or getting dropped by your carrier.
Can you file multiple car insurance claims?
You can file multiple car insurance claims, but should avoid doing so. If there are multiple claims on a single policy, your rates will most likely go up, which will cause you to pay more for coverage for up to three years. This could include drivers who were not at fault for an accident, depending on the insurance provider and where they live.