How Long Do Accidents and Tickets Stay on Your Insurance Record? (2026)
Last updated July 24, 2026
Minor at-fault accidents typically affect your car insurance rate for about 3 years, major accidents for 5 years or more, and DUI or reckless driving convictions for 7 to 10 years or longer — and your insurance record isn't the same thing as your DMV record, which matters more than most drivers realize. For the full situational breakdown, see our special situations pillar guide.
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How long each type of incident affects your rate
Rate impact duration by incident type — verified 2026-07-24
| Name | Typical duration on insurance record |
|---|---|
| Minor at-fault accident | ~3 years |
| Major at-fault accident (injuries/large payout) | 5+ years |
| DUI or reckless driving | 7-10 years, sometimes longer |
| CLUE database retention (LexisNexis) | 7 years, regardless of state DMV window |
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Your insurance record and your DMV record are different things
This is the detail most drivers miss: your state DMV's driving record and the insurance industry's CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) report are two separate systems with two separate retention windows. LexisNexis retains CLUE data for 7 years — often longer than a state's own DMV window — which means an accident can stop showing on your official driving record while still affecting your insurance quotes, because insurers pull CLUE data, not just your DMV record.
How much a single at-fault accident raises your rate
An at-fault accident increases your premium by an average of 44%, and some analyses put the surcharge as high as 50% — a jump that typically persists for the full 3-to-5-year window before gradually easing as the incident ages toward falling off.
State variation in exact timelines
The exact window varies by state. In California, a collision stays on your driving record for 3 years. In New York, a collision remains on your record until the end of the year it occurred, plus 3 additional years — effectively slightly longer than California's flat 3-year window depending on when in the year the accident happened.
What to do while an incident is still affecting your rate
Rather than waiting out the full window at whatever surcharged rate your current insurer applies, shop other carriers — insurers weigh recent history differently, and a company with a shorter effective lookback or a more forgiving first-accident policy can offer a better rate than staying with your current insurer through the entire surcharge period. See our best car insurance for DUI drivers guide for carrier-specific data on this exact scenario.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does an at-fault accident affect my car insurance rate?+
Minor at-fault accidents typically affect your rate for about 3 years, while major accidents involving injuries or large payouts can affect pricing for 5 years or longer.
Is my insurance record the same as my DMV driving record?+
No — they're separate systems. Your state DMV tracks your driving record for licensing purposes, while insurers pull a separate CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) report from LexisNexis, which retains claims history for 7 years regardless of your state's DMV retention window.
How much does an accident raise your insurance premium?+
An at-fault accident increases your premium by an average of 44%, with some analyses showing surcharges up to 50%, and that increase typically persists for 3 to 5 years before easing.
How long does a DUI stay on your insurance record?+
DUI or reckless driving convictions can affect your insurance premiums for 7 to 10 years or longer in some states, considerably longer than the 3-to-5-year window for a standard at-fault accident.
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Written by
Insurezly Editorial Team
The Insurezly Editorial Team researches car insurance rates, coverage rules, and state requirements directly from insurer filings, state DOI publications, and NAIC data. Every figure is sourced and dated; we do not accept payment for placement or ratings.
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