How Long Does a Car Accident Stay on Your Record?

Long after the physical injuries have healed and the car has been repaired, a car accident can leave behind a lasting digital footprint. This “record” of your accident can have a significant impact on your life, most notably on the price you pay for car insurance. This leads to a crucial and common question: Just how long will this accident follow me?

The answer is a bit complex, because you don’t just have one “record.” An accident is actually documented in two separate places: your official state driving record and your private insurance history. Each of these records serves a different purpose, and the accident will remain on each for a different length of time.

Understanding this distinction is key to managing your expectations about your long-term insurance rates and your official driving history.

Useful Information for You: In a Nutshell

• You Have Two Records: An accident is noted on (1) your official Washington State driving record and (2) your private insurance history (like a CLUE report).
• Driving Record (DOL): In Washington, a traffic infraction or collision will typically stay on your public driving record abstract for five years.
• Insurance Record (CLUE): Insurers primarily use your claims history to set your rates. An at-fault accident will typically affect your premiums for three to five years.
• Fault is the Deciding Factor: If you were not at fault for the accident, it should not negatively impact your insurance rates. An at-fault accident is what triggers a premium increase.
• The Clock Starts After the Claim is Closed: The 3-to-5-year period for insurance rates typically begins after the claim is closed, not from the date of the accident.

Record #1: Your Official Washington State Driving Record

Your official driving record is maintained by the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL). This record lists all of your traffic infractions (tickets) and any collisions that appear on a police report.

• How long does it last? For most standard traffic infractions and collisions, the incident will remain on your publicly available “abstract” driving record for five years from the date of the conviction or finding. For more serious offenses like a DUI, it will stay on your record for much longer.
• Who uses this record? Law enforcement, the courts, and insurance companies all use this record. Insurers use it to verify your driving history and check for tickets when setting your rates.

Record #2: Your Insurance History (CLUE Report)

This is the record that has the biggest impact on your wallet. Most insurance companies report your claims history to a central database called the C.L.U.E. (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) report.

• How long does it last? Information on a CLUE report, including all auto claims, can stay on the report for up to seven years.
• Who uses this record? Insurance companies use your CLUE report to see a detailed history of every claim you have ever filed, regardless of who was at fault. This is the primary tool they use to assess how “risky” you are to insure.

How Long Will the Accident Affect My Insurance Premiums?

This is the most important question for most drivers. While the claim may stay on your CLUE report for seven years, most insurance companies will only use it to calculate your premium for a shorter period.

As a general rule in the insurance industry, an at-fault accident will typically affect your insurance rates for three to five years.

During this period, you will lose any “good driver” discounts and will likely be placed in a higher-risk category, resulting in a premium surcharge. After three to five years of clean driving with no new accidents or tickets, the old at-fault accident will typically no longer be used to calculate your rate, and your premiums should decrease.

It is critical to remember that if the accident was not your fault, your insurance company is generally prohibited from raising your rates as a result of the claim in Washington State. This is why proving the other driver was at fault is so important.

The long-term financial consequences of an at-fault accident underscore the importance of having a strong advocate on your side. If you’ve been in an accident in the Tacoma area and are in a dispute over fault, search the Car Accident Lawyer Directory Tacoma. Compare profiles and find a trusted local attorney who can fight to protect your record and your financial future.

References

• Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) – “Your driving record”:The official state resource that explains what is included on your driving record and how to request a copy.https://www.dol.wa.gov/driver-licenses-and-permits/driving-records
• Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) – How auto insurance rates are set:Official guidance for consumers in Washington that explains the factors insurers use to determine your premium, including your driving and claims history.https://www.insurance.wa.gov/how-auto-insurance-rates-are-set-and-whats-prohibited
• LexisNexis – “CLUE Report”:The official source for requesting a copy of your personal CLUE report, which allows you to see the insurance history that insurers see.https://consumer.risk.lexisnexis.com/