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QuestionInsurance Question  Does your insurance payment automatically increase if you make a claim?

AnswerAuto Insurance Answer

No, your insurance payment does not automatically or immediately increase if you make a claim. Your driving record and claims history will be taken into account when you start a policy or it is time for your policy to be renewed and depending upon your company's guidelines and rating system your rates may be affected by a claim.

State insurance laws can differ regarding this issue but putting in a claim with your own insurance company can allow insurance companies to raise your rates. Most auto insurance carriers use a threshold to determine if vehicle activity claims should cause a surcharge or remove a discount. For example, some companies set $400 as a threshold. If you have any claim over $400 they will apply that claim in their rating factors. There are other insurance carriers that set the threshold at $1500 or higher.

I see that you are located in Tampa, Florida. The Florida Department of Financial Services discusses rating systems of insurers by stating that insurance companies use a variety of factors to determine a policyholder’s likelihood of experiencing an accident or loss. The cost of auto insurance for different drivers varies, as the level of risk for the insurance company varies.

Insurance companies consider drivers who have had an at fault accident or received convictions for driving violations as higher risks. Companies may charge such drivers higher rates for automobile insurance than those with driving records free of accidents and violations. Each company has underwriting guidelines to determine what kind and how many accidents or violations during a specified period constitute a high-risk driver. 

So it could be that one claim will not cause your rates to go up but if you have had a lot of claims made in total against your policy then your claims history could cause an overall rating increase.

If your rates do go up, it may be time to start shopping around for a new insurance provider. You can start car insurance shopping here with us.

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