Question: I was in an accident last week and was charged with a traffic violation. I really don’t want my car insurance to go up—how can I remove an accident from my driving record?
Answer: Unfortunately, you can’t usually remove an accident from your driving record. Your driving record is meant to be an accurate and complete history of your time as a driver. There are a few circumstances in which you may be able to remove an accident, but it’s rare.
A car accident typically shows up in two different reports:
- Your state driving record: Your motor vehicle record (MVR) is maintained by your state’s Department or Bureau of Motor Vehicles (DMV or BMV) and helps the state keep track of your previous driving infractions. These may include speeding tickets, DUIs and accidents. The report may also include punishments, such as license suspensions.
- Your Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) report: Any claims related to a car accident will go on your CLUE report and stay there for about seven years. You can’t remove claims from your CLUE report unless they were added by mistake, and as long as your insurer can view the accident, you may have higher-than-average car insurance rates.
How to remove an accident from your driving record
You may be able to remove an accident from your driving record in a few scenarios:
- If the accident was added in error: If an accident is incorrectly listed on your record, reach out to your state’s DMV. You’ll likely have to file a formal dispute, so be prepared with evidence that supports your claim.
- If you were improperly found at fault: If you believe you were improperly found at fault for an accident, a traffic attorney may be able to help you reopen your case. (If you paid any tickets associated with the accident, you automatically accepted the judgment.)
Though you can’t remove an accident that’s on your record legitimately, it may fall off your report after enough time has passed. The license points associated with the violation typically fall off even more quickly, and in some states, you may be able to attend a defensive driving course to remove points from your license.
Need to know: Unless the accident was found to be listed on your driving record in error, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to remove it entirely from your driving history.
How long will it take for an accident to come off my driving record?
The amount of time that an accident will show up on your driving record depends on where you live and the severity of the accident. In some states, accidents—especially less serious ones—come off your driving record in as little as three years; in others, it might take seven or ten years.
But if you were found at fault for a serious accident that involved fatalities, or if drugs or alcohol were involved, it might stay on your driving record permanently.
How long will an accident affect my insurance rates?
Fortunately, even if an accident remains on your record for ten years, it probably won’t impact your car insurance premiums for the whole time. Insurers typically look only at accidents that occurred within the last three to five years when determining your rates. That said, each state has its own laws, and more serious at-fault accidents could impact your insurance rates longer.
Expert insurance writer and editor Amy Bobinger specializes in car repair, car maintenance, and car insurance. Amy is passionate about creating content that helps consumers navigate challenges related to car ownership and achieve financial success in areas relating to cars. Amy has over 10 years of writing and editing experience. After several years as a freelance writer, Amy spent four years as an editing fellow at WikiHow, where she co-authored over 600 articles on topics including car maintenance and home ownership. Since joining Jerry’s editorial team in 2022, Amy has edited over 2,500 articles on car insurance, state driving laws, and car repair and maintenance.
Melanie Johnson is an insurance writer with more than 10 years of experience in writing and publishing. A specialist in travel and insurance-related topics, Melanie\\\\\\\’s mission is to craft articles that simplify complex topics into concepts and ideas car owners can use to save money on car-related expenses. Since joining Jerry, Melanie has written over 600 articles, including on state-specific regulations, car maintenance basics, and city insurance landscapes. Before joining Jerry, Melanie was a reporter for rAVe [publications] filming product videos, interviewing AV executives, and reporting on AV trade shows.
Alice Holbrook is an editor with more than a decade of experience covering personal finance, including car insurance. She\’s passionate about creating easy-to-understand content that demystifies intimidating topics for readers. Previously, she worked for NerdWallet, and her work has been featured by Newsweek, The Washington Post and the Associated Press, among others.
