Show More

How Long Does a Car Accident Stay on Your Insurance Record? - Money Expert

Enter registration no. (optional):

UK Flag Icon
Retrieve an existing quote

How Long Does a Car Accident Stay on Your Insurance Record? - Money Expert

When you’re filling out paperwork for a car insurance policy, you’ll need to report any car accident you’ve been involved in the recent past, including ones that weren’t your fault. But how far back do you have to go?

Usually, insurers want to hear about your driving history over the past five years, but some are only interested in the previous three years. Sometimes, insurers will want to know about accidents from even longer ago - up to seven or ten years - although this is quite rare.

You’ll also be asked to disclose any other claims you’ve had to make on your car insurance, including for things other than road traffic accidents, such as vehicle theft or storm damage. Insurers typically want information about all claims within the past three to five years, including their value. 

During the three to five years an accident or another claim remains on your insurance record, you should expect to pay more for cover, especially if the accident led to a costly claim or was your fault.

*51% of consumers could save £518.14 on their Car Insurance. The saving was calculated by comparing the cheapest price found with the average of the next five cheapest prices quoted by insurance providers on Seopa Ltd’s insurance comparison website. This is based on representative cost savings from June 2025 data. The savings you could achieve are dependent on your individual circumstances and how you selected your current insurance supplier.

Related guides

How to Insure a Car You Don’t Own?

Whether you don't drive often or don't have access to your own car, sometimes it may be necessary to drive someone else's car or vehicle. But what happens when you need insurance for that situation? Here’s what you need to know.

Driving Safely on the Motorway

Driving on a motorway for the first time can be a nerve-wracking experience. It’s possible that you arenew to driving and have therefore never driven on the motorway as driving tests do not require motorway experience. Worry not though, we have written a guide that will help you get your head around the rules of driving on motorways; you'll be an expert in no time!

Outside Edge Tyre Wear: Why It Happens and If It’s Legal

Drivers often rely heavily on their vehicles for commuting, school runs, and day-to-day travel. When signs such as uneven tyre wear appear, especially along the outside edge, it can be cause for concern. Usually, this is caused by common issues, such as under-inflated tyres or even poor alignment. But while it's not automatically illegal, if your tyres are found to be below the legal minimum tread depth of 1.6mm, you could face a fine and even penalty points. Let's take a closer look at why this happens and what drivers can do to prevent it.