How Long Does a Car Accident Stay on Your Driving Record?

A car accident can affect much more than your vehicle and your insurance claim. Depending on the circumstances, an accident may remain part of your driving history and could affect insurance costs, employment requirements, or future interactions with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

How long an accident stays on your record varies by state. The rules depend on the state, the type of accident, whether anyone was cited or convicted, and how driving records are maintained. It's also important to distinguish between your official motor vehicle record and the information an insurance company keeps about your claims history.

What Is a Driving Record?

Your driving record, sometimes called a motor vehicle record (MVR) or driver's record, is maintained by your state's DMV or equivalent agency. It can include traffic convictions, license-related actions, and certain reported accidents.

The information and retention periods vary by state. For example, New Hampshire DMV materials use accident and traffic information covering at least three years for certain driving-record purposes, but that doesn't mean every accident or related record automatically disappears after three years.

If you need to know exactly what appears on your record, obtaining a copy of your driving record from your state DMV is more reliable than assuming an accident has dropped off based on a certain number of years.

Factors That Affect How Long an Accident Matters

Several factors can influence how an accident affects your driving history and insurance.

1. State Regulations
   Each state has its own requirements for reporting and maintaining driving records. No nationwide rule says every car accident stays on a driver's record for a specific number of years. State law may also distinguish between an accident that was reported and one that resulted in a traffic conviction or other violation.
2. The Circumstances of the Accident
   The nature of an accident can matter. An incident involving injuries, significant property damage, or a serious traffic violation may have different consequences from a minor accident with no citation. For example, in New Hampshire, you must generally report a motor vehicle accident resulting in death, personal injury, or more than $1,000 in combined vehicle or property damage to the Division of Motor Vehicles within 15 days. Reporting an accident does not necessarily mean the driver was at fault. Those are separate issues.
3. Whether You Were At Fault
   An accident appearing on a driving record does not automatically mean the driver caused it. Fault depends on the circumstances and applicable laws. Insurance companies may consider fault when determining how an accident affects a policy, while DMV records may focus on reported accidents, violations, or convictions. Because these are separate systems, an accident can affect insurance even when the driver's official record tells a different story.
4. Traffic Violations or Convictions
   If an accident also results in a traffic citation or conviction, that violation can have its own consequences. Some states use point systems in which qualifying convictions add points to a driver's record. The accident itself and any associated conviction should therefore be considered separately when determining how long an incident may affect your driving history.
5. Insurance Claims History
   One of the most common misconceptions is that an accident stops mattering to an insurance company as soon as it disappears from a DMV record. Insurance companies maintain their own claims and underwriting information, and how long an accident can affect premiums depends on the insurer, state regulations, and the circumstances of the claim. An accident can therefore have an insurance impact that lasts longer—or differs from—the period it appears on a particular driving record.

Why Does an Accident on Your Record Matter?

Insurance Premiums

A qualifying accident may affect your auto insurance premium, particularly when the insurer determines that you were responsible for the loss. The impact isn't necessarily permanent, and insurers use their own rating rules within applicable state regulations.

Rather than assuming your premium will automatically return to its previous amount after a set number of years, ask your insurance company how it's treating the accident and when it will stop being considered for rating purposes.

Employment

Some employers check driving records when hiring employees whose jobs involve operating a company vehicle or transporting people or property.

A prospective employer may want to know more than whether you have had an accident. Depending on the position, the employer may review traffic convictions, license status, and other information relevant to safe driving.

Your Driving Privileges

An accident by itself does not automatically mean your license will be suspended. However, serious accidents, traffic violations, or a pattern of driving offenses can lead to additional consequences under state law.

For example, New Hampshire's driver information explains that excessive demerit points can result in a loss of driving privileges, while certain serious circumstances can also lead to license action.

What Should You Do After an Accident?

If you've recently been involved in an accident, don't focus solely on how long it will remain on your record. Take several other immediate steps.

• Document the accident carefully. Keep photographs, reports, insurance correspondence, and repair records.
• Find out whether you must report the accident to the DMV. Requirements vary by state and accident severity.
• Review your insurance policy. Understand your deductible, coverage, and how the claim may be handled.
• Ask questions about your driving record. If you're unsure what is currently listed, request a copy from your state DMV.
• Ask your insurer how the accident affects your policy. Don't assume that a DMV record and an insurance claims record are identical.
• Check for errors. If your driving record information is incorrect, contact the appropriate DMV or agency to learn how to dispute it.

Understanding the difference between a DMV driving record, traffic convictions, and an insurance claims history can make the situation much less confusing. There isn't a universal number of years that applies to every accident or every driver.

If you're concerned about a particular accident, check your state's rules, review your driving record, and ask your insurance company how they're handling the incident. Specific information about your situation is more useful than a general rule of thumb.