How long do accidents stay on your record?
Usually three to five years on your driving record. Your insurer's own claims file can go back seven.
Updated 13 November 2026
Accidents on your driving record
States differ on whether a crash is listed at all. Some list every reported crash, some list only crashes where you were ticketed or found at fault, and some leave crashes off the standard record. Where a crash is listed, it usually stays for three to five years.
Among the states we have confirmed, these list crashes on the driving record: Alaska, Arkansas, California, Hawaii, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Texas and Washington. Your own record is the way to see what your state has listed for you.
Accidents on your insurance record
Insurers do not rely on the driving record alone. They report claims to a shared database, and your CLUE report lists the claims made on your policies for up to seven years, whether or not anyone was ticketed.
How long an accident affects your insurance
An at-fault accident commonly raises your premium for three to five years. A crash that was not your fault usually does not raise it, though it can still appear on both records.
If a ticket came with the accident
The conviction is recorded separately and follows your state's rule for tickets. See how long a ticket stays on your record.
How to see what is listed
Order your driving record. It shows whether the crash was recorded and how. Check your driving record.
See your own record
Your record shows exactly what is on file for you. Pick the state that issued your license.
Related
- CLUE report or driving record
Your driving record comes from the state and lists violations. A CLUE report comes from an insurance database and lists claims. Insurers use both.
- How long does a speeding ticket stay on your record?
An ordinary speeding ticket stays on your driving record for three to five years in most states. See how long it stays in yours.
- Driving record for insurance
Insurers read your driving record when they set your price. How to see what they see, and what else they check.
- Check your driving record
How to check your driving record: what you will see, when it is worth checking, and how to order a copy of your own record from any state.