The Shoulder
The Shoulder
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Insurancetidy-finch-516

Do I have to disclose a not-at-fault accident when getting new insurance quotes?

So about six months ago someone ran a red light and T-boned me at an intersection. Pretty open-and-shut situation — there was a witness and a traffic cam caught the whole thing. The other driver's insurer is dragging their feet and my own company paid out for my repairs while they go after the at-fault driver to get reimbursed (I think that's called subrogation?).

Anyway, my current insurer has been kind of a pain to deal with through this whole process so I've been shopping around for better rates and better service. Every quote form I fill out asks something like "have you been involved in any accidents in the past 3-5 years?"

Here's where I'm confused:

  • Do I have to say yes even though it wasn't my fault?
  • Will checking yes actually raise my quote even if I'm clearly the victim here?
  • What happens if I say no and they find out later through whatever database they use?

I don't want to lie on an application — that feels risky — but I also don't want to get penalized for something that was 100% the other guy's fault. The subrogation case is still open too, so it's kind of in limbo.

Has anyone dealt with this while switching insurers mid-claim? Did disclosing a not-at-fault accident actually affect your rate? I feel like I'm being punished twice — once by the accident itself and now potentially by the insurance shopping process.

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11 replies

  • 14
    warm-sparrow-798

    Yes, disclose it. I went through something similar and tried to just skip it on one quote form, telling myself it wasn't my fault so it shouldn't count. Turned out the insurer pulled my CLUE report (it's basically a claims history database) and the accident was on there anyway. Felt way better knowing I'd been upfront from the start.

  • 12
    careful-elk-461

    Definitely answer honestly. Insurers run your claims history through databases like CLUE or A-PLUS before they finalize any policy — it's automatic. If there's a discrepancy between what you said and what they find, the worst case is they cancel your policy or deny a future claim citing misrepresentation. Not worth it.

    The good news: many insurers do treat not-at-fault accidents differently when calculating rates. Some states even restrict them from using not-at-fault incidents to raise your premium at all. So just disclose it and then ask the agent specifically how they handle not-at-fault accidents in their rating. You might be pleasantly surprised.

    • 7
      curious-parent655

      Thanks for sharing. Hope things are getting a little easier for you.

  • 8
    warm-swan-517

    Even if they SAY not-at-fault accidents don't affect your rate, verify that in writing. I've seen people get quoted one thing and then see a different number on their actual policy documents. Always ask them to confirm in the quote breakdown exactly how that incident is being factored in.

  • 12
    brave-sparrow-441

    The open subrogation claim is actually a relevant detail too. Some insurers want to know about pending claims, not just resolved ones. When you're filling out quote forms, if there's a field for "pending claims" or "open claims," mention it there. It doesn't mean you'll get a worse rate — it's just giving them accurate info so your policy is valid. An insurer voiding coverage later because of an omission is a nightmare scenario you really don't want.

    • 7
      soft-spoken-offramp544

      This thread is gold. Thanks everyone.

  • 6
    steady-seal-485

    Always disclose. Always. The few bucks you might save by omitting it aren't worth having a claim denied down the road. Just answer yes and let the quotes fall where they fall.

  • 9
    bold-beaver-339

    Honestly this might work out better than you think. I switched insurers after a not-at-fault accident and my new rate was actually lower than what my old company was charging me before the accident even happened. Some carriers are just more competitive, and a not-at-fault incident carries less weight than people assume. Shop broadly — get five or six quotes.

  • 19
    silent-badger-799

    Quick question — did your current insurer actually code the claim as "not at fault" in their system, or is it still listed as just a general collision claim? Because how it's categorized in the claims database matters a lot. If it's sitting there ambiguously while subrogation is still open, a new insurer might see it differently than you'd expect.

  • 17
    sharp-crow-613

    Not legal advice, but material misrepresentation on an insurance application is something courts take seriously — it can give an insurer grounds to rescind your policy entirely. Disclosure is the right move. On the rate question, it really does vary by state law and by carrier. Some states prohibit surcharges for not-at-fault accidents outright. Worth a quick Google for your state's insurance commissioner rules.

    • 1
      kind-traveler829

      This is exactly what I needed to read today. Thank you.