Quick answer: Car insurance after an accident by state depends on fault rules, local minimum coverage and your base rate. This guide links to a full breakdown for every US state, Washington, D.C. and the four UK nations. The national average full-coverage premium is $187 a month (Insurify, September 2026), and an at-fault accident raises rates by about 34% on average.
Car Insurance After an Accident: US States Compared
| State | Fault system | Avg full coverage / month | Cost rank (of 51) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | At-fault | $141 | #34 |
| Alaska | At-fault | $98 | #49 |
| Arizona | At-fault | $163 | #24 |
| Arkansas | At-fault | $151 | #31 |
| California | At-fault | $202 | #17 |
| Colorado | At-fault | $218 | #13 |
| Connecticut | At-fault | $225 | #11 |
| Delaware | At-fault with required PIP | $262 | #3 |
| Florida | No-fault | $237 | #9 |
| Georgia | At-fault | $259 | #4 |
| Hawaii | No-fault | $126 | #42 |
| Idaho | At-fault | $107 | #48 |
| Illinois | At-fault | $162 | #25 |
| Indiana | At-fault | $129 | #41 |
| Iowa | At-fault | $111 | #47 |
| Kansas | No-fault | $155 | #28 |
| Kentucky | Choice no-fault | $194 | #18 |
| Louisiana | At-fault | $209 | #14 |
| Maine | At-fault | $139 | #35 |
| Maryland | At-fault with required PIP | $303 | #1 |
| Massachusetts | No-fault | $138 | #37 |
| Michigan | No-fault | $228 | #10 |
| Minnesota | No-fault | $183 | #20 |
| Mississippi | At-fault | $185 | #19 |
| Missouri | At-fault | $180 | #22 |
| Montana | At-fault | $139 | #35 |
| Nebraska | At-fault | $133 | #39 |
| Nevada | At-fault | $259 | #4 |
| New Hampshire | At-fault | $84 | #51 |
| New Jersey | Choice no-fault | $256 | #6 |
| New Mexico | At-fault | $135 | #38 |
| New York | No-fault | $221 | #12 |
| North Carolina | At-fault | $113 | #46 |
| North Dakota | No-fault | $114 | #45 |
| Ohio | At-fault | $117 | #44 |
| Oklahoma | At-fault | $169 | #23 |
| Oregon | At-fault with required PIP | $156 | #27 |
| Pennsylvania | Choice no-fault | $161 | #26 |
| Rhode Island | At-fault | $299 | #2 |
| South Carolina | At-fault | $256 | #6 |
| South Dakota | At-fault | $152 | #30 |
| Tennessee | At-fault | $132 | #40 |
| Texas | At-fault | $204 | #16 |
| Utah | No-fault | $146 | #32 |
| Vermont | At-fault | $143 | #33 |
| Virginia | At-fault | $207 | #15 |
| Washington | At-fault | $183 | #20 |
| Washington, D.C. | At-fault | $247 | #8 |
| West Virginia | At-fault | $155 | #28 |
| Wisconsin | At-fault | $126 | #42 |
| Wyoming | At-fault | $94 | #50 |
Source: Insurify, September 2026. Clean-record drivers aged 20 to 70. Click a state for what to do, minimum coverage and the likely rate impact.
Car Insurance After an Accident in the UK
- Car insurance after an accident in England
- Car insurance after an accident in Scotland
- Car insurance after an accident in Wales
- Car insurance after an accident in Northern Ireland
How to Use These Guides
An accident touches three things at once: who pays for the damage, how much coverage you actually have, and how your premium changes at renewal. The state pages above explain each for your location. Start with your state’s fault system, because it decides who pays first. Then check the minimum coverage, which is often lower than the cost of a serious crash. For general money-saving tips, read why car insurance is so high and how to choose a provider.
Rates shown are averages for clean-record drivers and will not match your quote. An at-fault accident typically stays on your record for three to five years, so the cost of one crash is paid over several renewals, not just one. Comparing quotes after any accident is the single most effective way to limit the damage.
General information, not insurance or legal advice. Last updated November 2026.
