How often do insurance companies check your driving record?

This question is about Car Insurance

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@WalletHub 01/12/21 This answer was first published on 01/12/21. For the most current information about a financial product, you should always check and confirm accuracy with the offering financial institution. Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by any company.

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Insurance companies may check your driving record every 6 to 12 months when you apply for a new policy or renew an existing one. Car insurance companies might also check your driving record when you add a new driver, add a new vehicle, or change your coverage details.

By checking your driving record, insurance companies can determine how safe of a driver you are, which helps them estimate how risky you will be to insure. However, checking someone’s driving record costs money, so insurance companies are less likely to check your record if you are an experienced driver who has been with the company for years.

If your insurance company doesn’t check your record at every renewal, your rate might not change after a recent violation. But insurers do not disclose how often they skip record checks, and you can count on them finding out about violations eventually.

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People also ask

How far back does Progressive look at your driving record?

Progressive looks back at three years of your driving record while calculating premiums. So if you are getting a quote from Progressive and have a moving violation from four years ago, it will not affect your base rate. However, even after three years, an accident or DUI could disqualify you from certain savings, like a good driver discount.… read full answer

In California, for example, a DUI will remain on-record for 10 years, while in Florida it stays for 75 years. Similarly, an accident will stay on your Progressive record for five years, although it will only affect discounts, not your base premium, after three years.

Like with any insurance company, drivers with more violations on their record will be considered higher risk by Progressive and will pay a higher premium as a result. Similarly, Progressive will also take other factors into account when deciding on your rate, such as your location, your age, and your vehicle’s value.

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Do insurers check convictions?

Yes, insurers check for driving-related convictions. Non-driving related convictions, on the other hand, will only affect premium rates indirectly. Companies view your driving record to determine how risky you will be to insure, so they will see convictions like DUI or reckless driving. If you’ve been convicted of a serious driving offense, expect to pay more for insurance and have a harder time finding coverage. … read full answer DUI or similar charges will stay on your record for three to 10 years in most states, and even longer in some.

A non-driving conviction can affect your car insurance premium indirectly if it impacts your driver’s license status or a leads to a lapse in your insurance coverage. If your license was suspended as a result of your crime or your insurance coverage has not been continuous, insurance companies will consider you more of a high-risk driver.

The best approach if you’re worried about your previous convictions is to compare quotes. If you’re having trouble finding an insurer willing to take you, you can look in your area for high-risk insurers, also called nonstandard insurance companies. Or, if you have been turned down multiple times, look into your state’s assigned risk program, which is designed to provide high-risk drivers with the mandatory minimum insurance. In any case, if an insurance application asks about your criminal background or driving record, be honest. Any omission or false information on an application qualifies as insurance fraud, which can lead to retroactively higher premiums, denied claims, fines, or even jail time.

Finally, it’s a good idea to check your state’s laws to see when your convictions will no longer be considered. This will enable you to ask for a new quote when you reach this date.

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