how many car insurance claims can you file

[LaAlina]

There is no universal legal limit on how many car insurance claims you can file. Your policy remains active as long as the insurer is willing to renew it. However, filing multiple claims, especially at-fault claims, in a short period will almost certainly lead to significantly higher premiums and may result in non-renewal of your policy. The key factors are the type, frequency, and severity of the claims.

How Insurers Assess Risk After Multiple Claims

Insurance companies are in the business of managing risk. When you file a claim, you are flagged as a higher-risk driver. Here’s a breakdown of what typically happens:

• First At-Fault Claim: You'll likely lose your claim-free discount, and your premium will increase at renewal, often by 20-50% or more.
• Second At-Fault Claim (within ~3 years): This signals a pattern of risk. Your premium will surge dramatically, and you may be placed in a high-risk pool.
• Third At-Fault Claim: This greatly increases the probability of non-renewal. The insurer may decide your risk profile is no longer profitable for them.

The type of claim matters immensely. A comprehensive claim (e.g., for hail damage or a broken windshield) is generally viewed less harshly than a collision claim where you were at fault. A single major claim involving serious injuries or high payouts can have the same negative impact as multiple small claims.

Claim Scenario	Likely Outcome on Policy & Premium
1 Comprehensive Claim (e.g., windshield)	Minor or no premium increase; policy renewal likely unaffected.
1 At-Fault Collision Claim	Loss of safe driver discount; premium increase of 20-50% at renewal.
2 At-Fault Claims within 36 months	Significant premium surge (could double); possible move to high-risk pool.
3+ At-Fault Claims	High probability of policy non-renewal upon expiration.
Single Major Claim (>$20,000 payout)	Treated as a severe risk event; non-renewal is a strong possibility.

When to Consider Not Filing a Claim

It's often financially wiser to pay for minor damages out-of-pocket. If the repair cost is only slightly above your deductible, filing a claim will cost you more in premium hikes over the next three to five years. Always get a repair estimate first and weigh it against your deductible and the potential long-term cost of a premium increase.

[McMadison]

As someone who's been through this, my advice is simple: think of insurance for the big stuff. I filed two small claims in two years—a fender bender and a cracked windshield. My premium shot up so much that I’m basically paying for those repairs all over again, every year. There’s no hard limit, but there’s a breaking point where the company says, “You’re too expensive.” Now, for anything less than a couple thousand dollars, I just handle it myself. It’s cheaper in the long run.