How Many Accidents Before Insurance Drops You?

Last Updated on December 9, 2025

So you’ve been in a few accidents, and now you’re wondering: how many accidents does it take before car insurance companies start to get nervous? Can an insurer actually drop you for having too many claims or at-fault crashes?

Below, we explain how insurers think about multiple accidents, the difference between cancellation and non-renewal, and what really has to happen before your car insurance company stops offering you coverage.

Key Takeaways

1. Insurers rarely cancel policies mid-term just for “too many accidents”; they typically wait until renewal and may raise rates or non-renew instead.
2. True cancellations usually happen for serious issues like nonpayment, misrepresentation, license suspension, or fraud—not routine at-fault claims.
3. There is no fixed number of accidents that will get you dropped; each company has its own rules and tolerance for risk.
4. After serious violations or a license suspension, you may need an SR-22 filing and high-risk insurance, which usually comes with higher premiums.

It’s Rare for Insurers to Cancel Your Policy Just for Multiple Accidents

First, it’s important to understand that it’s highly unlikely for an insurance company to cancel your car insurance coverage due to multiple claims alone.

Even if you have several at-fault accidents or more than one DUI in a short period of time, most insurers will not suddenly cancel your car insurance coverage mid-term. Instead, they typically:

• Allow your policy to continue until the end of the current term, and
• Either raise your rates significantly or choose not to renew your policy when it expires.

In other words, insurers are far more likely to refuse to renew your policy than to cancel it outright for having too many accidents.

Most car insurance policies are written for 6 or 12 months. Your insurer evaluates your claims and driving record each time your policy comes up for renewal.

When Can Insurers Cancel a Car Insurance Policy Mid-Term?

Insurers canceling a car insurance policy in the middle of a term is relatively rare. Cancellation means your coverage ends before your 6- or 12-month policy period is over.

If your car insurance company decides to cancel your policy, it usually happens within the first 60 days, during the initial underwriting period. In most states, companies must tell you in writing why the policy is being canceled and give you advance notice (a notice of cancellation), so you have time to respond or find new coverage.

Common reasons for cancellation include serious issues like misrepresentation, fraud, or nonpayment—not simply “too many accidents.” For example:

• Misrepresentation on Your Application – One of the most common reasons for cancellation is misrepresentation. Your policy may be canceled within the first 60 days if you lied on your car insurance application or left out key information, and the insurer only discovers it later.
• Fraudulent Claims – Insurers may also cancel your policy for filing a fraudulent claim. For example, if you claim your car was stolen when you actually sold it to a chop shop, or you stage an accident, your insurer may cancel your policy and possibly pursue legal action.

If you have lied on your application or committed insurance fraud, it is very likely that your insurer will cancel your policy. However, it’s still uncommon for a company to cancel your policy mid-term solely because of multiple at-fault accidents or claims.

Common Reasons for Cancellation Include:

• You didn’t pay your car insurance bill
• Your license or registration was suspended or revoked
• Your vehicle is unregistered or ineligible for coverage
• You lied on your car insurance application
• You submitted a fraudulent auto insurance claim

Non-Renewal: The More Likely Outcome After Multiple Accidents

If you have multiple claims, incidents, or offenses on your driving record, your insurer is more likely to refuse to renew your policy at the end of the term. This is called a non-renewal.

With non-renewal, the company doesn’t cancel you mid-term; instead, they simply decide not to offer you another term of coverage once your current policy expires.

Common Reasons for Non-Renewal Include:

• Too many at-fault insurance claims over a short period
• Too many tickets or moving violations
• Receiving a DUI or DWI
• Buying a new car the insurer considers too risky to insure
• Moving to a state or area where the company doesn’t operate or wants less exposure

Insurance companies are prohibited from dropping drivers for certain reasons. In general, insurers cannot non-renew your policy based solely on age, race, gender, color, marital status, disability, or occupation. Non-renewal for these reasons may be considered discrimination under state and federal law.

So How Many Accidents Before My Insurance Company Drops Me?

There is no universal “magic number” of accidents or claims that guarantees your insurer will drop you. Each company has its own underwriting rules and risk tolerance.

For example:

• One company might non-renew after two DUIs.
• Another might tolerate multiple DUIs but charge extremely high premiums.
• Some companies specialize in high-risk drivers and rarely non-renew for accidents alone.

In general, the more serious and frequent your violations, the higher your risk of non-renewal. If you have multiple speeding tickets, DUI convictions, reckless driving violations, and other serious incidents, your insurer may classify you as a high-risk driver and choose not to renew your policy.

On the other hand, if you’ve had a few minor at-fault collisions over a year or two, it’s unlikely your policy will be canceled or non-renewed solely for that reason. Instead, your insurer will usually keep covering you—but your premium will increase to reflect your higher risk.

Insurance companies vary widely in how they handle cancellations and non-renewals. Some are more forgiving and accept more risk in exchange for higher premiums. Others aggressively avoid high-risk drivers and will non-renew more quickly when they see a pattern of risky behavior.

SR-22 Forms May Be Required After Serious Violations

As mentioned, insurers can cancel your coverage if your license is suspended or revoked. Once you lose your driving privileges, finding a company willing to insure you becomes more difficult—and more expensive.

Many states require drivers with suspended licenses to file an SR-22 form, or a similar financial responsibility form, before their license can be reinstated. An SR-22 is a certificate your insurer files with the state to prove that you carry at least the minimum required coverage.

SR-22 filings are typically required for high-risk drivers, such as those convicted of a DUI, caught driving without insurance, or involved in serious at-fault accidents.

Because SR-22s are associated with high-risk drivers, insurance companies often charge high premiums to insure drivers that need the SR-22 form. In some cases, you may have to switch to a high-risk or nonstandard insurer while the SR-22 requirement is in place.

FAQs

Conclusion – Can Car Insurance Drop You for Too Many Accidents?

Ultimately, it’s usually in an insurance company’s best interest to keep you as a customer—not immediately drop you—especially if they can charge higher premiums to reflect your increased risk.

If you’ve had multiple at-fault incidents, it’s still unlikely your policy will be canceled mid-term just for those accidents. Instead, your insurer may:

• Raise your rates significantly, and/or
• Choose not to renew your policy when the current term ends.

To reduce your chances of being non-renewed, focus on safe driving going forward, avoid new tickets and claims whenever possible, pay your premiums on time, and be honest with your insurer. Over time, a cleaner record and fewer claims can help rebuild your profile—even after a rough patch of accidents.