Let\u2019s say you are a 43-year-old employed female driver with a perfect credit score. You have had no lapse in insurance and you have filed no prior claims. How much could your annual premium increase after filing one of these claims: bodily injury, property damage and comprehensive?<\/p>\n
A report from InsuranceQuotes.com <\/em>says your auto insurance policy could increase by up to 67%, <\/em>depending on where you live.<\/strong><\/p>\n Premium increases varied significantly by state. Massachusetts saw a 67% increase as a result of filing any claim of $2,000 or more. On average, insurance rates will rise 38% after a claim, with Maryland reporting the lowest increase at 20%. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners<\/a>, the average cost of an auto insurance premium in the U.S. is $791, so an increase of 38 percent would result in a $301 increase.<\/p>\n When it comes to a $2,000 or more property damage claim, insurance rates could rise as much as 73% in Massachusetts while Connecticut drivers will be faced with an average increase of 22%. California auto insurance<\/a> premiums could rise by 62%, followed by New Jersey with a whopping 59% increase.<\/p>\n Arizona, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Washington are also among the states with the largest increase in annual premiums. However, states such as Mississippi, Oklahoma and Wyoming saw the lowest increases.<\/p>\n So, don\u2019t worry too much; it\u2019s not as bad as it seems.\u00a0 Make sure you are not at fault (or live in Massachusetts) to avoid being a part of these high increases. Many consumers fear that filing insurance claims<\/a> will cause them to be “blackballed” by insurance companies, resulting in loss of coverage, higher premiums, and difficulties obtaining new insurance. Unfortunately, in some cases they might be right.<\/p>\n