A car accident in Utah can affect more than just your vehicle and your health. It can also follow you on two separate records: your driving record with the Division of Motor Vehicles and your insurance record with your auto insurance company.
The length of time an accident remains on a record depends on the violation involved, your driving history, and the specific policies of the agency or insurer maintaining the record.
Lance Bingham helps car accident victims throughout Utah understand how an accident affects their driving record, their insurance rates, and their legal rights. If you were hurt in a crash and have questions about fault, traffic citations, or how your insurance company is handling your claim, our experienced car accident lawyer is ready to help.
Call us today for a free consultation at 801-477-8346.
When a car accident results in a traffic citation, such as speeding, reckless driving, or running a red light, that citation typically stays on your Utah driving record for three to five years. The exact length depends on the severity of the violation. Serious offenses like reckless driving or hit-and-runs can stay on your record longer and carry more significant legal implications.
If you were involved in a minor accident or a minor fender bender where no traffic citation was issued, the crash itself may not appear on your official driving record at all. Utah generally records accidents on your motor vehicle record only when a citation is issued or when the accident meets state reporting thresholds for injury or significant property damage.
A driving record with multiple traffic violations or at-fault accidents can affect your driving privileges, increase the cost of future insurance policies, and even result in license suspension if violations accumulate. Insurance companies and potential employers who require a clean driving record may also review your motor vehicle record, making it important to understand what is actually on file.
Many people confuse their official driving record with the accident record kept by their insurance company, but these are two very different things with different rules. Here is how they compare:
| Driving Record | Insurance Record | |
| Kept by | Utah Division of Motor Vehicles | Your auto insurance company |
| What it includes | Traffic citations, license suspensions, serious violations | All reported accidents, regardless of fault |
| Typical retention | 3 to 5 years for most violations | 3 to 5 years, sometimes up to 7 |
| Who can access it | Employers, courts, other agencies | Other insurance carriers during quotes |
| Affects insurance rates? | Indirectly, through violations | Directly, through accident history |
Most insurance companies keep accident records for 3 to 5 years, though this can vary by provider. Understanding how long an accident stays in these records helps you anticipate how it may affect your insurance costs going forward.
An at-fault accident typically stays in your insurance record for three to five years and is one of the most significant factors insurance carriers use when evaluating risk. During this period, you are generally considered a higher-risk driver, which can result in higher premiums every time your policy renews.
Even when you are not at fault, the accident may still appear in your insurance record because most insurance companies log every claim, regardless of who caused it. However, a not-at-fault accident typically has little to no effect on your insurance rates since fault plays the biggest role in how insurers evaluate risk.
Insurance companies use your accident history, along with your driving record, to determine your overall risk level. Multiple at-fault accidents, especially within a short time period, signal higher risk and often lead to significantly higher premiums or even non-renewal of your policy by some insurance carriers.
Yes, not-at-fault accidents are usually still recorded by your own insurance company, even though you did not cause the crash. However, how these accidents affect you going forward is very different from at-fault accidents.
A not-at-fault accident generally does not appear on your official Utah driving record unless a traffic citation was issued to you specifically. It will, however, typically show up in your insurance record simply because a claim was filed, even if you were not the driver responsible for causing the crash.
Most insurance companies recognize that not-at-fault accidents are outside of your control and do not reflect your own driving skills. When evaluating risk, insurers place far more weight on at-fault accidents and moving violations than on accidents where another driver was clearly responsible.
In most cases, a single not-at-fault accident should not increase your insurance premiums. However, some insurance companies do factor in any accident, regardless of fault, when calculating risk, so it is worth checking with your own insurance company about their specific policies after any car accident.
Several factors determine how long a car accident continues to affect your driving record, your insurance rates, and your overall risk profile.
Here is what matters most:
In most cases, you cannot simply remove an accident from your record once it has been reported, but you can correct errors and challenge inaccurate information if it exists.
If your Utah driving record contains an error, such as an incorrect citation or an accident that was not actually yours, you can request a correction through the Division of Motor Vehicles. Providing accurate documentation, including the original accident report and any court records, helps support your request.
If your insurance company has inaccurate information about an accident, such as listing you as at fault when you were not, you have the right to dispute this with your insurer. Provide the police report, photos, and any other evidence that supports your version of events to challenge the inaccurate record.
A car accident, especially one where you are found at fault, almost always affects your insurance premiums in some way. Understanding what to expect can help you plan financially and explore options to minimize the impact.
After an at-fault car accident, most insurance companies increase your premiums significantly, sometimes by 30% to 50% or more, depending on the severity of the crash and your prior driving history. These higher rates typically apply for three to five years before gradually decreasing as the accident moves further into your past.
Many insurance companies offer accident forgiveness programs that prevent your first at-fault accident from increasing your premiums, provided you have maintained a clean driving record for a certain period beforehand. These programs vary significantly between insurance carriers, so it is worth asking your own insurance company whether you qualify.
Practicing safe driving habits and avoiding future accidents is the most effective way to keep your insurance costs low over time. Completing a defensive driving course can also help lower your premiums with some insurance companies and demonstrate a commitment to improving your driving skills after an accident.
If a car accident results in serious injuries, significant property damage, or a dispute over fault that cannot be resolved through insurance claims, the situation can lead to a personal injury lawsuit. A lawsuit is separate from your driving and insurance records, but the legal implications can be significant, including financial consequences if you are found liable, especially if the accident involved reckless driving or other serious violations.
Working with a personal injury attorney is essential if you are facing a lawsuit or considering filing one to pursue compensation for injuries and property damage.
Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident involves more than just filing an insurance claim. Lance Bingham is ready to protect your rights at every step.
Here is how we help:
Not always. An accident typically only appears on your official Utah driving record if a traffic citation was issued or if it met state reporting requirements for injury or significant property damage.
Most insurance companies factor an at-fault accident into your rates for three to five years, though the exact length depends on your insurer's policies and your overall driving history.
Yes. Maintaining safe driving habits, completing a defensive driving course, and asking your insurance company about accident forgiveness programs can all help reduce the financial impact of an accident over time.
If you were involved in a car accident in Utah and have questions about your driving record, insurance rates, or your legal rights, Lance Bingham is ready to help. Our experienced car accident lawyer offers a free consultation to review your case, explain your options, and fight for fair compensation if you were injured. There is no cost unless we win your case.
Call us today at 801-477-8346
Lance Bingham Utah Personal Injury Lawyers
15 West South Temple, Suite 1650, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Phone: (801) 383-2922
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