U-Turn: Usaa Auto Insurance Accident Forgiveness

Accident forgiveness is an optional coverage type that can prevent your car insurance rates from increasing after an at-fault accident. USAA offers accident forgiveness to its customers in two ways: either by maintaining a clean driving record for five years or by purchasing it as an add-on to the insurance policy. The cost of USAA's accident forgiveness policy depends on various factors, and it is not available in all states.

Accident forgiveness is free for loyal customers

Accident forgiveness is a benefit added to your insurance policy that ensures your rates won't increase after your first at-fault accident. USAA offers accident forgiveness for free to policyholders who have been with the company for five years without an at-fault accident on their driving record. This is known as loyalty-based accident forgiveness.

Accident forgiveness is applied automatically to the policies of qualifying customers. All drivers on a USAA policy must maintain a clean driving record for five years before the policy becomes eligible for free accident forgiveness.

In some states, USAA customers who do not qualify for loyalty-based accident forgiveness can purchase it instead. This provides the same benefits as loyalty-based accident forgiveness but is available to newer USAA customers as an optional add-on.

Accident forgiveness is per policy, not per driver. Therefore, if one driver on a shared policy causes an accident, the other drivers on the policy cannot have separate accidents forgiven. Accident forgiveness is also not available in Connecticut, Delaware, North Carolina, California, or New York.

Accident forgiveness can be purchased as an add-on

Accident forgiveness is typically earned by maintaining a clean driving record for five years. However, if you are unable to qualify for loyalty-based accident forgiveness, you can purchase it as an optional add-on. This purchased accident forgiveness provides the same benefits as loyalty-based accident forgiveness but is available to newer USAA customers.

The cost of adding accident forgiveness to your policy will depend on various factors, but it is generally a relatively affordable add-on, costing between $15 and $60 per year. It is worth noting that accident forgiveness is not available in all states, and there may be other restrictions that affect your eligibility.

By purchasing accident forgiveness, you can drive with peace of mind, knowing that your insurance premiums will not increase after your first accident. Additionally, you will be able to maintain a clean driving record and continue qualifying for good driver discounts.

Accident forgiveness is not available in all states

Accident forgiveness is not a given in all US states. USAA's accident forgiveness policy is not available in Connecticut, Delaware, North Carolina, California, or New York. In some states, USAA customers who do not qualify for loyalty-based accident forgiveness can purchase forgiveness coverage instead. However, this is not the case in all states.

Accident forgiveness is an optional coverage type that can prevent your car insurance rates from increasing in the event of an at-fault accident. It is a relatively affordable way to ensure your rates don't go up if you cause an accident. Normally, auto insurance rates spike if you're the cause of a car accident. Accident forgiveness is a benefit added to your insurance policy that ensures your policy will not be surcharged after an at-fault accident.

Accident forgiveness is not offered by every insurance company, and some states, like California, do not allow it. This is because accident forgiveness only prevents your insurance rates from rising in the event of an at-fault accident. It does not have any effect on situations covered by other insurance products, such as collision and comprehensive auto coverage.

Accident forgiveness is typically only applicable for your first accident, so your premiums could still increase after that. It also won't keep accidents that you caused from showing up on your overall driving history.

Accident forgiveness is per policy, not per driver

Accident forgiveness is a benefit added to your insurance policy that ensures your policy will not be surcharged after an at-fault accident. USAA offers accident forgiveness for free to policyholders who have had USAA auto insurance for the past five years without any at-fault accidents. Qualifying customers get accident forgiveness automatically applied to their policy.

USAA accident forgiveness is per policy, not per driver. This means that if one driver on a shared policy caused an accident in the past five years, the other drivers on the policy cannot have separate accidents forgiven. So, if there are multiple drivers on a policy, any of the eligible drivers may use this benefit only once.

In some states, USAA customers who do not qualify for loyalty-based accident forgiveness can purchase forgiveness coverage instead. Purchased accident forgiveness provides the same benefits as loyalty-based accident forgiveness but is available for newer USAA customers as an optional add-on.

It's important to note that USAA accident forgiveness is not available in Connecticut, Delaware, North Carolina, California, or New York.

Accident forgiveness does not remove the accident from your driving record

Accident forgiveness is a benefit added to your insurance policy that ensures your policy will not be surcharged after an at-fault accident. Normally, your policy would be surcharged after a chargeable accident. This surcharge is not permanent and will remain on your policy for between three to five years.

• Your state driving record: Your motor vehicle report (MVR) helps the state keep track of your previous infractions, which could lead to greater fines or consequences on future violations. You may be able to remove a ticket related to an accident from your driving record to help you avoid fines or license suspension—but a valid accident will remain.
• Your Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) Report: Any claims from the car accident will go on your CLUE report and stay there for about three to five years. You won’t be able to remove an accident from your CLUE report—and this is what will give you higher-than-average car insurance rates.

In some cases, accident forgiveness can be earned for free by maintaining a clean driving record for a certain number of years. In other cases, it can be purchased as an add-on to your insurance policy.

Frequently asked questions