Insurance guide
Will My Car Insurance Rates Go Up After an Accident in Colorado?
Colorado protects drivers from rate increases because of crashes they did not cause. Learn what can change your premium and how to question an increase.
Written by The Collision Care Clinic editorial team
Published · Updated
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Colorado protects drivers after a crash they did not cause
C.R.S. 10-4-628(1)(a) prohibits an insurer from raising your premium, canceling, refusing to renew or reclassifying a complying auto policy because of an accident that was not your fault. The protection applies to accidents you did not cause.
The statute allows general premium increases filed with the insurance commissioner. Your renewal price can therefore change for reasons other than that crash. This protection does not promise that your premium will stay the same.
Fault and claim history can affect the price
At-fault accidents can affect your rates. The Colorado Division of Insurance's auto-insurance guidance explains how driving records and claims influence pricing. Insurers may weigh your overall claim history, subject to Colorado's limits on what they may use. Opening a MedPay claim does not raise your rates; the crash itself can. Claim history does not override the protection for an accident that was not your fault.
If fault is disputed, ask your insurer how it classified the accident and what information it used. Keep that response with your claim records.
Ask for the reason behind a change
Compare your renewal notice with your previous policy. Ask your insurer which rating factors changed and whether the accident affected the price. Request an explanation in writing and keep your notices and claim correspondence together.
The Division of Insurance can review a concern
C.R.S. 10-4-628(3) gives you the right to complain to the Division of Insurance if you believe these protections were violated. The Division's complaint guidance explains how to submit a complaint through its Consumer Portal and upload supporting documents. Include the insurer's explanation, your notices and the relevant claim correspondence.
For questions, contact the Division's Consumer Services team at 303-894-7490 or DORA_Insurance@state.co.us. The Division investigates complaints and answers insurance questions. A complaint does not guarantee a particular result.
Last verified 2026-11-02. This guide is general information, not legal advice.