Can insurance charge more for a break-in?

Questions
1

Hi everyone… I have a question. Can a car insurance company really raise your monthly rates because of past incidents? Someone broke into my car recently. It wasn’t my fault, but now I’m paying for it? Is this normal?

2

Insurance companies look at past claims to predict future risks. Some places have rules that stop them from raising rates for incidents that aren’t your fault, but others don’t. Even if it’s not your fault, they might see it as a sign of risk, especially if you haven’t made changes to prevent it from happening again.

3

@Ben
That makes sense, thank you so much.

4

Yes, they can. It’s a big part of how they figure out how risky it is to insure you. Some states allow this, and others don’t.

5

Asa said:
Yes, they can. It’s a big part of how they figure out how risky it is to insure you. Some states allow this, and others don’t.

Thanks so much.

6

It depends on where you live. In some places, insurance companies are allowed to increase rates for claims, even if you weren’t at fault. A break-in could make your rates go up.

7

Jensen said:
It depends on where you live. In some places, insurance companies are allowed to increase rates for claims, even if you weren’t at fault. A break-in could make your rates go up.

Thanks for explaining.

8

Insurance is all about sharing risk. If you’ve had a claim, even if it’s not your fault, it can still be seen as a sign of higher risk. Maybe your car is easier to target, or you park in areas with higher crime. The next break-in could lead to something bigger, like theft.

9

@Marlon
Got it, thank you.

10

Whether or not they can raise rates depends on your state. Fault isn’t always the issue. Insurance companies work with a lot of data, and their stats show that someone with one claim might be more likely to have another.

11

@Lyle
Thanks for the info.

12

If your state doesn’t let insurance companies raise rates for not-at-fault claims, they can’t. But in other states, they can adjust your rates because your car being targeted once might mean it’s more likely to happen again.

13

@Sam
Good to know, thank you.

14

I’m glad I live in Winnipeg. Here, we have public, non-profit insurance. They don’t raise your rates for break-ins or even windshield claims. Only things like speeding tickets or DUIs will affect your rates.

15

@Echo
Wow, you’re lucky. Thanks for sharing.