It happens to some of the best drivers on the road. You are driving safely, then you find yourself in an accident and the only thing you are really thinking about is your insurance premium. Or, maybe you have a pretty spotty driving record, and now you're worried this new accident will add even more points to your license. What about the people who are in these positions?
Can you remove an accident from your DMV or insurance record? Is it possible that you can avoid points on your license or an increase in your fees? While you don't have many options in terms of reporting, you may feel relieved to learn how a crash can affect your DMV or insurance records.
Fighting against a bad record
Bad records happen; people go through hard times, they may have been drinking and driving or driving recklessly frequently. The thing is, in some states, including Texas, those don't just come off your registry because you ask for it. In fact, Texas has six different types of records, and while one may look clean, the others may not.
Then you have your insurance record, which may include any single car accidents or instances you were involved in over the years. What happens in these cases is that the DMV, local police departments, and your insurance company will work together to report the accidents and attribute accidents to their appropriate records. Most people are more concerned about their records with their insurance agency than the Texas DMV.
DMV Records and Handling Your Accidents
The DMV has six types of records, including:
- State registration – public personal information
- 3 year driving history - all information including wreckage and citations
- All accident and violation records – more on that in a bit
- Certified 3-year history: a version of the 3-year history modified by defensive driving courses
- Certificate all accidents and violations
- Certified Summaries - a complete record for the licensed driver
The big concern for people in Texas is all the accident and violation records that cannot be "cleaned" or expunged, meaning you cannot remove an accident from your driving record.
The only time you can argue the record is when there are clear inaccuracies. For example, if you have never received a traffic ticket and there is one on your file, you can move to correct that. It is not the same as removing an accident.
Can you remove an accident from your insurance policy?
Typically, an insurance company will track accidents for anywhere from three to seven years, depending on the details of the accident. For example, an accident involving a DUI and a fatality may be on your record longer due to the high risk of another accident. Additionally, someone who sustained substantial property damage, such as hitting a fire hydrant or utility line, may be able to stay longer.
Ideally, if you've gone about three years without a standard accident, then you should expect to have a clean record with your insurance provider.
Will opening a new policy eliminate accidents?
Many people drop out because they think opening a new insurance plan will wipe their slate clean. That is not the case. These insurance companies work off of the DMV database and can locate your previous remains, even if previous reports from other drivers in the past were not reported to DMV. For example, if you filed an insurance claim a few years ago and didn't report it to the DMV, you might think you could change, and no one would be the wiser.
But that claim will still be within the larger insurance claims database, and can be identified by the other insurance provider.
After a Wreck – Get a Houston Car Accident Lawyer
Although you will have to report your block, it doesn't mean you have to have a bad mark on any record. The result is that you should have enough space to report that you have been in an accident without an impact on your record, either with the DMV or your policy. Now, if you have a negative history, you will have a hard time removing them from your records.
Our team of attorneys in Houston help people fights to clear up the remains they have had. Our team works with collision victims, and for that, it shouldn't have any negative impact on your DMV or your insurance records, and that happens in a way that many drivers don't necessarily understand. You can report a car accident and not have your rates increased, or have no points on your license.
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