Drivers should be wary of filing auto insurance claims unless absolutely necessary, experts say. According to a study from InsuranceQuotes.com, a motorist's insurance premium could double after two "at-fault" claims.
Just one incident could result in the at-fault driver's premium going up 38 percent on average, NBC reported. Drivers should beware of filing a claim that will ultimately cost them.
"The biggest lesson for consumers is not to file a claim unless absolutely necessary," said Laura Adams, a senior analyst at insuranceQuotes.com. "Making a claim for a few hundred dollars doesn't make sense if your premium is going to skyrocket as a result."
A select few insurance companies such as Liberty Mutual, Nationwide and Allstate won't penalize first-time accidents with higher rates, but the study revealed that many drivers will be hit hard with higher premiums after accidents. Drivers with accident-prone driving records will have the highest insurance rates.
"[H]aving multiple claims within a short period is really damaging," Adams said, adding that more accidents will make a driver seem "riskier to an insurance company than they thought before."
Insurance rates will vary from state to state and depend on a variety of factors that include age, credit score and driving record. Claims can fall into three categories: bodily injury, damage and comprehensive.
The most expensive type of claim, bodily injury or liability averaged $14,653 across the United States last year. The damage claim, which occurs with incidents where a vehicle is damaged but no one is hurt, cost an average $3,073 in 2012.
Comprehensive claims, which cover such incidents as theft, hail damage or a tree falling onto a vehicle, typically cost $1,585 last year. The study found that one comprehensive claim raised insurance rates only 2 percent on average.
"So, it makes sense to file those," said Adams.
She noted that auto insurance hikes will likely remain in place for three to five years.
The InsuranceQuotes study was based on insurance plans in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia and assumed a 45-year-old driver "carrying a policy providing a maximum $300,000 in liability coverage, with a $500 deductible, submitting a $2,000 claim."
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