Do you lose your no claims in a 50/50 car accident?

Asked by: Casimer Dickinson  |  Last update: July 9, 2026
Score: 4.4/5 (3 votes)

Yes, a 50/50 car accident usually results in a loss or reduction of your No Claims Bonus (NCB). Because insurers often treat 50/50, or "split liability," cases as fault claims, the insurer cannot recover all costs from the other party. Your bonus will be reduced, unless you have protected your NCB.

Does a 50/50 claim affect no claims?

Non-fault claims: If your insurer recovers the full cost from the other party, you'll typically keep your full NCB. 50/50 claims: Often treated as fault claims, you'll usually lose some of your bonus. Windscreen claims: Minor repairs won't usually affect your NCB.

What happens if an accident is 50/50?

In a personal injury case where both parties are equally at fault for the car accident, each party will be responsible for 50% of the other driver's damages. California is a fault state, which means that the insurance company of the at-fault driver is responsible for the damages caused by their insured.

Do you lose all your no claims after an accident?

No. You don't lose all of it unless you're in your first few years of NCD, just some of it. Your insurance provider should have a table that states how many years you lose depending on the number of claims in a year. For my provider I lose 3 years NCD if I make a claim.

Will my insurance go up after a 50/50 claim?

50/50 is the same as at fault for the most part, your rates will go up.

Auto Insurance Claims Process: Not-At-Fault Accident

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What does 50/50 mean in a car accident?

If an accident has occurred, whereby both parties are equally responsible, it can be determined as a 50:50 split liability. In this case, each party receives half of the money for their claim from the other party's insurance company.

Does insurance go up if it's 50/50?

In that case, it means you are responsible for half the damage. This can reduce how much money you receive for your vehicle repairs, medical bills, and pain and suffering. You may also have to pay for half of the other party's damages, and your insurance rates might go up.

Why have I lost my no-claims bonus?

You may lose your no-claims bonus if you make a claim, or if you have a significant gap between policies – for example, if you take an extended break from driving. The threshold varies across providers, but your no-claims bonus will typically expire after around two years of being uninsured.

Why should you never admit fault?

You should never admit fault after an incident, especially a car accident, because even saying "I'm sorry" or "I was distracted" can be used against you by insurance companies and in court to assign liability, potentially costing you compensation for your own injuries, increasing your premiums, or leading to lawsuits, even if you were only partially at fault. It's crucial to remain calm, stick to factual information exchange (like insurance details), and avoid making definitive statements about who caused the accident until a thorough investigation by authorities and legal professionals can determine the true facts. 

Will car insurance drop you after one accident?

It's also possible for your insurance company to drop you after a single accident. Although unlikely, insurance companies may choose to cancel coverage if you experience an at-fault accident that results in your license being revoked or suspended.

Is insurance group 50 bad?

Cars in insurance Group 50 are expensive to buy and maintain. This alone puts the car in a higher risk bracket. Insurance companies need to make sure that their bases are covered in the event that the car is damaged or stolen.

What is a 50/50 accident?

For example, if one driver was speeding but the other driver ran a red light, the fault for the accident may be 50/50. Another example is if a pedestrian is jaywalking and gets hit by a speeding car. The pedestrian and the speeding driver might both be found partially at fault.

Is it worth losing the no-claims bonus?

According to recent research if you don't protect your no claims discount your premium might actually increase by 30% if you make a claim. While protecting a five year no claims bonus can add extra money to your annual premiums. If you don't make any claim then you will end up out of pocket.

Why does my insurance go up if the accident wasn't my fault?

A not-at-fault accident can still increase your insurance because insurers see it as a sign of higher future risk, indicating you're statistically more likely to have another claim, even if you weren't to blame for the first one; they also consider administrative costs and your overall claims history, and some states allow rate hikes for any accident involvement to cover these increased risk factors. 

Why notify insurance if not claiming?

Failure to notify your insurance company can damage potential payments or result in your claim being automatically denied.

What happens if the other driver does not admit fault?

If the other driver won't accept blame

As well as taking verbal statements from the driver, the team could ask to look at any of the following additional evidence: images of damage on the vehicles. CCTV of the accident. witness statements.

How do you prove it's not your fault?

How to Prove an Accident Wasn't Your Fault in 5 Steps

  1. Gather Evidence from the Scene. Documentation from the crash site is essential for illustrating who's at fault. ...
  2. Contact Witnesses. ...
  3. Get the Police Report. ...
  4. See a Doctor. ...
  5. Consult with an Attorney.

Do you lose no claims if someone hits you?

Yes, you often lose your No Claims Bonus (NCB) if someone hits you and you make a claim, even if it wasn't your fault, because your insurer pays out and then tries to recover costs, but some policies (especially comprehensive ones) or using an accident management company can protect your NCB if the other party is fully liable and identifiable. If your insurer can't recover costs (e.g., uninsured driver) or you're found partially at fault, your NCB is usually reduced or lost, and your premium increases. 

What makes someone uninsurable?

Good behaviour behind the wheel is your best battleplan to avoid being deemed uninsurable. If you have fines, arrests and convictions on your record, that might be a signal to an insurer that you are a big risk. Serious crimes, like impaired driving, can hurt your ability to renew your current insurance policy.

What happens with a 50/50 accident?

What Happens If An Insurance Claim Goes 50/50? If an insurance claim goes 50/50, you will receive 50% of the compensation value, adjusted to reflect your equal liability for the accident.

What does 50/50 mean in an accident?

If both parties are equally responsible for an accident, the situation is referred to as a 50/50 split liability or a 50/50 insurance claim.

Why did my insurance go up after an accident that wasn't my fault?

A not-at-fault accident can still increase your insurance because insurers see it as a sign of higher future risk, indicating you're statistically more likely to have another claim, even if you weren't to blame for the first one; they also consider administrative costs and your overall claims history, and some states allow rate hikes for any accident involvement to cover these increased risk factors.