How long does an accident stay on your driving record in Pennsylvania?

Answer 1

It depends which record you are talking about. Penndot keeps the motor vehicle records (MVR)- which may or may not contain accident information. If an accident is listed on your motor vehicle record it does not indicate fault but is assumed to be At Fault by insurance companies unless supporting documentation is provided. Major violations such as DUI, reckless driving, vehicular homicide, etc are applicable to insurance rates for at least 5 years. One note is that even if you dont have any "points" on your license, if you have a violation within 3 years the insurance company can and will use it to determine rates. The other record is an insurance company database called CLUE. It is reported by insurance companies and simply lists claims with date, amount paid and coverage paid under, and sometimes a VIN number of vehicle involved. In Pennsylvania companies can use the previous 5 years but some use only 3 years of history. You should always keep any documents related to claims or accidents to provide proof to insurance companies if an accident was not your fault.