How Far Can Insurers Can Look Back on Your Driving Record
Reader’s Question:
Someone told me that in the state of Wisconsin the car insurance carriers were only permitted to look back 3 years on your driving record. Is this true? I live in Wisconsin.
Neve
Kenosha, WI
I am not aware that insurance companies can only look at your driving record for three years in Wisconsin. Auto insurance carriers generally can go back 3, 5 or 7 years to look at a person’s driving record.
Most minor moving violations stay on your record for three years while major traffic violations can remain on your record for seven years or more. Many insurance providers will look 3 years back on a driver’s record for minor infractions but will look back for major offenses, i.e. DUI, for a longer period of time, such as 7 years.
On applications for car insurance many carriers will request information on previous accidents and moving violations and indicate how long proceeding the application date they will want you to list. If they request more than 3 years back, then you will need to list the moving violation and/or accident that happened during the time frame they requested information on.
