Everything You Need to Know About Bonus, Deductible, and Price After a Car Accident

Introduction

A car accident not only leads to concerns about the damage itself but also questions about what happens to the bonus, deductible, and insurance premium. In this article, you will get a comprehensive overview of how an accident affects your finances – from bonus loss to deductible and potential changes in premium price. We will also look at how the process goes with filling out the damage report and how to ensure everything proceeds correctly with the insurance company.

What is a bonus on car insurance?

The bonus scheme is a way for the insurance company to reward accident-free years behind the wheel. Each year without an accident gives you an increased bonus, which results in a lower price for the insurance. If you are unfortunate and have a liability-causing accident, you may experience a bonus loss – leading to a higher premium.

The Norwegian bonus scheme often means that you start with 40% or 50% bonus, and can achieve up to 75% with most companies. Accident-free years usually give +10% bonus per year for the first occurrences, after which the step increase is reduced. You can find the full step process at Sbf.no.

What counts as a liability-causing accident?

A liability-causing accident is a claim that the insurance company must pay out on where you are fully or partially liable. Typical examples include rear-end collisions or negligence that leads to damage to someone else's property. The other party's full liability protects you from bonus loss, while shared liability divides the loss according to the liability distribution.

How is bonus loss calculated after an accident?

In the case of liability, usually 10 to 30 percentage points are deducted from the bonus you have for the current insurance year – the exact amount varies from company to company. For example, if you have a 75% bonus and get a liability claim, you usually drop to 65%, or from 75% to 55% (this varies). After that, you must accumulate new accident-free years to rebuild the bonus.

There are also accidents that do not affect bonus, typically in cases of theft, fire, glass damage, or certain comprehensive policies, but liability accidents where you are at fault will almost always result in bonus loss. Remember that the forms and terms from your own company apply – always double-check the details there.

Deductible: how much do you have to pay yourself?

The deductible is the amount you must pay when you use the insurance. This varies, but for private car insurance, it is typically between 4000–8000 kroner for a single claim, and can be higher for certain types of incidents (for example, drivers under 23 years or certain comprehensive additions).

Examples of common deductibles

• Liability/damage to another car or person: often around 4000–6000 kroner
• Comprehensive damage: 6000–8000 kroner
• Glass damage: from 2000 kroner

Some insurance policies offer a lower deductible if both parties cooperate on the damage report or if the incident involves multiple cars with the same company. Read the terms carefully – and ask your company if you are in doubt.

What happens to the price (premium) after an accident?

A bonus loss directly affects next year's premium, as a lower bonus results in a higher price. Additionally, some companies may use your claims history to increase the base premium, especially if you have multiple incidents in a short time. This can be particularly noticeable if you have a high-value car or high insurance coverage.

Calculate the price increase

If you drop from 75% to 55% bonus after an accident, your annual premium can increase by several thousand kroner. This is further exacerbated if you have a low bonus to begin with. For an accurate calculation, use the insurance company's calculator or compare prices directly.

Assess and reduce financial loss

For some damages, it might be worth paying out of pocket even if it results in negligible damage value, in order to preserve the bonus and avoid future premium increases. This particularly applies to minor dents or scratches without significant follow-up damage. Contact your insurance company and evaluate what makes the most sense before submitting a damage report.

Important! Never pressure the other party not to use insurance if they wish to – this can have legal consequences.

How do you ensure proper handling with the insurance company?

Always use a clear and complete damage report form. If both parties sign digitally, as with Skademeldinger.no, both you and the other party receive a copy that is ready for use with the insurance company. In case of disagreement, write your own explanations, but prepare a common version with signatures if you agree on the facts.

Step by step: from accident to completed case

1. Secure individuals, stop, and notify if necessary. The police must be notified in case of personal injury, disagreement, or animal collision.
2. Document the incident thoroughly with photos and ideally witnesses.
3. Fill out the damage report form, preferably together with the other party, and sign digitally for quick and traceable handling.
4. Send the documentation to the insurance company – everything is ready if you use digital solutions.
5. Follow up the case with the company and receive a decision about liability, bonus loss, and price increase.

Frequently asked questions

What if I am innocent?

If it is documented that the other party is fully at fault, you will not lose your bonus for this accident. In the case of shared fault, you typically only lose a proportionate part of the bonus as determined by the fault percentage.

Can I improve my bonus again?

After a bonus loss, you must drive accident-free for one or more years to rebuild the bonus, depending on how far the drop was. The highest level is attributed to longer accident-free periods.

Do minor damages affect the bonus?

Yes, as long as the insurance company pays out on liability or comprehensive coverage – but minor damages with low payouts may be worth covering yourself.

Sources

• Sbf.no: Everything About Bonus on Car Insurance

Summary

A car accident can have significant financial consequences if you are not aware. Good knowledge of the bonus scheme, deductibles, and how damages affect price gives you the best opportunity to make smart choices. Remember that today's digital solutions make it easier than ever to submit damage reports, cooperate with the other party, and keep track of your case history. Skademeldinger.no offers a safe and easy solution for digital filling, signing, and sharing of the damage report – ready for the insurance company in minutes.