Does making an insurance claim increase your premium (even if it wasn’t your fault)?

Usually yes — and frustratingly, this can apply even to non-fault claims. Insurers price on statistical risk, and data shows that drivers who’ve been in any incident (fault or not) are more likely to claim again, so premiums often rise after a claim regardless of blame. A fault claim also dents your no-claims discount. The increase varies hugely by insurer, claim type and your history. This is exactly why it’s worth doing the quick maths before claiming for something small: if the payout after your excess is modest, the premium rise plus lost no-claims discount can cost you more than just paying for the repair yourself.