I had an accidental ten day lapse between insurance carriers. How long will I be penalized for lapse?

You will have to have had your car insurance for a continuous six months in order to cease being penalized with a higher rate and get credit for having insurance — which should help your rate come down. See our guide to lapses in coverage to understand how and why a lapse in coverage impacts your premium. As for your husband's at-fault accident, that can impact your rates for up to five years. If both the lapse and accident are making your premium unaffordable, there's no harm in shopping around for better rates.