Car door dent and scratches - insurance claim or not?

Question

About a month ago I dented and scratched my drivers side rear door on a pole in a parking garage. Didn't submit the claim because I thought that it would only cost about $500 to fix, which is the amount of my deductible. Today I went to a body shop and they gave me an estimate of $1100. Now I'm wondering if I should submit a claim (if its not too late). I have had two accidents in the last two years - one my fault, one not, but the insurance companies knows about both. Do I call them and submit it or not? Last time I talked to the claims person she couldn't tell me at all how it would effect my premium, and it went up a lot because I lost my good driver discount.

Answer 1

I would not file a claim !!!!  They may drop your coverage.  Just live with the small damage and maybe it will be a reminder to be more careful every time you look at it !!  Good luck !!

Answer 2

Unless you have collision coverage on your insurance, it won't be covered anyway.  So check your policy.

Answer 3

The net to consider is higher insurance for about three years and save $600 now.

That amount may be less than the increase.  If it is $200 for three years, = $600, you break even.

They may cancel you.  

They take a dim view with three accidents and figure you may have a worse one.

h**l, I had an insirance co. cancel me after ten years with them, and no accidents.

I ask my agent why they canceled.

His answer, "They figured that you were due".

Answer 4

Try the local Vo-tech body shop, or if the local high school has a body shop.  The only thing you'd pay for are the materials and give a donation.  You will be helping the school and the kids get some hands on experience.  The instructor will be in the midst of it all!  So don't worry about them not doing a good job.  I've seen what they do in my town!  Very Good work!

Answer 5

They raised you rates because the accident was your fault. The other one should not have affected it.

I would call up to the insurance company and just say you came out to your car and it was dented like that (which then falls under someone else doing it to your car) and ask will your rates go up?

My car has beet hit 2 times by drivers that hit and ran, once in my driveway and my insurance agent assured me since I was not involved in an accident that the rates will remain the same.

Your good driver discount only goes away when the accident is your fault, and it cant get taken away twice, so I wouldnt worry about it.

Answer 6

learn to understand some principle conception before accept any suggestion is a great idea.Here is great place to start.http://carinsurance.expertsupport.info/a...

Answer 7

If you keep submitting claims, they'll keep raising your rates - or not renew your policy at some point.  You sound rather young - with time you'll become a proactive driver and watch out for those pesky poles in parking garages.

Answer 8

The damage to your car is only $1100.  You're better off paying for it yourself.  If you submit the claim to your insurance carrier then you will be surcharged an extra $300 to $400 a year for 3 years on your insurance.  Plus, the company will be listing it as an at fault accident.  Come renewal time, given that you already have 2 accidents listed, more than likely the insurance company will cancel your policy.  

Other scenario, at renewal time, you could shop around for better rates. The accident in question wouldn't show up on any of your records in which you might have a better chance of getting better prices with other carriers.

It's a very competitive market right now.

Answer 9

You can easily estimate how your quotes will change in case of claim in internet, for example here: http://carinsurance.deep-ice.com

Answer 10

For each at fault accident you get 1 point, unless there's an injury (yours or the other party), that's another point.  I would try some other body shops before I commit to contacting your insurance co.