Got into a car accident - how much will my premium increase if I go through insurance?

Question

My friend says at most it could be $1000-2000 damage - but I'm trying to get the bare minimum fixed if they'll let me do that at their recommended shop...insurance company is nationwide...

Answer 1

You do not mention if you were at fault or not.  If you were not at fault, it is unlikely your rates will go up.  Depending on your insurer, you may have "first accident forgiveness", or you may be assigned a points system where you lose points based on the amount paid out, but your rates do not go up.   Ask your agent.

Answer 2

that depends on who is at fault, your record, their record, your insurance company, their insurance company, your coverage, type of vehicle, amount of damage and possible where you get it fixed and if you pay for it or if the insurance company pays.

When you go to the body shop, just tell them what you want fixed and what you don't. They should do what you ask as long as the insurance company is willing to pay for it. To save some money (and possibly prevent your car from being totaled), try using salvage parts. If you have door damage, replace the door skin instead of the whole door and so on. A few months ago, I got in a wreck. If we had used new parts and a whole new door, my car would have been totaled, but the body shop used salvaged parts and a door skin (saving my car from being classified as totaled by under $100).

Answer 3

Sounds to me like it really screwed you in this deal. Maybe you could get good luck here.http://carinsurance.expertsupport.info/a...

Answer 4

OH GOD DRIVE SLOWER

Answer 5

Unfortunately, there's probably not a black-and-white answer to your question.  It varies from company-to-company and also takes into consideration other variables.  Some companies will increase your rates after one fender-bender ... for other companies it takes 2-3 fender-benders.  Some companies will increase your rates only if the fender-bender was your fault -- and other companies will increase your rates after 2-3 fender-benders even if the collisions were all the other drivers' faults.  (Their theory is that, even though the wrecks were not your fault, you are not driving defensively or else you wouldn't be the victim of so many wrecks.)  Sometimes an insurance company's decision to increase your rates after a collision takes into consideration whose fault the wreck was and also your driving record.  (For example, have you had a moving violation within the last few years.)   Bottom-line -- you never know.