Auto collision claim advice

[mlm]

Long story short:
- Wife scrapped up the 2009 Miata in a parking garage
- Fender, cowling, & paint estimate is $3K
- We have collision w/500 deductible
- Insurance agent says wife gets a point on her record if we file a claim
- Point means higher rates will be about the same as paying to fix

Pisses me off that I've been paying collision on the car for precisely this type of thing and now find out it's almost worthless. Tempted to file the claim and then switch insurance, but not sure if it'd be any cheaper.

So lend me your wisdom mighty BARF.

1) Should I claim or pay up? Pros/cons?
2) Would it be better to take a loss and sell?
3) Should I tell me insurance agent to get fucked, or is this standard?
4) Any recommendations for a good deal (home/moto/auto/life)
mlm is invisible Report Post

 

[gnahc79]

Long story short:
- Wife scrapped up the 2009 Miata in a parking garage
- Fender, cowling, & paint estimate is $3K
- We have collision w/500 deductible
- Insurance agent says wife gets a point on her record if we file a claim
- Point means higher rates will be about the same as paying to fix

Pisses me off that I've been paying collision on the car for precisely this type of thing and now find out it's almost worthless. Tempted to file the claim and then switch insurance, but not sure if it'd be any cheaper.

So lend me your wisdom mighty BARF.

1) Should I claim or pay up? Pros/cons?
2) Would it be better to take a loss and sell?
3) Should I tell me insurance agent to get fucked, or is this standard?
4) Any recommendations for a good deal (home/moto/auto/life)
mlm is invisible Report Post

This is BAU as far as I know. I had some body repair done recently due to flying debris on the highway smashing the front headlight and dinging up the area around it ($4k to fix). My ins agent wanted to be clear that the debris was in the air (comprehensive, no points) vs already on the ground (technically avoidable, collision, points). It seems a solo parking garage incident is collision .

btw how did you come to the conclusion that the higher rate would be the same as paying the fix out of pocket?

 

[afm199]

Long story short:
- Wife scrapped up the 2009 Miata in a parking garage
- Fender, cowling, & paint estimate is $3K
- We have collision w/500 deductible
- Insurance agent says wife gets a point on her record if we file a claim
- Point means higher rates will be about the same as paying to fix

Pisses me off that I've been paying collision on the car for precisely this type of thing and now find out it's almost worthless. Tempted to file the claim and then switch insurance, but not sure if it'd be any cheaper.

So lend me your wisdom mighty BARF.

1) Should I claim or pay up? Pros/cons?
2) Would it be better to take a loss and sell?
3) Should I tell me insurance agent to get fucked, or is this standard?
4) Any recommendations for a good deal (home/moto/auto/life)
mlm is invisible Report Post

It's always been that way. If the accident is YOUR fault, you pay for it. You will live with that insurance increase for three years. Do the math. Every insurance company is pretty much the same.

 

[Schnellbandit]

Did your wife actually do the scrapping or was it done by someone else as vandalism or something like that?

Was there any substance on the garage floor that contributed to the car sliding, thus causing the scrape?

Is the agent actively dissuading you by creating duress by telling you that you'll be punished for filing a claim?

Are the parking spaces or travel ways wide enough according to code?

Just asking because it could be any of those things given the info.

 

[SFSV650]

Did your wife actually do the scrapping or was it done by someone else as vandalism or something like that?

FWIW, Geico refused to pay out on a hit and run a few years back as the police report indicated the damage was deliberate, and they don't cover vandalism. YMMV.

 

[mototireguy]

Do you already know how much your premiums will increase and for how long?

File the claim.

Send wifey to drivey school.

 

[RightCoastBias]

I believe that in CA, the first point doesn't increase premiums. Can't remember where I heard this from specifically, but I recall it being an insurance agent.

 

[295566]

FWIW, Geico refused to pay out on a hit and run a few years back as the police report indicated the damage was deliberate, and they don't cover vandalism. YMMV.

What? Seriously? Isn't that a huge part of what comprehensive coverage is for? Vandalism, natural disasters, theft, etc?

 

[Schnellbandit]

FWIW, Geico refused to pay out on a hit and run a few years back as the police report indicated the damage was deliberate, and they don't cover vandalism. YMMV.

If you have comp they do. What often happens (not saying that was the case) is that a hit and run is reported, no plate number. Police are called and if it was reported as.hit and run to insurance but police report comes back vandalism, no pay out. Amend the claim to void the hit and run, file as vandalism and if you have comp they will pay.

They will not tell you this.

Never report a hit and run without a license plate number, always report as what happened, damage to car, you didn't do it and ask for coverage under comp. The less you say, the better.

Of course, if you don't have comp coverage then that is that.

 

[Schnellbandit]

Remember, never file a claim until you call up anonymously and ask a hypothetical question as to how they would handle a claim, giving them only the facts.

Unless you saw someone hit your vehicle and have a plate # how do you know that is what happened? Heard a noise or next morning went outside, vehicle is damaged. Call up anon and ask how company X would handle it. Then file the claim after verifying info by reading your policy.

Any other way and you are on the way to being...

ADJUSTED!

 

[SFSV650]

What? Seriously? Isn't that a huge part of what comprehensive coverage is for? Vandalism, natural disasters, theft, etc?

If you have comp they do. What often happens (not saying that was the case) is that a hit and run is reported, no plate number...

Driver was arrested a couple of blocks later, mostly for threatening people at a school, but also for the DUI. Ample witnesses and a confession. Prosecutor told us the passenger was out on bail for attempted murder of a LEO ( :wow I assumed they just throw you in a hole forever if you do that, not let you out drinking at 11am on a school day, but what do I know ).

Insurance told us to get fucked - even with comp they won't cover deliberate damage, go sue the driver. Wasn't worth it for a $2k bike. Switched to State farm immediately.

Driver avoided jail time and agreed to make restitution payments. She made two, I believe, totaling close to $115.

Anyway, enough about me. Just be careful you don't think you're necessarily covered for vandalism.

 

[Climber]

I didn't know that an insurance company could add a point to your record, I thought that was only law enforcement agencies that could do that.

I'd file the claim and switch companies. It always bothered me that filing a claim could cost you more than you got, the insurance companies certainly seem to factor that into their profits.

 

[stan23]

Let me add that even if you switch insurance companies, they all use the same database and the new company can and WILL see the claim you filed.

Also, Just CALLING the insurance CO and not even filing, but mentioning what happened, they WILL record that piece of information.

I switch insurance companies every year or so (never had a claim other than windshield chip) and all the companies knew the claim.

 

[ThumperX]

First, who is your carrier? Often there are accident forgiveness programs in place depending on how long you've had your policy.

Secondly, if the covered repairs cost them $2500 which results in a $500/yr increase in premiums that means it wold take 5 years to pay off the $2500. Usually accidents drop after 3 years so at worst you would have $1500 in escalated premiums. At worst, you'd have a $2500 interest free loan :dunno

 

[Schnellbandit]

Let me add that even if you switch insurance companies, they all use the same database and the new company can and WILL see the claim you filed.

Also, Just CALLING the insurance CO and not even filing, but mentioning what happened, they WILL record that piece of information.

I switch insurance companies every year or so (never had a claim other than windshield chip) and all the companies knew the claim.

If you call anonymously they don't know who you are nor do you give exact details but limit the call to the general situation. You can also visit a repair shop and they'll tell you what gets covered and how. They deal with that stuff all the time.

They can record all they want, its a voice on a phone. Now, if you call from the phone they have on file, well then, time to be the payer instead of the payee.

Most people call up and just like they do when taking their vehicle in for a service problem, try to tell the service writer what they think the problem is instead of saying nothing aside from explaining what is wrong.

Two types of claimants, those that pay and those that get paid. The way you file often determines which you'll end up being.

 

[stan23]

If you call anonymously they don't know who you are nor do you give exact details but limit the call to the general situation. You can also visit a repair shop and they'll tell you what gets covered and how. They deal with that stuff all the time.

They can record all they want, its a voice on a phone. Now, if you call from the phone they have on file, well then, time to be the payer instead of the payee.

Most people call up and just like they do when taking their vehicle in for a service problem, try to tell the service writer what they think the problem is instead of saying nothing aside from explaining what is wrong.

Two types of claimants, those that pay and those that get paid. The way you file often determines which you'll end up being.

Yeah lesson learned on my part.

A few years ago, While parking my car, I accidentally bumped my motorcycle with my car causing some chips in the front bumper from the peg (MC was fine, didn't even get knocked over) Having NEVER filed a claim, I called my insurance CO regarding possibly filing a claim to repair and repaint the front bumper. They said it will be for sure a knock on your driving record because it's a collision that involved a motorcycle, and for sure my rates will go up.

I decided to just pay out of pocket and fix on my own, and to have my question regarding claim redacted, in which she said it was not possible, and now our conversation is part of my record.

 

[insyder]

I'd love to see pics of the damage. I can imagine you could get it fixed at a cheaper price our of pocket and without causing any drama for your insurance.

Overall cost seems the bottom line here.

 

[madsen203]

Insurance companies count accidents against you for 5-7 years. Only few insurance companies look out to only 3 years.

Check your insurance rates (start a quote) with an accident and calculate the delta for a total of 5 years and see how much it costs you. Also...if you have a larger accident within that 5 years you are really high risk and may even get dropped all because of some small initial claim.

Personally...if you can afford it... fix it yourself. If you can't... then spend some time shopping when your renewals come.

 

[madsen203]

I didn't know that an insurance company could add a point to your record, I thought that was only law enforcement agencies that could do that.

Insurance companies don't assess points...they are required to report it to DMV. Any accident resulting in injury or property damage above $750 has to be reported to DMV in California within 10 days. This will assess you a point/history on your drivers record.

 

[radvas]

You don’t have to call anonymously if you have a good agent. I have conversations like this every time a claim comes up, and have never been burned. Talking with my agent though, not a claims processor.