How to Claim Insurance for a Car Dent
Getting a dent or scratch on your car can be upsetting, especially if your vehicle is fairly new. While small cosmetic damages may not affect how your car runs they can certainly detract from its appearance. You probably want your car looking nice again as soon as possible. But will car insurance cover dents and scratches? Can you make an insurance claim for minor cosmetic damage?
In this article, we’ll explore what types of car insurance cover dents, scratches, and other superficial damage We’ll also provide tips on how to successfully file a claim to get your car looking great again.
Key Things to Know:
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Collision and comprehensive insurance typically cover dents, scratches, and other minor damage.
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Liability insurance does not cover damage to your own vehicle.
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The car insurance deductible applies to claims for cosmetic damage.
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To file a claim, contact your insurer promptly and provide photos of the damage.
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Keeping your car well-maintained can help avoid denies for pre-existing wear and tear.
Collision Insurance and Dents
Collision coverage is the car insurance coverage that will repair physical damage to your vehicle from a crash. Even if the crash was minor and only caused cosmetic harm like dents or scratches, collision insurance should cover the repairs.
Here are some tips for filing a collision insurance claim for dents and similar damage:
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Contact your insurer promptly to start the claims process. Provide details about when and how the damage occurred.
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Take clear photos of the dented area and overall damage. This documents the damage for the insurer.
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Get a repair cost estimate from an auto body shop. Your insurer will reimburse you up to the actual cash value of repairs.
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Pay your collision deductible. This is your share of repair costs before insurance kicks in. For a $500 deductible, you’d pay $500 out of pocket.
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Your insurer will cover repair costs beyond the deductible, minus any depreciation if you don’t have replacement cost coverage.
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For major damage, an insurance adjuster may inspect your car before approving repairs.
Comprehensive Coverage and Scratches
What about random scratches, door dings, hail damage, or other cosmetic issues not caused by a collision? For these, you’ll need comprehensive car insurance.
Comprehensive (also called “other than collision”) insurance covers damage to your car from non-accident hazards. This includes:
- Vandalism or car body damage from others
- Damage from weather events like hail or wind
- Falling objects hitting the car
- Theft or larceny
- Fire, smoke, or explosions
- Glass damage and broken windows
Like with collision claims, you’ll pay your comprehensive deductible first before insurance covers additional repair costs. Overall, comprehensive insurance is great for fixing scratches, dings, weather damage, and other cosmetic issues.
Liability Insurance and Your Own Car
Liability insurance covers damage you cause to others and their property. But it does NOT cover damage to your own vehicle, even if the damage is minor.
For example, say you accidentally back into a pole and dent your bumper. Or you slightly scrape the side of your car in a tight parking garage. Since this is damage to your own vehicle, liability insurance will not pay for repairs. Collision or comprehensive insurance would need to cover the damage instead.
The bottom line is that liability insurance only pays for harm you cause to others – not harm to yourself or your own property. Look to collision and comprehensive for minor cosmetic issues on your own car.
How Your Deductible Works
As mentioned earlier, you will need to pay the collision or comprehensive deductible when filing an insurance claim for dents, scratches, or similar damage.
Deductibles typically range from $250 to $1,000 or more. So if your deductible is $500 and repairs cost $800, you would pay $500 out of pocket and insurance would cover the remaining $300.
Some things to know about car insurance deductibles:
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Higher deductibles mean lower premiums. Going with a higher deductible saves money each month on your insurance bill.
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Consider how often you plan to file claims. If you rarely file claims, then choosing a higher deductible could make sense. But if you file more frequently, keep your deductible lower.
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See if your insurer offers vanishing deductibles. This makes your deductible decrease over time if you go claim-free.
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You can sometimes pay extra for a $0 or disappearing deductible on glass repair claims. This avoids the deductible for windshield replacements.
While paying the deductible may be a hassle, comprehensive and collision insurance will cover repair costs beyond the deductible amount. So you can get minor cosmetic repairs done affordably.
How to File an Insurance Claim for a Car Dent
If you want to file an insurance claim for a dent, scratch, or other minor damage, follow these steps:
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Contact your insurance provider promptly to begin the claims process. Provide key details like when the damage occurred, how it happened, and the location.
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Take clear, detailed photos of the damage. Capture close-ups of dents and scratches as well as wider shots showing the full area.
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Get a repair cost estimate from an auto body shop. Your insurer will reimburse you based on this amount, up to your coverage limits.
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Submit the estimate and photos to your insurance company. An adjuster may request to inspect the vehicle damage, especially for major dents.
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Pay your collision or comprehensive deductible. Your insurer will send payment for repair costs beyond the deductible amount.
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Schedule the repairs. Make sure to get a warranty on the work performed.
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If your car is drivable, consider getting a rental car during the repair process, which your insurance may cover.
Promptly starting the claims process and providing thorough documentation will help ensure you get your dent repaired quickly and affordably!
How Insurance Companies Determine if Damage is Covered
Insurers have specific criteria they use to determine if damage like dents are covered under your policy. Things they will evaluate include:
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Did the damage occur abruptly from a covered peril like an accident, storm, or vandalism? Gradual wear and tear is often excluded.
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Is the damage more than just minor superficial issues? Deep dents affecting underlying structures may raise concerns.
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Does the damage impact the mechanical function or safety of the car? Just cosmetic damage is easier to approve.
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Did the policyholder take reasonable care to prevent the damage? Gross negligence may lead to a denial.
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Is the damage age-appropriate for the vehicle? 10 dents on a brand new car will be viewed differently than a high-mileage older car.
Being honest about how the damage occurred and providing photos helps the claims process go smoothly. Make sure to point out if existing wear and tear or previous underlying issues contributed at all to the damage.
Preventing Denied Claims for Pre-Existing Damage
One reason insurers may deny a dent claim is if they believe the damage was pre-existing or due to general wear and tear over time. Some tips to avoid this:
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Keep your car well-maintained and address dents quickly before further deterioration.
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Take photos documenting your car’s condition when starting a policy to prove later damage is new.
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Point out any prior minor dents/scratches to the insurer so new damage can be distinguished.
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Keep records of all repairs and when they were done.
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Ask the body shop or estimator to note if damage looks older or related to a pre-existing issue.
By properly maintaining your vehicle and communicating about prior damage, you’ll have a smoother claim process.
When to Pay Out of Pocket for Minor Cosmetic Damage
Given deductibles and potential rate increases, is it worth filing an insurance claim for minor scratches or dents? That depends on your situation.
It may make sense to pay out of pocket if:
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Damage is under $500 and you have a high deductible.
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You have a newer vehicle with higher premiums. A claim could really impact your rate.
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Repairs can be done quickly at a low cost by a mobile repair service.
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The scratch or scuff is truly superficial and unlikely to get worse over time.
But if damage affects safety or functionality, compromises the structure, or requires body shop repairs, it’s probably best to file a claim.
The Bottom Line
collision and comprehensive insurance will cover repair costs for dents, scratches, and other cosmetic damage to your vehicle. Just be prepared to pay the deductible. If damage is minimal, you may opt to pay for repairs out of pocket rather than risk your rates going up. But for more extensive cosmetic damage or anything impacting drivability, go through insurance to get your car looking great again. Just take clear photos, get repair estimates, and provide details on how the damage occurred. This will set you up for a smooth claims process.
Contact Your Insurance Provider
Once youre safe, contact your car insurance company as soon as possible. Call the insurance company’s claims number. It should be on your insurance card, or you can look it up online. Many major companies allow you to file a claim online or through a smartphone app.
When you reach your insurer, explain what happened in as much detail. This is where that information and documentation you took down at the scene comes in handy.
Accidents. If you are in a car accident, your insurance company will look at the cars and property involved to figure out who was at fault. They’ll also ask about what happened, including whether anyone else was hurt.
If the other driver is found to be at fault, their liability insurance will probably pay for up to the policy limit of any damage to your car or medical bills you have. If it turns out that you were at fault, your collision coverage can help pay to fix your car. You may not have to pay for your medical bills if you have medical payment coverage or personal injury protection.
Vandalism, Theft, Natural Disasters. If you haven’t been in an accident with someone else, one of two types of insurance may pay to fix or replace your car. This depends on the scenario and facts involving the claim.
- Comprehensive coverage means that your insurance will pay to fix or replace your car if it is stolen, vandalized, damaged by an animal, or damaged by falling objects, like a rock hitting your windshield and breaking it.
- Insurance that pays to fix or replace your car if it rolls over or hits something or another car in a single-vehicle accident. This is called collision coverage.
Check with your insurance company to confirm your comprehensive or collision coverage and ask about your deductible. These two types of coverage are not required by law, but if you lease or finance your car, your lender may ask for them.
If your car was stolen or broken into, let the claims representative know about any personal items that were in it. Ask whether those losses will be covered under your auto insurance policy. If not, they may be covered under your renters or homeowners insurance policy.
Also, report the theft to your finance or leasing company since it’s technically the vehicle owner.
Throughout the entire claims process, stay in communication with the insurance company. It can keep you updated on your claim’s progress.
Get To A Safe Area
If there’s been an accident, the first thing you should do is protect yourself and everyone else nearby. Make sure the scene is safe.
Next, call the police if you’ve been in an accident or if someone has broken into, vandalized, or stolen your car. They can help with safety and request emergency services if needed. In some states, you have to call the police after an accident. Check the laws in your area to make sure you follow them.
Your insurance provider will likely ask for the police accident report on the incident. The police report acts as a record of what took place and helps the insurance company get correct information. Most of the time, you can get a copy of the report from the police within one or two days of it being filed.
Whenever something happens to your car, it is essential to remain calm. Stay focused on collecting accurate information to file your car insurance claim.
Take Photos of Property Damage. Photos provide an essential record of what happened to you and your car. Take pictures of the accident scene, including the road, traffic signs, vehicles, etc. Get numerous photos of the damaged area, too, if possible, like the hood, trunk, windshield, etc. Make sure you have all the information you need to file a claim. Remember that even after a storm or earthquake, the situation might still be unsafe. Be careful and wait for conditions to be safe before taking pictures.
Talk To The Responding Officials. If youre involved in an accident, call 911 immediately. Youll need to provide the following information:
Name, address, date and time of the accident, license plate number, make, model, year, and VIN number of the other driver’s car, location of the accident, any injuries, and whether there were any witnesses. Also, the name and contact information of the police department that responded.
Keep All Receipts. Remember to keep all of the receipts in case you need towing, roadside assistance, or any other services because of the accident. The insurance company may reimburse you for them, based on your auto insurance coverage.
Should You PAY Out-of-Pocket or File AUTO Insurance Claim for Minor Car Fender Bender At What Price
FAQ
Is it worth claiming insurance for a dent?
Does a dent count as damage?
Should I report a small dent in my car?
How much value does a car lose with a dent?
Does car insurance cover dents?
Car insurance coverage for dents depends on the type of insurance policy you have and the circumstances surrounding the dents. Generally, comprehensive car insurance will cover dents caused by non-collision incidents and collision coverage may cover dents resulting from accidents where you collide with another vehicle or object.
Does car insurance cover scratches and dents?
Your insurance may cover minor damage, but it might not be cost-effective to file a claim if the damage can be fixed for a reasonable cost without it. Bankrate’s editorial team of insurance experts explore whether car insurance covers scratches and dents and when you might want to file a claim. Is minor damage covered by car insurance?
Should I file a car insurance claim for scratches and dents?
Whether it’s worth it or not to file a claim depends on the severity of the damage, the circumstances of the damage and your car insurance deductible. Repairing scratches and dents can help maintain the value of your car, and can help prevent future damage.
What is a dent claim?
Dent claims are subject to a deductible Collision will be available to use if you collide with another car or another object and your car is dented. You must pay a deductible before the carrier will pay for body work