Is it worth it to file a car insurance claim?

Filing a claim will increase car insurance premiums from 3% to 32% on average for three to five years in almost all cases. How much your rate goes up depends on several factors, like the claim type and amount, your insurance company, your claims history, your location, and whether or not you have accident forgiveness.... read full answer

The most significant factors affecting how much your rates go up after an accident are the claim type and amount. Accidents that you cause will raise your premium the most, especially if the damages are over $2,000. Although prices don’t jump as much when you’re not at fault or the incident was beyond your control, you’ll probably still see a rate increase.

It may seem unfair, but insurance companies are within their rights to raise your rates after a claim, even if the accident was not your fault. Insurers charge based on risk, and statistics show that you’re more likely to make additional claims if you’ve recently filed one.

Some insurance companies charge more than others after not-at-fault accidents, though. Progressive charges the most, raising rates by more than 16% on average. State Farm, on the other hand, doesn’t increase prices if their customer is not at fault.

You should file an insurance claim when you can’t afford to pay cash for damages or medical bills that your insurance policy will cover. You should pay out of pocket instead of filing an insurance claim if the repairs or medical bills incurred in an accident that you cause will cost less than your deductible.... read full answer

For example, it might be worth it to pay for a minor fender bender yourself, especially if the accident was your fault or you’ve filed a claim recently. Your claims history is important because the more claims you make, the more of a risk you are in the eyes of insurance providers. You could see higher premiums, or even have your canceled outright, as a result.

When to Consider Paying Out of Pocket

• You have comprehensive or collision insurance and there is only minor damage to your vehicle.
• Repairs cost less than your insurance policy deductible.
• You have recent claims or tickets on your driving record.

When You Should File an Insurance Claim

• There is major property damage that will cost more than your deductible to repair.
• There are injuries.
• The accident involves other vehicles.
• You have accident forgiveness on your insurance policy.

Keep in mind that if you’re in a car accident, you should notify your insurance provider of the incident whether you plan on filing a claim or paying out of pocket yourself. All major insurers require customers to report all accidents, no matter the size.

Also, if you’re in an accident that’s not your fault, you should file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance provider so that it pays its portion of any medical bills or property damage you incurred in the accident. How much the at-fault driver’s insurance provider will pay out depends on the driver’s policy limits and their state.

You should not file an auto insurance claim if only your own vehicle is damaged, there are no injuries, and the property damage is minimal. A claim might make it cheaper to pay for a single incident, but it will likely raise your future premiums, which could end up costing you more money in the long run.... read full answer

When Not to File an Insurance Claim

1. After a minor single-car accident, when there’s little damage.
2. After an accident with another driver resulting in no injuries and minimal property damage.
3. If the cost to repair your car is less than your deductible.
4. If the rise in your premium as a result of filing a claim will be more than your out-of-pocket costs.

A single at-fault claim raises premiums by about 40% on average. That means the average driver’s annual premium of about $1,500 would increase by approximately $600 after an accident, and it wouldn’t go down for three to five years. By comparison, the average collision claim is about $3,600.

Consequences of Not Reporting an Accident or Filing a Claim

Although it’s often the right decision to report accidents and/or file a claim, there’s no law that requires you to tell your insurance company. But insurers do require policyholders to immediately report accidents, and failing to do so can result in denied claims.

As a result, you should notify your insurer any time an accident involves another driver or results in any injuries. You should also contact your insurance company any time fault is unclear or if there is serious damage to a vehicle.

If you don’t plan to file a claim, remember that insurers keep close tabs on their interactions with customers through the CLUE database. Insurance companies often treat specific questions about coverage as claims with $0 payouts. Although it’s unlikely such a claim would affect your premium right away, regular inquiries could flag you as a frequent claimer.

It’s best to use insurance for its intended purpose—to protect against financially crippling situations. If you can pay out of pocket for a single-vehicle accident, it’s usually in your best interest to do so.