The question – is it worth claiming on car insurance for a dent will depend on your car insurance company. Most dents and dings that happen to vehicle most times have a minimum cost and the average lies between fifty dollar to one hundred dollar. When there is a different party at fault for the dent, you might end up getting stuck with the bill and if you end up filing a claim for the dent on your vehicle with your auto insurance company then it is going to place a claim on your driving record.
In some cases, some car insurance companies tends to add the accident forgiveness clause to insurance policies while other insurance companies do not have or add. This leaves some people with the question and thoughts of fixing a dent on their vehicle themselves by taking it to a body shop for repair and pay out of their pocket or file an insurance claim for it. In my own best opinion, if this dent is a minor one that would not cause a severe damage then it is best you try to fix it yourself.
Is It Worth Claiming On Car Insurance For A Dent
You could either fix the dent your dent or take it to a repair shop but when you do not have the handyman skills, it is better that you take it to a body repair shop and pay out of your pocket for the dent to be removed. The cost of removing a one inch dent from the body of your vehicle nowadays lies between twenty five dollars to one hundred dollars while removing a three inch cut dent from your vehicle lies between two hundred fifty dollars to five hundred dollars.
Either of the amounts is still lesser than the deductible your insurance policy carries. Most do not have the tendency to raise rates if it is just a simple repair you want to carry out. In most cases, paying out of your pocket for fixing a dent is a better option because it costs lesser than what your deductible is. No matter how easy all of these might sound, it isn’t pleasing coming to your vehicle and finding a dent on it whether it was your fault or the fault of another driver.
One question we always get is how can avoid having dents on his vehicle. There are people who can handle seeing dents and dings on their vehicle calmly while others just cannot stand the sight of it. However, there are ways that you can avoid getting dents on your vehicle. When it comes to parking your car, try not to park so close to anyone and also make sure you park in areas where there is less traffic. This might be a bit difficult to do but it is much better than having your vehicle getting a dent on it.
When parking, make sure you create enough room for you to be able to open your door when necessary and when opening your day, ensure that it is done carefully. As much as you don’t want to have dent on your car, you should also avoid denting someone else’s car. Also look out for roads with rocks and gravel because they can cause dents on your vehicle. Stones and gravels do not just cause dents but they can also cause paints to chip as well as causing scratches to your vehicle.
How To File A Claim For A Dent On Your Vehicle
Once you have discovered a dent on your vehicle, the first thing that you need to do is call your insurance agent. Even if the damage was done away from your home state, your insurance agent would be able to find the company information and reach out to them. Before you leave the scene where the accident happened, make sure you take pictures of the damage and where it happened. Try to find out the exact paperwork that would be required and send them to your insurance agent immediately you fill them out.
Make sure your car is clean when a appraiser is sent to come check out the damage that has been done to your vehicle because that is the only way that the appraiser would be able to give out a correct information regarding what really happened. Throughout the entire process of filing a claim, make sure you maintain steady contact with the insurance agent because missing a piece of information or paperwork is also easy when during an insurance claims process.
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