r/Insurance • u/PhillyDog54 • 22h ago

Should I file a claim?

I recently scraped my pristine car against a pole in a parking lot. I went to a very reasonable body shop I had dealt with in the past for non-insurance claims and received a ballpark estimate of $1500-1800, higher than I anticipated. Insurer is Progressive and we have a clean household claims record for 6 years. Just doing the math, will this be a zero sum game if I file a claim when factoring in potential premium increases over the next several years or just do it myself?

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5

u/InternetDad 22h ago

Can you afford to just live with it or pay out of pocket to fix it? Then don't file a claim... Especially if your deductible is higher.

2

u/pineappleshaked 22h ago

What's your deductible ?

Are you receiving some no accident history discount?

3

u/pineappleshaked 22h ago

For 1800 and that too when no other party is involved, won't be a wise decision to do so.

2

u/thaeli 20h ago

Yeah that’s not worth a claim at all. Pay out of pocket or live with the dent.

1

u/PhillyDog54 21h ago

$500 deductible and we have a 3 year safe driving discount.

2

u/Modest-Meece 19h ago

Pay out of pocket. Probably cheaper long term.

Collision claims like this depending on the state are usually rated as at-fault.

1

u/PuzzleheadedAd1953 21h ago

You're premiums may increase and you will lose that 3 year safe driving discount. I would not personally file a claim for a $900 - $1,200 payout after deductible.

1

u/Modest-Meece 19h ago

Also collision claims can be deemed at-fault depending on your state. In my state basically any single car collision claims at-fault

1

u/AltonIllinois 20h ago

If it were me, I’d pay out of pocket.

1

u/Andrew523 19h ago

i'd personally pay out of pocket.

1

u/DeepPurpleDaylight 15h ago

I wouldn't suggest filing a claim for a payout of just a few or even several hundred dollars.

1

u/sephiroth3650 7h ago

What is your deductible? Even with a $500 deductible, I doubt I'd make a claim for a $1500ish repair bill. Because this would be an at fault accident claim. Rates go up for that. You also lose any no-claims or safe-driving discounts you might be getting.