Question
I scraped my car in a parking garage and it's a $1600 repair. Should I pay out of pocket or file an insurance claim?
I scraped the side of my car in a parking garage. It's a $1600 repair and I have a $500 collision and $100 comprehensive deductible. Should I file a claim with my insurer or pay out of pocket? How much is my rate likely to go up? Would this count as collision or comprehensive? I have a clean driving record, no tickets at all, and one other accident one year ago in which I was rear-ended at a stop sign and deemed not at fault. Thank you!
Answer
Kristine joined The Zebra in 2019 as an in-house content researcher and writer, with a property and casualty insurance license. Before joining The Ze…
Credentials
- Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
- 6+ years of Experience in the Insurance Industry
I would not file a claim. With your $500 deductible, your insurance company would pay out $1100 for the damages — but in California, your premium could also increase by 42% over three years if you're cited for an at-fault collision (which this would be considered as). You would save more money in the long run by paying for the damage out-of-pocket.
If there were no other parties involved and you accidentally damaged your own vehicle, we generally recommend you pay for the damages yourself.
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