Does State Farm require you have a police report to file a claim?

We're insured with State Farm. My son was driving and swerved to miss a deer and hit a fire hydrant—the only damage was to his truck. He is 24 years old and has a clean driving history. Will I need to file a police report for the claim to be paid?

You'll want to check with State Farm to make sure, but you shouldn't have to file a police report to make a claim. This is the case for most insurers, not just State Farm. It depends on the situation, though. Since only your son's car was damaged, things are slightly simpler than if other drivers were involved. Remember, this incident will go on your son's driving record as an at-fault accident for the next five years, which could affect future rates. You may want to consider fixing the damage yourself rather than filing a claim.

This is a great example of having the right coverage. You'll be covered if you have full coverage (which usually includes both comprehensive and collision coverage). If you only had liability coverage, you'd be responsible for paying out of pocket for the truck's damage.

Comprehensive coverage exists for incidents beyond your control, such as a hailstorm or a tree falling on the vehicle. Because your son actually ran into a fire hydrant, this will be considered a collision claim (Think of your car in motion, literally colliding with an object).

Is it worth filing a claim?

Maybe. When you make a claim, you're responsible for the deductible before the insurer will pay. Depending on your policy, the deductible is usually between $500 and $1,000 in car insurance. Oftentimes, if the damage to a vehicle is minor and you can pay for it out of pocket, it's better than filing a claim, which can affect your rates for up to five years. If you get an estimate of the damage to the truck, weigh it next to the deductible you'll pay, along with possible rate increases for the next several years.

This might be a good time to shop around for different coverage and compare rates from multiple companies, too. Because your son is almost 25 years old, his rates could decrease after his next birthday (as long as he keeps a good driving record). This is also something to consider if you're going to make a claim.

Good luck, and if you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask.