Is it worth going through insurance for scratches?
The short answer: it's almost always not worth it to sweat the small stuff — unless someone else is liable, the damage is significant enough to affect the functionality of your car, or the amount of damage eclipses your deductible.
If the repair costs are less than your car insurance deductible, it makes sense to pay for the damage out of pocket. On the other hand, if the damage is more extensive and costly, it may make sense to file a claim for any dents or scratches that need to be repaired.
If you have fully comprehensive car insurance, your normal policy should cover scratches and dents – but that doesn't necessarily mean it's worth claiming on it. Every time you make a claim on your cover, insurers take note. If you make claims too often, you'll miss out on a no claims bonus.
If you cause a car accident, your car insurance rates will go up by an average of $80 per month for full coverage. Where you live has a big impact on how much you'll pay for insurance after a car accident. California has the largest rate increase. An accident in California will double full coverage insurance rates.
Prompt car scratch repair is crucial, as delaying will expose the paint or metal underneath to the elements and create further issues down the road. Plus, if selling or trading your car might be a possibility in the future, doing a proper scratch repair is especially important.
While filing a home insurance claim helps you financially if your home needs repairs or your belongings need to be replaced, the downside is you'll have to pay a deductible and your premium may increase.
If damages don't exceed your deductible
If repair costs are less than your deductible, if no one else's property is damaged, and if no one else is injured, there is generally no reason to file a claim.
An average accident can decrease a car's value instantly (and permanently) by 10 – 25% annually, whereas an accident that only creates light damage (such as light scratches or small dents that don't impact the paint) will only decrease its value by 5-15%.
Whether you drive a car, SUV or truck, discovering scratches and scuffs is unsettling for many vehicle owners. While a scratch is considered minor auto body damage, it is unattractive and is usually noticed at trade-in or lease return.
Impact Damage (body, undercarriage, glass, etc.)
Scratches larger than 2”, or multiple scratches per panel, will be considered damage. Damage will be considered a scratch if it is through the paint. Generally this can be determined if a fingernail catches on the scratch when running fingernail along painted surface.
Does your insurance go up after a claim that is not your fault?
A few states, including Oklahoma and California, don't allow insurers to increase your rates if a crash was not your fault. Some companies, such as USAA, even say they usually won't raise rates if you aren't responsible for an accident.
Not filing a car insurance claim for a scratch may save you money by avoiding increased rates. However, because even minor scratches can be expensive to repair, you could pay more money for repairs than you would for higher insurance rates by repairing the damage yourself.
The greater the number of claims filed, the greater the likelihood of a rate hike. File too many claims—especially in a very short amount of time—and the insurance company may not renew your policy. If the claim is based on the damage you caused, your rates will almost surely rise.
- Toothpaste. This method is a no-brainer with slight scratches. ...
- Shoe polish. This is another quite efficient scratch removing method. ...
- Nail Polish. ...
- A scratch kit.
Car detailing can hide minor scratches through polishing, waxing, and sealing, but it cannot help with deep scratches. For repairing such a car scratch, you need to get professional services for your car's paint.
However, deep scratches that expose the metal or underlayers of the car call for more involved repairs, including sanding, filling, and a complete paint job, leading to higher costs. These deeper repairs often involve additional steps like primer application and protective clear coat finishing to ensure durability.
If the damage costs more to repair than the value of your premium, it may be worth making a claim. This is simply because it will save you money on the repairs, especially if the damage is substantial anyway.
The claim has missing or incorrect information.
Whether by accident or intentionally, medical billing and coding errors are common reasons that claims are rejected or denied. Information may be incorrect, incomplete or missing. You will need to check your billing statement and EOB very carefully.
Yes, we recommend obtaining an estimate before filing a claim.
A Third Party Claim Might Be Your Only Option
It's quite possible that after a car accident that looks like it was the other driver's fault, your only path to getting compensation for your injuries and other losses will be a third-party claim, at least when it comes to insurance coverage.
What is one benefit of submitting a claim to an insurance company?
What is one benefit of submitting a claim to an insurance company? It helps to cover any expenses for a loss.
| Paint Repair Type | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Minor Scratch | $200 – $600 |
| Scrapes | $300 – $800 |
| Panel Painting (per panel) | $200 – $800 |
| Bumper Repair/Repaint | $300 – $800 |
The decision to fix your car before trading it in depends on how costly the repairs are. If the repairs are inexpensive, then it might be worth it. If it's going to be expensive, it's probably best to skip the repairs.
Repairing any cosmetic damage will help you retain your car's resale or trade-in value, and plastic bumper repairs can be done cheaply enough that you may not even have to report it to insurance, so you can avoid a potential hike in monthly rates.
Dealership: For deep scrapes on newer cars, a local dealership should have the VIN paint needed to make repairs. You can purchase colors from them for DIY for around $50 to $300 for two ounces. At a dealer, the cost to remove a car scratch can range from $150 to $1000—double the amount for repairs to the hood or doors.
