I've been driving for 20 years and --knock on wood-- I've never had to make an insurance claim, so I'm looking for advice from people who have more experience in the matter.
My door and quarter panel got dinged. Quarter panel can be repaired, but the door panel probably needs to be replaced, according to my local paintless dent repair guy. I haven't gotten an estimate yet, but I'm guessing $2k-ish? If I use my comprehensive insurance, how much should I expect my insurance premiums to go up by? I know not to expect an exact number, I'm just trying to get a feel for things.
Thanks!

 

File a claim with your insurance. That's what you pay your premiums for. You've just been making them money the last 20 years. Your premiums won't go up because it's a no fault claim. You'll be using your comprehensive coverage. Tell him some jerk in the parking lot hit the door and left..

 

I agree. Especially since it is a comprehensive no fault. Use it and you'll be fine. Make sure you get a good repair shop as you'll want it perfect.

 

I agree also. In fact, I just filed a claim to have my rear bumper cover replaced because some a-hole hit my car in a parking lot. Of course, he didn't leave a note.

 

I would personally look at repairing it, you can get a door off ebay for anywhere from 100-400 dollars, paint would run another couple hundred.

More importantly, your car and your driving record will be clean still. Whenever a potential buyer comes to look at your car and asks if it's ever been wrecked, its much better to break out a few kodak pictures of a door dent and documents of the repair, than to not get the chance to even explain it because the carfax is marred with "side impact".

 

If you can keep your Car Fax report clean pay out of pocket. I am a sales manager at a luxury car store and it kills the value when we see a dirty car fax report.

 

a claim doesn't always result in accident reported on carfax.

door just needs to be repaired. it's a few hundred bucks. get it repaired at a reputable shop.

if someone hit your door, it's likely classified as collision instead of comprehensive.

 

What a crock of ****! Sounds like the insurance companies manufactured carfax to get all of us paying astronomical amounts to be covered to still pay out of pocket SO WE CAN THEN LIE about a repair that has occured? Is that what I'm hearing.

I mean, come on. Use what you pay for, document what was done and how bad (hopefully minimal) it was and move forward. Are you going to say no paint work was done and LIE? Geez, that is not the car I want to buy. What else is the owner or dealer going to lie about? I get it if this was just a little more than the deductible, but sounds to be much more.

Unless one is planning on fixing it themselves and outright lying about the repair, I would go ahead, use the insurance, document the issue and make sure it is as good as new. We are not talking frame straightening or a salvaged title here.

Waldorf valets cracked my bumper. The cost of "repair" was $2,100 and I certainly was not going to pay out of pocket for this and not let their insurance handle it. People buy aftermarket bumpers everyday and don't get dinged on carfax for upgrading and paint matching. What's the difference if the insurance buys it if that is what I can tell a prospective buyer. It is rock chip free, has a brand new clear bra and is better than ever. I hardly doubt if I cover this in any "note" on description and have documentation of the original repair that I'd lose a buyer. Hope I'm not wrong.

 

no one is talking about lying. minor paintwork even going through insurance company should not show up as an accident. relax pal

 

I'd let the insurance pay. My comprehensive coverage doesn't increase from road hazard claims (Deer, Hail, Potholes).

 

have insurance pay. most normal buyers would understand if u tell them why it got repainted. only stealerships will really press it or super **** cheap buyers. most people i know dont even use car fax when we buy a car now since their reports are stupid. and i can tell buy touching and looking at a car how much damage was there before.

 

What you describe sounds like a Collision claim so subtract the deductible from the repair cost. It is not uncommon for the insurer to find a used door panel and, as one poster already said, you can find these all day long for $200-$400. So if dent wizard can fix the quarter without paint, I would handle myself.

 

For a 1999 car, I really wouldn't worry about a Carfax report indicating an accident. I mean, how many 1999's are there around that haven't had any accident in 13 years?

 

i would go through the insurance and i would take pics and document exactly why it was repaired so any future buyer can see it was just a minor cosmetic repair