[qclik]

so i posted a thread couple days ago about an A$$hole who hit and run my car leaving a huge scratch and dent. i can't find the A$$hole so its time to fix my bumper. got quote from 2-3 body shop, all say cost to replace the bumper is lower than repair.

so my question is:

repair: one shop said they could repair it for $700.
pro= no damage history record
cons= $700 out of own pocket and not sure about the quality.

insurance claim: replace bumper with mtech
pro= one shop quote $730 for just regular bumper w/o painting, which i could get mtech rep+perf diffuser, or just oem mtech.
cons= $300 deductible, premium increase, and minor accident report on car history.

[vzehler]

Are you more concerned with the out of pocket expense now or the potential increase in premiums and loss of profits from selling the car long term?

Your answer to that question pretty much is the key on which route to go. Personally, if I had the money I would pay it out of pocket and consider it all a cosmetic upgrade, especially if I planned on doing it at some point anyway.

[ENINTY]

Not sure why you'd have a premium increase for a hit and run. It would be a comprehensive claim not a collision. Your insurance will take pictures to record the damage. Keep a copy of the repair and pictures from the insurance for your files in case you sell the car in the future. I doubt it will hurt the resale of the car since it is just a bumper cover replacement; it is not like a major frame repair. I doubt this will be the last body repair you will have on your car, so why risk $400 on trying to keep a clean carfax record when something else in the future may necessitate a larger carfax-qualifying repair.

[Zebra99]

Originally Posted by ENINTY

Not sure why you'd have a premium increase for a hit and run. It would be a comprehensive claim not a collision.

Correction: only fire and vandalism is considered a comp claim. Hit and runs are comparable to not at fault accidents. They can't rate you for it, but you still get dinged with the deductible.

Good luck

[Kolyan2k]

insurance claim. premium doesn't go up and I doubt there will be any history.....

[DigitalMPower]

Originally Posted by ENINTY

Not sure why you'd have a premium increase for a hit and run. It would be a comprehensive claim not a collision. Your insurance will take pictures to record the damage. Keep a copy of the repair and pictures from the insurance for your files in case you sell the car in the future. I doubt it will hurt the resale of the car since it is just a bumper cover replacement; it is not like a major frame repair. I doubt this will be the last body repair you will have on your car, so why risk $400 on trying to keep a clean carfax record when something else in the future may necessitate a larger carfax-qualifying repair.

Hit and run is never a comp claim it would either fall under your uninsured motorists or your collision coverage and be coded not at fault.

All insurance companies have a threshold I know I work for one - usually a claim under $2k-2.5k will have no bearing on your rates. Now again take into account one of the criteria for rating is frequency which could be the only place this could come back to bite you if you have additional claims.

[tunachris]

I would make a claim. If its a hit and run, your not at fault premiums won't go up. This is why you have insurance.

[pn_e92]

Originally Posted by vzehler

Are you more concerned with the out of pocket expense now or the potential increase in premiums and loss of profits from selling the car long term?

Your answer to that question pretty much is the key on which route to go. Personally, if I had the money I would pay it out of pocket and consider it all a cosmetic upgrade, especially if I planned on doing it at some point anyway.

agreed.

just get the M sport or some sort of new sporty rear bumper now and do not notify insurance.

[NjPrince]

The point of insurance is to help you when its not your fault..put a claim and if you try to sell the car in the future explain everything it'll be alright!

[eisenb11]

There's a good chance that an insurance claim on this won't end up on a CarFax anyways. I'm starting to think that they only have data on "real" accidents.

I've sold 2 cars. Both with insurance repairs done on them. One had the rear bumper repaired and repainted. The other had the rear bumper replaced and painted. I also reported both accidents to the DMV since the damage was in excess of $800. Neither of these showed up on CarFax when it came time to sell the cars.

Has anyone here had the reverse scenario? A minor repair that did show up on CarFax?

[qclik]

thanks guys,
i might just claim this with my insurance and get the mtech bumper.
also gonna order a csl trunk next month

[vzehler]

Originally Posted by eisenb11

There's a good chance that an insurance claim on this won't end up on a CarFax anyways. I'm starting to think that they only have data on "real" accidents.

I've sold 2 cars. Both with insurance repairs done on them. One had the rear bumper repaired and repainted. The other had the rear bumper replaced and painted. I also reported both accidents to the DMV since the damage was in excess of $800. Neither of these showed up on CarFax when it came time to sell the cars.

Has anyone here had the reverse scenario? A minor repair that did show up on CarFax?

I think it varies state to state. Here in Ohio an oil change at Midas shows up on a Carfax. Also, in years past I bought a vehicle in Kentucky that was totaled in Ohio. Apparently someone had re-titled the vehicle in Kentucky without the salvage title from Ohio. So I thought it was a clean title as the Kentucky title was clean but when I titled it in Ohio I ended up with a rebuilt title. Needless to say I was pissed but I later ran a Carfax, had I done that to begin with I would have not gotten burnt.

[CAcoltrane]

Originally Posted by ENINTY

Not sure why you'd have a premium increase for a hit and run. It would be a comprehensive claim not a collision. Your insurance will take pictures to record the damage. Keep a copy of the repair and pictures from the insurance for your files in case you sell the car in the future. I doubt it will hurt the resale of the car since it is just a bumper cover replacement; it is not like a major frame repair. I doubt this will be the last body repair you will have on your car, so why risk $400 on trying to keep a clean carfax record when something else in the future may necessitate a larger carfax-qualifying repair.

It actually is not a comprehensive claim. Its a collision claim. I don't know about Washington but in California, if the damage is under 750 dollars then it won't go against you on your record. And that is changing to 1000 or under on December 11, 2011. So check with the state of Washington (DMV). Depending on your deductible, I would turn the claim in...

[CAcoltrane]

Originally Posted by DigitalMPower

Hit and run is never a comp claim it would either fall under your uninsured motorists or your collision coverage and be coded not at fault.

All insurance companies have a threshold I know I work for one - usually a claim under $2k-2.5k will have no bearing on your rates. Now again take into account one of the criteria for rating is frequency which could be the only place this could come back to bite you if you have additional claims.

Again, if the damage is under 750, It won't do anything to your premium. But like I said, thats in California so check what Washington's limit is.

And the 750 doesn't really matter because it was not your fault. But it is a collision claim 100%. Not a comp claim

[bumere90]

Let me know if you want an oem bumper
I can get it brand new for 125$

[CAcoltrane]

Originally Posted by Zebra99

Correction: only fire and vandalism is considered a comp claim. Hit and runs are comparable to not at fault accidents. They can't rate you for it, but you still get dinged with the deductible.

Good luck

Wrong!!! It is NOT A comp claim 100%!!!!! And a comp claim could be many, many different things. Such as theft, fire, flood, if a tree falls on it, etc, A comp claim could be so many things

[Ricer X]

In IL anyway, it wouldn't show up on carfax unless there was a police report filed. I can't imagine it varies from state to state as I would think it is carfax who dictates what is included...but I'm not them.

[krhodes1]

Originally Posted by vzehler

I think it varies state to state. Here in Ohio an oil change at Midas shows up on a Carfax. Also, in years past I bought a vehicle in Kentucky that was totaled in Ohio. Apparently someone had re-titled the vehicle in Kentucky without the salvage title from Ohio. So I thought it was a clean title as the Kentucky title was clean but when I titled it in Ohio I ended up with a rebuilt title. Needless to say I was pissed but I later ran a Carfax, had I done that to begin with I would have not gotten burnt.

It varies wildly. I have owned two salvage-titled cars with perfectly clean carfax reports. But I knew what I was buying so I didn't care. One was a repaired collision 2000 Saab 9-5 from Oklahoma, the other a theft recovery '91 318is from New Hampshire.

[Zebra99]

Originally Posted by CAcoltrane

Wrong!!! It is NOT A comp claim 100%!!!!! And a comp claim could be many, many different things. Such as theft, fire, flood, if a tree falls on it, etc, A comp claim could be so many things

Lol dude what are you arguing?
I know there are multiple scenarios for a comp claim I was simply stating some examples. BTW it's a collision claim and everyone agrees so chill.

I'm an insurance professional, I wouldn't be advising this guy of how it works if I didn't know otherwise. Smartass....