[bily]

On the way to dinner last night. Sitting at a light, and boom. Get rear ended by a Toyota Camry. Get out of the car and I'm like WTF dude. The guy was stopped and then hit me. So he backs off of my bumper, and I can see he is young. I take a deep breath, and continue. I asked him if he just took his foot off the break. Anyway, it's starting to get dark, and my car is really dirty from all the rain, so can't really see damage, but knowing the car is dirty, I am sure there will be scratches. We exchange info. The kid got his license on 9/21/2013.

Washed the bumper this morning and yes there are scratches to the plastic bumper and the M-Sport insert. Called him to let him know.

I remember my first crash and I thought well maybe I should talk to his dad and see if he wants to handle this on the side. The kid has a provisional license and I remember the conversations with my parents after my first crash into a Chrysler 600 at a stop light. And the subsequent insurance hikes over the years. The guy I hit claimed several thousands of dollars of damage. So before I call insurance, just want to see what you guys think.

If we go through insurance then we know everything gets covered and could include DV. He has State Farm. If we don't then I could have a repair issue and have to deal with getting reimbursed. But the kids parents would likely be better off without the report of an accident. Leaning toward reporting it.

Thoughts

[psmitty95]

I think if you talk to his parents and they agree to cover damage then there are no issues going that way. Look on the bright side now you can maybe get a new diffuser for free?

[Mardio]

I think you report it to insurance, seems a bit risky doing it through the parents.

[rdeterman]

I would give the parents a shot first... get an estimate and if they balk at it.. turn it in

[BMW_Belgier]

Originally Posted by rdeterman

I would give the parents a shot first... get an estimate and if they balk at it.. turn it in

+1

The moment they turn, file it in!

We were all young and made our mistakes! We were all happy that our parents could help us...

[Khaotine]

From a 17 year old, give the parents a chance and if they turn, just go from there.

I know if I was in that situation I would be scared shitless. Possibly getting my licence taken, parents complaining, higher insurance rates. That's a lot on a new driver.

[Ubersmooth]

Hopefully the kids parents are reasonable enough to just make him pay you back to repair the bumper.. It would be really nice of you to not report it to insurance because insurance will HIKE

[Otruba_843]

Normally I would say always call the cops during the situation, but in this case where the damage is that minuscule for both parties, give the parents a shot. It's good that you were able to get in touch with the kid. Give his parents a shot first.

[NjPrince]

Get an estimate and go with the parents route for cash. It's Christmas season cmon

[TwinTuning]

See how the parents handle it first.

[Antetokounmpo]

I got rear ended in my old car at a stop light a few years ago by a young driver. I didn't even bother to talk to the parents. I went right through insurance. Serves him right for not paying attention. Maybe he'll learn to pay attention when his rates increase by a few hundred.

[e90Mark]

I'd also say go to the parents first and see. Like you said, you've been in his shoes before and know how sh*tty insurance can be 16-24.

Otherwise if that doesn't work out, you have all the info you need to make an insurance claim.

[csu87]

if the parents are willing to pay for it, go get an estimate and ask them for a check for the costs. if you report it to insurance, you will have an accident on your carfax. And when you go to resell/trade, the other party will see that

[Maestro]

Personally I like to give people an option to pay or go through insurance. When I was first driving rolled in to a car, and we paid for it ourselves but the people were a royal pains, they had a crap car and acted like it should have looked as is rolled off the show room floor. Luckily the place we had them take it to talked some sense into them and they let it go. That saved my insurance since I already had an accident on my record.

Last spring my son's car was rear end by a young girl, and my son suspect she was on the cell when she hit him. She pleaded with him to not to turn it into insurance so he call the dad and he said get an estimate and he would take car of it. My son did and it came in at $1600, he called the dad and asked him what he wanted to do. After couple of calls and the guy never getting back to him for over a week we turned it over to insurance. Lucky for my son, the police showed up 2 minutes after it happen wrote up a report and had on it that the girl said it was her fault. Turn that over to insurance and got it fix.

You never know with people and you would think they would want to avoid the hassle of insurance over something simple.

[bily]

3 hours after calling him I called insurance to file claim. Two hours later he called me and asked if we can do it on the side. I said NP. Will just tell ins co I'm going to try detail shop. I'll get estimate this week for him. I'm guessing between $5-700.

Thanks for everyone's input.

[bily]

Need your feedback again.

Dealer has a body shop. He thinks the bumper may clean up with wet sand and buffing. He wanted to fix the diffuser and paint. I said just order a new one for $100. Filling & Painting it will never look 'factory'. Total $350.

If it doesn't work then it's $450 to paint bumper, so $750 total. Plus rental car. I'd prefer not to paint and go the buff and sand route. If it doesn't work it's going to be more $ than painting alone. I am slightly concerned about swirl marks too if they go too far into the clear. Insurance would make this easier to navigate. Thoughts?

[techietaichi]

I think what you're doing, making an attempt to let the kid's parents sort it out, is an honorable thing on your part. Bravo dude. Hopefully they're people that are accountable and use this experience to help teach their son a valuable lesson, "Pay attention and mind other motorists!". I hope this turns out ok for everyone involved, this isn't the time for people to get bitter at one another. We definitely have too much of that attitude for the rest of the year. Good luck man.

[bender rodriguez]

Originally Posted by bily

Need your feedback again.

Dealer has a body shop. He thinks the bumper may clean up with wet sand and buffing. He wanted to fix the diffuser and paint. I said just order a new one for $100. Filling & Painting it will never look 'factory'. Total $350.

If it doesn't work then it's $450 to paint bumper, so $750 total. Plus rental car. I'd prefer not to paint and go the buff and sand route. If it doesn't work it's going to be more $ than painting alone. I am slightly concerned about swirl marks too if they go too far into the clear. Insurance would make this easier to navigate. Thoughts?

Insurance will pick the shittiest and cheapest way. Get what ever you need done 100 percent right. Don't let them try things that may or may not work. Especially since they will still charge you if it fails. After you get a quote to fix everything take to the parents and get a check

[uberbeast21]

i would report everything, he hit you, there are consequences.

[bender rodriguez]

Originally Posted by uberbeast21

i would report everything, he hit you, there are consequences.

No reason to be an ass to someone willing to pay on such little dmg

[kdbryce]

Originally Posted by psmitty95

I think if you talk to his parents and they agree to cover damage then there are no issues going that way. Look on the bright side now you can maybe get a new diffuser for free?

+1

[luv135i]

if the bumper is just scratched and not gouged they should just respray it. I cant tell what that bottom pic is but it appears all that stuff would polish out. I dont see anything ins would authorize replacing.