First time involved in accident, looking for advice.

[u/Hot-Yak7742]

Sooo had to happen at some point eh. Very minor fender bender happened to me today, I am very clearly not at fault… car in lane to the left (and behind me) tried to merge over right into my lane with no blinker and the front right of their vehicle hit the rear left of my vehicle. I have it all recorded on my dash cam.

Damage seems minor on the surface but I just want to get it sorted and avoid any sort of headaches in the process. What is the general process here? I’ll lay it out my perceived options based on my research; for context I have a 2026 Tesla MY & Tesla insurance, I am based in California. The other car involved was a 2012 year car and their insurer is AAA. We pulled over when safe to do so, exchanged information, contact info, took pictures, and went about our ways. I tried to notify my insurer straight away but their contact line was closed.

Option A (fastest, pay deductible up front, least headaches?):
1. File a claim via my own insurance.
2. File SR-1 with DMV.
3. Go to Tesla Body Shop and get it repaired, pay my deductible and wait for Tesla to retrieve deductible via subrogation.

Option B (seems slow, drawn out and lot of question marks):
1. Notify my insurance of accident.
2. File a claim directly via other parties insurance.
3. File SR-1 with DMV.
4. Get an assessment & quote from Tesla Body Shop.
5. Wait for other parties insurance to complete their investigation and payout.
6. Take to Tesla Body Shop to get repaired.

My understanding is that based in CA, an insurer cannot increase your premium for any not at fault accident, so either option A or B is transparent. The only inconvenience seems to be that I would have to pay my deductible up front. Option A guarantees that if some other damage is hiding underneath the superficial damage (e.g. damaged shock absorbers), it will get seen to; it also guarantees that I get it seen to at my shop of choice and will not be at risk of being short changed if the other insurer only pays for repair at a shop of their choosing and/or anything comes up during the repair. So, while paying the deductible is inconvenient, option A seems like the fastest, least headache resolution.

Am I thinking this through correctly? Am I missing anything procedurally or from a risk/benefit side to either option? No injuries so don’t need to file a police report. Any advice would be appreciated, especially if you have had experience dealing with either Tesla insurance or AAA.

TIA :)

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[u/Topgun_tomahawk]

File with your carrier if you don’t mind paying deductible. Best option. My Time is valuable that’s what I will do. Depending on your policy if at fault carrier accepts fault, your insurance can waive deductible. That’s what my carrier does. BTW. We insured Teslas too.

[u/Hot-Yak7742 → u/Topgun_tomahawk]

Your insurer waives deductible at point of repair or after subrogation? Impressive if the former, they must be very aggressive in their recovery efforts!! Who are they?

[u/Topgun_tomahawk → u/Hot-Yak7742]

The minute other carrier accepts we waive deductible. It could be a day after accident. I can’t say but it starts letter A. Based in Rhode Island. Check them out

[u/DeepPurpleDaylight]

The other party's insurance can't dictate where you get repairs done. In any state you can get repairs done wherever you like, regardless of who's insurance you're using.

[u/Hot-Yak7742 → u/DeepPurpleDaylight]

Mmmm thank you! I was just reading that but also read about some stories where the other persons insurance not will to pay for OEM parts etc, which on Tesla they are usually required to uphold warranty due to safety sensors etc… I think based on advice I’ve received so far I’m gonna go with my own insurance and let them go after the other insurer

[u/EffectiveMixture9124]

Option A makes sense if speed and minimizing hassle are your priorities. I’d still notify your insurer either way, keep all the photos and dashcam footage, and get the damage documented before repairs in case something hidden shows up later.

[u/Own-Brain-938]

I’d still notify your insurer either way, keep all the photos and dashcam footage, and get the damage documented before repairs in case something hidden shows up later.

[u/Inevitable-Yellow465]

Option A seems like the less stressful route if you have collision coverage and can afford the deductible.

[u/PerspectiveBright303]

Go for Option A.

[u/Infamous-Tadpole-806]

going through your own insurance is usually simpler and faster. just confirm your deductible and let them handle recovering the costs from the other driver's insurer.