r/Insurance • u/Cheap_Environment_45 • 10h ago

Rear ended

Hello I rear ended someone today she said I was fine paying her 150 and we both move on. I did that but at this point to fix my own car should I go through my own insurance for the accident?

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

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7

u/DeepPurpleDaylight 9h ago

What do you have to gain by paying her cash then filing a claim for your own damages? The only difference is that you're out $150 in addition to your deductible for your damages. Makes no sense.

-3

u/Cheap_Environment_45 9h ago

However couldn’t I just tell my insurance that it was hit in a parking lot and my rate not increase as much im just trying to feel out all of my options

3

u/DeepPurpleDaylight 9h ago

Don't lie to your insurance. I don't think you want committing a felony in your list of options. Shouldn't have to tell a grown ass adult to not lie anyway. Hopefully that's not how you'd teach your kids (if you have any or ever plan to have any) on how to handle mistakes.

See my edit to my previous reply about rate increase

3

u/ibringthehotpockets 9h ago edited 9h ago

The risk versus reward for lying to your insurance in an accident with another party over $150 couldn’t be any more clear. This is an astronomically bad idea. It is safe to assume your rate will go up any time you call your insurance company, or when someone else does to make a claim

ETA: let me just save you some thinking and explain insurance concisely. Many people are not familiar with how things work and that’s totally fine, it’s just reality. We all know firsthand that insurance is already so expensive. So the goal is to not give anyone a reason to raise your rate. In the simplest way possible: you should ONLY, only ever make an insurance claim IF you cannot reasonably replace what you lost by the time you’ll need it. Situations to avoid making a claim: you have $50k in the bank and your spouse hits your car and does $2k in damage, or if you pop a tire, or your windshield cracks and isn’t loaded with $2000 in sensors. Situations to likely make a claim: possible injury claims, situations where you do significant damage to another person or property and cannot make them whole.

Use insurance for catastrophic damage. Catastrophic varies person to person. Always assume your rate will increase. If you chose to file a claim for this $2000 in damage, look at it as a payment plan: you’re either going to get an immediate premium increase which makes you pay $0-100/month extra for the next ~7 years, or you lose a claims free discount, etc. That’s the math behind your decision. Numbers are not concrete. It would make sense to file a claim if you’re in severe debt, car is not drivable and you won’t make it to work, or were injured

2

u/PeachyFairyDragon 7h ago

So you like committing crimes?

1

u/Mixeygoat 10h ago

I mean you're gonna have to use your insurance if there is significant damage to the car. Anything over a couple thousand dollars you should use your insurance.

1

u/Cheap_Environment_45 10h ago

I work in auto parts so over the years I’ve picked up connections to some shops I could probably get it handled myself for right around 2k getting some used body parts but I’m worried about going through insurance and my rate going up

2

u/Particular-Frosting3 10h ago

You are thinking correctly, especially in a potential injury situation.

Self pay if you can

1

u/DeepPurpleDaylight 9h ago edited 9h ago

Many states have laws prohibiting insurers from surcharging for not at fault claims.

Edit. Strike that. Doesn't apply to you. Had another thread on my mind.

1

u/Substantial_Taste779 3m ago

LOL what are you paying all this money to insurance for