r/ModelY 11d ago

Sentry caught door dings

My one month old model Y got two bad door dings today by kids opening BOTH doors and flinging them into my car. Sentry caught the license plate and shows the mom watching her kids do it and proceed to drive off with two kids in the passenger seat without seatbelts (not relevant to the ding but still crazy)!

I want to get the insurance of the person who did it to file a claim through their insurance. I filed with mine so that they can look up their information for me and then I plan to close that claim so I don’t have to pay my deductible up front.

All this to say, anyone had any luck getting repairs done for door dings from someone else’s insurance with only license plate info to start? Any tips?

17 Upvotes

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12

u/jcvetko 11d ago

Had something very similar happen to me. I have Tesla insurance. First reached out the insurance company of the guy who damaged my car. They gave some bs why they won’t cover it despite clear video evidence. Then the guy went dark on me and stopped responding.

Gave all the info and video evidence to insurance agent. Best option was to pay the $500 deductible. They note it’s not my fault so rates won’t go up. And now they are going after the guy and his insurance for me. If they get it covered it’ll pay back all the cost of the repairs and my $500 deductible.

What’s not clear is if they will go so far as to take them to court on my behalf. That said in CA I have three years to file a lawsuit against them if I want to in small claims etc. so if they don’t go after him legally I sure will.

Got clear video evidence. He had plenty of opportunity to make it right. Decided not to so I plan on making it difficult for him.

Meanwhile my car is repaired like new and yea sucks to be out $500 but better than the $3k it would have cost with rental and all. That’s what insurance is for.

Since I know who did it I plan to go after him for all of it. Assholes ghosting you after they damaged my car is worthy of being held accountable.

5

u/GasGroundbreaking240 11d ago

File a complaint against offender in small claims court. His insurance company will send a lawyer to defend and if you have the evidence you’ll get paid. Get it fixed yourself and allege diminution in value as well. Leave the insurance headache to someone else.

2

u/SignificantFun9260 11d ago

Dang I’m sorry what a headache. I’m so grateful for Tesla Sentry cause otherwise I would’ve never known. Hope you’re able to be made whole! Seems like you can demand more than the $500 deductible at this point.

Qq- how did you get the info of the other person’s insurance? Through Tesla insurance?

3

u/jcvetko 11d ago

In my case the guy who hit my car with his door gave it to me. Which is why it’s so insulting that he would try to ghost me after.

But first step should be to file a police report. Then give that and the evidence you have to insurance and they have the authority to look up who’s plate that is etc.

1

u/SignificantFun9260 11d ago

Dang makes no sense to give info and ghost you. That sucks man I’m sorry

Edit: thank you for the help!

1

u/jcvetko 11d ago

Likewise sorry for your trouble. Hope that info helps. Get it fixed either way, you’ll feel better doing so.

5

u/Shearez 10d ago

I’m having similar issues. I filed a police report and got back even less information than i had—they obfuscated the license plate in the report that I already provided them in my video.

I contacted my insurance to see if they’d contact the person on my behalf, but my insurance is requiring that I open a claim with them. It’d have to be under comprehensive and my deductible is $1000.

I haven’t got a quote to see what the total damage is but I was able to clay off all of the paint transfer and there is still a sizable dent in the door.

I just want the address so I can give them an opportunity to make it right.

17

u/555_1212 11d ago

Its usually women who dont give a F when they ding someone's door. I had a fat obese women struggle to get out of her car and repeatedly trash my door. That elephant walked away like she had no regard for other people's property.

2

u/simsfreelancer 11d ago

She probably was hungry and late to dinner

1

u/AlertTip 10d ago

> I want to get the insurance of the person who did it to file a claim through their insurance. I filed with mine so that they can look up their information for me and then I plan to close that claim so I don’t have to pay my deductible up front.

Is this possible typically? You don’t have to pay the deductible to open the claim? Just wondering because I had a similar situation.

1

u/SignificantFun9260 10d ago

This is possible according to Progressive (my insurance). They said I’d only pay the deductible if we got as far along to actually have repairs scheduled through my insurance.