A couple of months ago, I scraped the side of my car on the edge of my really narrow garage. I didn’t report it to my insurance because I was worried about my rates going up and thought I could just fix it myself. Turns out the repair costs are way higher than I expected. Lesson learned for next time.
Is it still possible to file a claim for something that happened months ago, or do claims need to be filed right away? I have full coverage with GEICO. I know this wasn’t the best decision, so go easy on me; I’ve already learned my lesson.
Yes, you can still report it. Just be honest about why it took you so long, and it shouldn’t cause your claim to be denied. If you have photos or any documentation from when it happened, that can help too. Late reporting happens more often than you’d think.
Every state has its own rules for how long you can wait to file a claim. Usually, the window is a few years, so you should be fine. Just be honest about what happened.
As long as your policy was active at the time of the incident, you’re good to go. Just explain that you initially thought you’d cover it yourself but changed your mind. Unless there’s something unusual about your policy, like it being new, this shouldn’t raise any red flags.
Make sure to check your deductible first, though. If the repair is $1500 and your deductible is $1000, it might not be worth it, especially since this will count as an at-fault claim and could make your premiums go up.
You might want to ask GEICO if they can estimate how much filing an at-fault collision claim would increase your rates. Some insurers can give you a rough idea. That way, you can compare the cost of repairs, your deductible, and the potential premium increase to decide what’s best for you.
How would your insurance company even know this happened months ago? There’s no other party involved, and I’m guessing there wasn’t a police report, right?
Teegan said:
How would your insurance company even know this happened months ago? There’s no other party involved, and I’m guessing there wasn’t a police report, right?
There’s no need to lie about it. Just tell them the truth.
Teegan said:
How would your insurance company even know this happened months ago? There’s no other party involved, and I’m guessing there wasn’t a police report, right?
Lying would be insurance fraud. It’s not worth risking criminal charges over this.
Yes, you can still file, but honestly, is it worth it? Depending on how expensive the repair is, it might make more sense to pay out of pocket. What’s your deductible? And do you have accident forgiveness?
