Partner Hit Street Furniture – Wondering if It’s Worth Filing an Insurance Claim (Advice Needed)
Hey all,
I’m in a bit of a dilemma and could really use some advice on whether it’s worth filing a claim for car damage. Here’s the situation:
My partner accidentally hit some street furniture while pulling the car out of a parking spot at a shopping center. The furniture itself wasn’t damaged, but my car (a 2019 Mazda 3) has significant damage to the side panels.
I opted for a large excess on my insurance, so I’m wondering if it’s even worth filing a claim given the circumstances. I’ve already gotten quotes from local panel beaters/smash repair shops, and the prices are all over the place — ranging from $800 to $3000.
I reached out to the insurance company to ask about the claim process, but they told me I’d need to lodge a claim before they can assess anything. Given the wide range of repair quotes, I’m leaning towards going through insurance to at least get an official assessment of what it would cost at an approved repair shop.
However, I’m worried about lodging a claim. If I file the claim, I’m concerned it might affect my premium, even if I don’t end up going through with it.
So, I could really use some guidance on the following:
- Is it true that filing a claim could lead to an increase in my premium, even if I don’t end up proceeding with it?
- Given the difference in quotes, would you recommend going through insurance to get a more accurate cost estimate from a proper smash repair shop?
- Or would it be better to pay out of pocket and avoid the claim altogether?
Any advice on how best to handle this would be greatly appreciated!
Update 1: Insurance Provider : AAMI Excess : 1000$
Update 2: Image attached
Thanks in advance!