Collision Insurance Q: what should I do ?

I hit the car in front (at stop sign)
Reported to GEICO after I got back.
This is my 1st at fault collision ever.
Deductible is $1000.

http://static.flickr.com/22/91165845_3eb2555991.jpg

Got 2 estimates $1900 and $2800, they involve different level of work.

1) Should I go thru insurance and make claim or pay the whole thing
myself ?
2) If go thru insurance should I try to find the best estimate AS IF
I'm paying it myself or go for the most complete work (e.g $2800
includes replacing the fender piece & more labor)

Very much a newbie at this...
thanks

Your insurance pays the cost to repair the OTHER car, there is no deductible
for this coverage. Your Collision coverage -- the part with the
deductible -- is to repair YOUR car.

Yes, you should go through your insurance. The repairs will be better -- in
most instances. Your insurance carrier has repaired tens of thousands of
vehicles, they know where the repair shops are, and they can recommend some
to you that they already use on a regular basis.





"klara" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>I hit the car in front (at stop sign)
> Reported to GEICO after I got back.
> This is my 1st at fault collision ever.
> Deductible is $1000.
>
> http://static.flickr.com/22/91165845_3eb2555991.jpg
>
> Got 2 estimates $1900 and $2800, they involve different level of work.
>
> 1) Should I go thru insurance and make claim or pay the whole thing
> myself ?
> 2) If go thru insurance should I try to find the best estimate AS IF
> I'm paying it myself or go for the most complete work (e.g $2800
> includes replacing the fender piece & more labor)
>
> Very much a newbie at this...
> thanks
>

Don't forget... THIS is what you're paying for!!

I'm made claims over the years with absolutely NO affect on my policy. In
fact, in a year in which I had 2 or 3 claims, I received a "Good Driver
Discount" in the subsequent year.

I use Automobile Club, but expect that GEICO wouldn't be much different.

Take advantage of your coverage!

Jimmy

Jeff Strickland wrote:
> Your insurance pays the cost to repair the OTHER car, there is no
> deductible for this coverage. Your Collision coverage -- the part with
> the deductible -- is to repair YOUR car.
>
> Yes, you should go through your insurance. The repairs will be better --
> in most instances. Your insurance carrier has repaired tens of thousands
> of vehicles, they know where the repair shops are, and they can
> recommend some to you that they already use on a regular basis.
>

What you say may be true in CA, but is not a universal truth by any
means. Many insurance carriers will require you to use the cheapest
shops in order to limit their payout. Remember, they are only in
business to make money, not to make you happy.

So if we use the OPs numbers, they may pick the $1900 repair facility.
Then after he pays his deductible of $1000 they will only be on the hook
for $900. His insurance premiums will most certainly increase after
making a claim proportional to the total accident cost of $1900 (that
*is* a universal truth) so after a few years he will have paid for the
900 claim out of his own pocket anyway.

Sometimes it pays to just buck-up and deal with your own damage...


--
-Fred W

From my personal experience with GEICO, once you call them you no
longer have the option of fixing it yourself outside the coverage.
There is never a deductible for the cost of the repairs to the other
car. Your deductible only comes into play for the repairs to your own
car. Chances are your premium will go up significantly at the next renewal.
Good luck.

klara wrote:
> I hit the car in front (at stop sign)
> Reported to GEICO after I got back.
> This is my 1st at fault collision ever.
> Deductible is $1000.
>
> http://static.flickr.com/22/91165845_3eb2555991.jpg
>
> Got 2 estimates $1900 and $2800, they involve different level of work.
>
> 1) Should I go thru insurance and make claim or pay the whole thing
> myself ?
> 2) If go thru insurance should I try to find the best estimate AS IF
> I'm paying it myself or go for the most complete work (e.g $2800
> includes replacing the fender piece & more labor)
>
> Very much a newbie at this...
> thanks
>
>

>> so after a few years he will have paid for the
900 claim out of his own pocket anyway.

Sometimes it pays to just buck-up and deal with your own damage...
<<

thanks
So why does it not make sense to have insurance pay the $900 TODAY and
I (possibly) pay in the FUTURE ?.

>> so after a few years he will have paid for the

900 claim out of his own pocket anyway.

Sometimes it pays to just buck-up and deal with your own damage...
<<

thanks
So why does it not make sense to have insurance pay the $900 TODAY and
I (possibly) pay in the FUTURE ?.

"klara" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>>> so after a few years he will have paid for the
>
> 900 claim out of his own pocket anyway.
>
> Sometimes it pays to just buck-up and deal with your own damage...
> <<
>
> thanks
> So why does it not make sense to have insurance pay the $900 TODAY and
> I (possibly) pay in the FUTURE ?.
>

You might check with your agent to see exactly how much your premium would
be raised over the next few years, especially if the other car has a
liability claim against you, and then crunch the numbers.

Tom K.

Sometimes for accidents with little damage, and
no injuries to either party, it pays to NOT notify
the insurance company and work it out with the
other driver. Once you notify your insurance company,
they are involved, you might as well make the claim.
My opinion only!!


"klara" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> >> so after a few years he will have paid for the
>
> 900 claim out of his own pocket anyway.
>
> Sometimes it pays to just buck-up and deal with your own damage...
> <<
>
> thanks
> So why does it not make sense to have insurance pay the $900 TODAY and
> I (possibly) pay in the FUTURE ?.
>

Joe C wrote:
> Sometimes for accidents with little damage, and
> no injuries to either party, it pays to NOT notify
> the insurance company and work it out with the
> other driver. Once you notify your insurance company,
> they are involved, you might as well make the claim.
> My opinion only!!

Yes, of course at this point it is too late.



--
-Fred W