Auto comprehensive claim

Has anyone filed a comprehensive claim with their car insurance and had the premium go up because of it? I am considering filing one but when I spoke with my insurance (geico) they couldn't give me a definite answer as to whether it'll increase. I've never filed a claim of any kind before so wondering if anyone has any experience with this.

Thecatsmeow Thecatsmeow
Jan '20

If you are filing a claim for an accident(not sure exactly what the claim is for) and it was deemed your fault or even partially your fault your premium could go up and more than likely it will. It also depends on your insurance carrier as some forgive a first accident claim as long as you did not have any prior accidents.I know Allstate does this on first claims. Also if the repair is less than your deductible then it would not pay to file a claim. In my experience the insurance company always try to share the blame between the 2 parties involved so they would not be fully responsible for the claim. The exception is if you were hit from behind then the party who hit you is fully at fault. Good luck!


If a deer hit you, no it won't go up. If you hit the deer, yes it will go up.

look up in Google search: secrets of the car insurance companies.

Hackresident Hackresident
Jan '20

A deer ran into my car. I didn't see it until it was too late to stop or avoid it :( They confirmed it was not my fault but still didnt say whether it'll affect my rate. My deductible is only 50$ and although the damage isn't major I'm sure the repair will be well over that. With it being mostly cosmetic damage I'm not sure if its worth the risk of the premium increasing. A google search comes up with different comments, some say it will, others dont. Which is why I'd thought I'd check if anyone had personal experience with this.

Although with all the accidents in the area I'm sure it'll go up anyway!

Thecatsmeow Thecatsmeow
Jan '20

I have had claims for comprehensive and never had my rates go up.

Mommyof3 Mommyof3
Jan '20

$50!!! You must pay a high rate!!! Take the claim, you already paid a higher rate. You can take the claim, get new insurance at renewal with a higher deductible, and pay less! I run a $1,500 deductible and have for so many un-accident years now that it has paid for itself.

Remember, insurance is accident-gambling. You’re betting accident, they’re betting not. Price for your bet is determined accordingly. With your deductible, you were really betting on having an accident. Take the bet. If the price rises, try another casino, higher deductible, both....NJM just went public, they’re searching aggressively for new gamblers! Plus, they give you a refund if there are not enough “winners” during the year. $300 last year at Christmas!

Strangerdanger Strangerdanger
Jan '20

Any time an auto insurance carrier pays out on a claim, any time you report damage to a covered vehicle, your carrier can increase your rates. It doesn't matter who was at fault or if there was successful subrogation against the at-fault party, your carrier can increase your premium. Accident forgiveness isn't exactly a benefit as rate increases are determined by number of reports--those reports still exist whether a payout was generated or not. Your carrier may not raise your premium immediately, but they'll get around to it--generally upon renewal or when you make a coverage change.

NatalieR NatalieR
Jan '20

Strangerdanger, actually at a 50$ deductible I only add on 55$ for the 6 month total, so about 9$ a month. My rate is a bit high but I'm younger and it is still about 300$ less than I was paying progressive and with better coverage.

I normally don't do such low deductibles but seeing that it wasn't much every month I went with it. I wasnt really thinking that I would have an accident, I was more thinking something would hit my windshield (which has before but luckily not cracked yet).

I still haven't decided yet, I'll see how much a body shop is going to charge and how long it'll take. I really don't want a rental car so if it's not something they can just pull out/touch up I may not go through with it. My renewal is in march so by next month I should know if its changed at all. I may shop around again but I did last year and geico beat everyone I looked at so I might stick with them if there isn't a drastic increase.

Thecatsmeow Thecatsmeow
Jan '20

I like the gambling reference, I never really thought of it that way! I'm essentially betting 9$ a month that something will damage my car and looking at it that way puts it into perspective a little better. I'm looking at the rest of my coverage and may make some changes!

Thecatsmeow Thecatsmeow
Jan '20

Boom, by Jove I think she's got it, she's got it.....said Henry Higgins (just saw it again, sorry). That's exactly the math I use, and yes, I would have your deductible in a heartbeat if that was my offer.

That and the fact you owe the casino nothing, there are plenty of casinos in the market, that you can move at will, they always refund your extra bets already on the table.....who needs to stay. Since we live in the lovely regulation-strong state of NJ, just about any supplier is bound to provide a decent level of service, so you can feel pretty safe about jumping around for whatever reason you choose.

Best one for me was State Farm home. Had for over 20 years, all good. They covered my pre-Sandy Sandy-year disaster, and they did it very well even covering some of the trees, which they really are not on the hook for. Given we had a team of four, cutting for four days, ten hours a day ---- that was nice. I was really happy.

Then at the end of the year Sandy hit, for which I posted no claim, and we went up like 10% after rising 5% the year pre Sandy during 3% inflation years, and a bit of a recession meaning contractors were looking for work. I complained, they said something about building supplies inflation. I was over to NJM in a heartbeat, saved over 10% for better coverage (I did have auto there so there was a bundle benefit). Just like trading brands of soap at the market. I figured after 20 years if they couldn't even budge a bit that I could. They didn't even make a last effort. 20 years and they chucked it. Took a decade for my new price to match the State Farm loyal customer price.

FYI -- if you report it, everyone sees it, and yet -----> it probably won't matter a toot if you choose to move.

strangerdanger strangerdanger
Jan '20

The Cats Meow: I'd email or preferably Fax the Insurance Company and put in writing that "the deer hit me on (date), and that this claim is under Comprehensive.

I don't trust these (most) insurance companies. they tell you they won't raise your rates, and then it says 0 accidents, but the rate has gone up every year!! I finally wised up and changed companies to the tune of over $800 less a year.....jipsters.

and this is with a company t hat I was with since I was 17 years old, many years. Get a $100 comprehensive deductible, or like someone else said $500 or $1000. supposedly the rates will be lower.

Hackresident Hackresident
Jan '20

Loyalty apparently doesn't mean much to these companies. I had progressive for years and when I told them I was canceling they didnt even try to match the competitor or lower it. Same with Allstate. My father had them for over 20 years and when I saw his bill recently I was in shock he had been paying around my rate! With no accidents, no comprehensive coverage, basic coverage on anything else and after a bunch of "discounts". Plus AAA on top of that for yearly roadside was ridiculous. I immediately called them and demanded an answer as to why he has been paying so much and they couldn't give me a reason. Then when I told them I'm cancelling it and switching him to someone else, again nothing was said or done to try and keep their loyal customer. Such a shame.

Ps progressive's reasoning for raising my rate every year even though I have never filed a claim was that this town is "high risk". Which while that's annoying I understand that is a thing in nj. But still if geico can insurance me for a lower rate in a "high risk" town then why couldn't they?

Thecatsmeow Thecatsmeow
Jan '20

Insurance companies rates are filed with the state. They cannot match rates or reduce to keep you. This is not like the cable companies or direct tv. Also comprehensive is any accident with a deer. Does not matter if you hit it or it ran into you.


yes it does m atter if you hit a deer or the deer hit you! if you hit the deer, you had the ability to not hit him if you swerved. I once said that a deer hit me, they turned it around and said that I hit the deer, and made it a "collision" and raised my rates!

document that "the deer hit you".

this is what my L-o-n-g-t-e-r-m insurance company did to me!!

also , if you have 1 speeding ticket (or any ticket), it's supposed to go off your record after 3 (?) years, or is it 5 years? well, my fraudulent insurance company CONTINUED to raise my rates even after the 3 or 5 years. my new insurance is $850 less than the long-term insurance company. Discounted rates for very long-term customers?????????

Hackresident Hackresident
Jan '20

All accidents with any animal are supposed to be comprehensive and no-fault, but it doesn't mean they all do it that way. At least that was what I was told by the insurances I have had-State Farm with a deer, NJM with a bear.

Mel81 Mel81
Jan '20

And you think the guy who broke into Express Mart are the criminals.

callitlikeIseeit callitlikeIseeit
Jan '20

My agent explained the rate increases...….All the Good Drivers are subsidizing the uninsured !!!!

steven steven
Jan '20

I think the explanations of rate increases are generally bogus marketing messages. And “we need more profit” is never one if them.

IMExperience, they have never attempted to retain me.
However, NJ regulations make it pretty safe to shop and switch and not expect to get ripped off in the process. So shop.

If you think this is bad; I got caught retiring early, having my corp. health insurance yanked, and forced into individual health, without subsidy before medicare kicks in. At a yearly price of a new car, I went shopping in a complex market with little help or support. Imagine trying to buy a new car in a market where the salesmen could care less about making a sale. It was freakin frightening. Ghastly to be honest. Because of this, then medicare, I will have four policies in less than 2 years. My price will quadruple and then be cut by 10 times over that period. I almost threw up.

Strangerdanger Strangerdanger
Jan '20

If I were you (all), I would go to a Broker, there are 2 in Hackettstown, and ask for an Auto Insurance Policy Quote for the exact things you have in your current Auto Insurance policy.

They would get a quote from about 7-10 insurance companies, and every single one could be lower than what you are paying, even $850 worth!!! For me, it was $600 to $850 lower for each one!!!

And we thought that the longer we were with our Insurance Company, the "best" rates we would have year by year.........b.s. can't list who I had, but CHECK! Don't trust them.

Hackresident Hackresident
Jan '20

You live in NJ - Your rate will go up if you breath too much. I actually hit a turkey (yep a damn turkey) this past weekend. Wanted to try and have it fixed without insurance, however, with all the fancy gadgets in these newer cars, it was pointless for me to do it without going through insurance. Needless to say, I am now out of another 1k, inconvenienced for some time, and now I officially hate turkeys as much as I hate deer.

Bright side, I did google the hidden meaning behind hitting a turkey, and it seems to be a good one...Hello 2020!

DancerLife
Jan '20

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