"Plus, in Arkansas, even minor claims can bump your premiums noticeably for a couple years."
You're spot-on here. Arkansas insurers definitely factor in claim frequency—sometimes even more than severity. A single minor claim can easily push your rates up 10-15% annually for at least two renewal cycles. Also worth noting: some companies offer "claim forgiveness" programs, but they're usually limited to one incident every few years and often come with higher base premiums. DIY is usually the smarter route for small stuff... saves money and headaches down the road.
Learned this the hard way myself. Couple years back, I had a minor fender-bender—just a cracked bumper, nothing major. Thought I'd save myself the hassle and filed a claim. Big mistake... premiums jumped noticeably for the next two renewals. Ended up costing way more than if I'd just paid out-of-pocket and fixed it myself. Lesson learned: unless it's something serious, better to handle it yourself and skip the insurance headache altogether.
Yeah, seen this happen plenty of times. For minor stuff, it's usually smarter to just handle it yourself. But keep in mind, if there's another party involved or potential hidden damage... sometimes filing is still the safer bet.
Yeah, that's a good point. I've seen folks skip filing to save on premiums, but then later find hidden damage that turns into a bigger headache. Ever had a minor fender bender turn into something pricier down the line...?
Had something similar happen during my first year driving—thought it was just a scratched bumper, so didn't file. Later found out the alignment was off and ended up paying way more. You're definitely right about hidden costs creeping up later...
