- Totally get your frustration—had something similar happen. Slammed the brakes because a deer jumped out, and boom, my score dropped.
- Off-peak driving really does make sense though...less traffic, fewer sudden surprises. But do insurers here actually notice or reward it?
- Curious if anyone's tried contacting their insurer directly after an incident like yours to explain? Maybe they'd adjust the rating manually? Worth a shot, maybe.
"Curious if anyone's tried contacting their insurer directly after an incident like yours to explain? Maybe they'd adjust the rating manually? Worth a shot, maybe."
Tried this myself after a similar incident (had to swerve hard to avoid someone merging without looking). Here's what worked for me:
1. Called my insurer directly, explained calmly and clearly what happened.
2. Provided dashcam footage (this helped a ton—highly recommend having one).
3. Asked specifically if they could manually review the event rather than relying solely on automated scoring.
They actually adjusted my rating slightly after reviewing the footage. Not a huge difference, but definitely worth the effort.
"Provided dashcam footage (this helped a ton—highly recommend having one)."
Dashcams are definitely handy, but honestly, my experience was a bit different. Had a similar situation last year—someone cut me off badly on I-95 near Wilmington, and I had to brake hard enough to spill coffee everywhere (RIP my favorite travel mug...). Anyway, called my insurer thinking they'd appreciate the dashcam footage, but they basically shrugged it off. Told me since there wasn't an actual collision or police report involved, their hands were tied.
Not saying your method doesn't work—it clearly did for you—but seems like it really depends on the insurer and maybe even the rep you get on the phone. Might be worth checking your policy details first or even asking hypothetically before sending footage. Also, keep in mind some insurers might actually use that footage against you if they spot anything questionable (like speed or lane changes). Just something to think about before handing over evidence voluntarily...
Interesting points about insurers potentially using dashcam footage against you—I hadn't considered that angle before. As someone who's just starting to navigate the whole insurance landscape, I'm curious if anyone's had experience with insurers offering discounts or incentives specifically for having a dashcam installed. I've heard some companies in other states do this, but haven't seen anything concrete for Delaware yet.
Also, does anyone know if insurers here differentiate between dashcams that record continuously versus those that only activate during incidents? Wondering if that might affect how they view footage or even influence premiums. Seems like there's a lot of nuance in how insurers handle these things...
Good call on the dashcam angle—I hadn't even thought about insurers using footage against you. Honestly, though, I think the potential benefits outweigh that risk. A friend of mine down in Maryland got a small discount (around 5%) for installing a dashcam, but he had to specifically ask about it. Seems insurers don't always advertise these perks openly.
As for Delaware, I haven't personally seen any clear-cut discounts yet, but it wouldn't hurt to ask your agent directly. Sometimes they're willing to work with you if they know you're taking extra precautions. About continuous vs incident-only recording, my guess is insurers might prefer continuous recording since it provides more context, but that's just speculation on my part.
Either way, I'd say having one is worth it just for peace of mind alone—especially as a first-time insurance buyer. There's enough stress with insurance already; anything that simplifies claims and clarifies fault seems like a win to me.
