Yeah, that's solid advice. Had a similar thing happen with my old Civic—barely tapped someone's bumper, looked totally fine at first glance. But a week later, the guy called me about some sensor issue behind the bumper. Thankfully, I'd snapped a quick pic at the scene, just in case. Didn't end up needing it, but it gave me peace of mind. Probably worth at least documenting it... better safe than sorry, right?
Good point about documenting it, but wouldn't reporting something minor like this potentially bump up your premium? I've heard even small claims or reports can affect your rates down the line... anyone have experience with that?
"I've heard even small claims or reports can affect your rates down the line..."
Yep, had this exact thing happen a few years back—light tap in a parking lot, zero visible damage. Thought I was being smart by reporting it just to cover myself. Big mistake. Even though no claim was filed, my premium still inched up slightly at renewal time. Insurers seem to flag anything that might hint you're a higher risk. If it's genuinely nothing, might be safer to snap some pics and settle informally...
I get where you're coming from, but settling informally can sometimes backfire too. A buddy of mine had a similar situation—no visible damage, handshake deal, thought everything was cool. Few days later, the other driver claimed hidden damage and wanted repairs covered. Without an official report, it got messy fast... ended up costing him way more than a slight premium bump would've. Sometimes it's worth the small hit to your rates just for peace of mind.
I hear your point, but honestly, reporting every minor bump isn't always the best call. Had a similar thing happen last year—no damage, exchanged info just in case, and never heard another word. Sometimes people actually do let it go... rare, but it happens.
