- Totally get where you’re coming from. I used to think, “Why bother?” too, but after dealing with insurance runarounds, I’m with you—paper trail is key.
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100% this. They’ll look for any excuse.“Insurance adjusters seem to want every scrap of proof you can give them, and if you don’t have a police report, they’ll find a way to drag things out or even deny your claim.”
- I had a similar thing happen—someone hit my minivan in the school parking lot, left a note, and then their story changed. No police report, so it was my word against theirs.
- It’s a pain to wait for the cops, but honestly, it’s less of a headache than fighting with insurance for weeks.
- Only time I skip it is if it’s just a tiny scratch and I don’t care. Otherwise, yeah, better safe than sorry.
Honestly, I get the whole “better safe than sorry” thing, but sometimes calling the cops just isn’t worth it—especially if you’re dealing with a minor fender bender or a scrape in a crowded lot. Here’s where I’m coming from:
- Not every officer is thrilled to show up for a parking lot bump. I’ve had them basically tell me to just swap info and move on, which doesn’t help much with the paper trail.
- Insurance companies can be a pain, but if you’ve got clear photos, witness statements (even from bystanders), and the other driver’s info, that can go a long way. I’ve had claims go through without a police report when I had enough documentation.
- Waiting around for an hour or more for someone to show up—especially if you’re blocking traffic or it’s pouring rain—can be its own kind of nightmare.
I get why folks want every scrap of proof, especially after getting burned by insurance before. But sometimes it feels like overkill for stuff that’s clearly minor. My old ‘72 Chevelle got tapped in a grocery store lot once—tiny dent, no real damage. The other driver was honest, we took pics, swapped info, and insurance handled it without any drama.
That said, if there’s any doubt about who’s at fault or the other person seems sketchy? Yeah, then I’d probably wait for the cops too. Just saying... sometimes common sense beats bureaucracy.
I get where you’re coming from, but after what happened to me last fall, I’m a little more cautious. Someone sideswiped my car at the train station and left a note with their info—seemed honest enough. But when I filed the claim, their insurance tried to say it wasn’t even their driver. No police report, so it turned into a whole mess of he-said-she-said. Ended up paying my deductible just to get it fixed. I’d rather wait in the rain than deal with that headache again... Guess it depends on your luck and how much you trust people these days.
Yeah, that’s rough. I had something similar happen at a grocery store lot—left a note, seemed decent, but their insurance dragged it out forever since there was no police report. Now I always call the cops, even if it feels like overkill for a fender bender. It’s just way easier to have that official report backing you up if things get messy. Insurance companies love loopholes...
Honestly, you’re spot on about the police report making things smoother. It might feel like overkill in the moment, but it’s a lifesaver when insurance starts nitpicking. I’ve seen claims stall for weeks just because there wasn’t that official paper trail. Even if it seems minor, getting that report is worth the hassle.
