Honestly, I get why you’d call the cops, but man, half the time they just shrug and hand you a card for your records. I’ve had my ‘68 Charger dinged in a parking lot—no note, no nothing. Insurance still covered it with photos and a statement. I guess it depends on your company, but sometimes it feels like more hassle than help dragging the cops into it, especially if there’s no real lead on who did it.
Honestly, I kind of get what you mean. Last year, someone scraped the side of my old Civic while I was working a shift—no note, no cameras, nothing. I called the cops, but all they did was give me that little report number. Insurance didn’t even ask for it, just wanted pictures and my story. If you’re on a tight budget like me, sometimes skipping the hassle is worth it, unless your company specifically needs a police report. Otherwise, just document everything yourself and hope for the best.
Yeah, I’ve been there too—had my old Corolla dinged up in a parking lot and nobody owned up to it. I did the whole police report thing, but honestly, it felt like a formality. The insurance company barely glanced at it, just wanted photos and my account. I get why some folks skip the police part, especially if it’s just cosmetic damage and you’re paying out of pocket anyway.
But I always wonder, does skipping the report ever come back to bite you later? Like, what if the other driver tries to claim you hit them, or your insurance suddenly asks for proof? I guess it depends on your area and how strict your insurer is. Anyone ever have a situation where not having a police report made things worse down the line?
Had a similar thing happen with my Civic a few years back—someone scraped the bumper and took off. I debated skipping the police report since it seemed pointless, but ended up filing one anyway. Later, my insurance actually asked for it when I made the claim. Not sure if it’s always necessary, but I’d rather have the paperwork just in case things get weird later. It’s a hassle, but sometimes it saves you from headaches down the road.
- First time dealing with this stuff, but here’s what I learned:
- Insurance wanted a police report before they’d even talk about my claim.
- Kinda thought it was overkill, but apparently it’s standard.
- Pain to file, but probably better than getting stuck if the insurance gets picky.
- Guess it’s one of those “better safe than sorry” things, even if it feels pointless.
