Had a similar experience last year—someone backed into my bumper at the grocery store. Honestly, skipped the police report and just handled it through insurance with photos. Saved me half a day and didn't affect my premium...sometimes simpler is better.
Had something similar happen a couple months back—someone clipped my side mirror while parked on the street. Here's what I learned from that:
- If there's significant damage or you suspect the other driver might dispute fault, a police report can help cover your bases.
- For minor stuff (like mine), insurance usually just needs clear photos and details. I skipped the cops too, and it worked out fine.
- But...double-check your policy first. Some insurers are picky about documentation and might prefer a police report for certain claims.
- Also, consider your deductible. If repairs are close to or less than your deductible, might be easier (and cheaper) to handle it yourself.
Honestly, I was skeptical at first about skipping the police report, but in my case it turned out okay. Still, every situation's different—might be worth a quick call to your insurance rep just to be sure?
Had a similar experience last summer when someone backed into my parked car at a rest stop during a road trip. Came back from grabbing snacks and saw the dent—no note, nothing. At first, I was pretty annoyed and thought about calling the cops right away, but after calming down and looking at it closely, it wasn't as bad as it seemed.
I ended up calling my insurance first just to get their take. They said pretty much what you've mentioned here: if it's minor damage and no one's hurt, clear photos and details are usually enough. But they did mention that if there's any chance of dispute or if the damage is significant, a police report can save you headaches later on.
In my case, the dent was noticeable but cosmetic, and my deductible was higher than the repair estimate anyway. Plus, I didn't want my rates going up over something small. Ended up just paying out-of-pocket at a local body shop once I got home. The guy there even gave me a discount for cash payment—always worth asking about that!
One thing I'd add from experience: if you do decide to skip the police report, make sure you document everything thoroughly yourself. Take photos from multiple angles, note down exactly when and where it happened, and keep any receipts or estimates you get. Insurance companies love paperwork (unfortunately), so having your own little file ready can save you stress later.
But yeah, every situation's different. If you're unsure at all, a quick call to your insurance rep is probably the safest bet. Better to spend 10 minutes on the phone now than hours dealing with complications later...
Had something similar happen to me a few months back when I was parked outside a coffee shop. Came out to find my side mirror hanging by a thread—no note, no witnesses. At first, I thought about calling the cops too, but honestly, I wasn't sure if they'd even bother with something that minor.
Ended up chatting with my dad about it (he's been driving forever and has seen it all, lol), and he said pretty much the same thing you mentioned—if it's minor and no one's hurt, just document everything yourself. I took tons of photos and even asked the coffee shop if they had security footage (they didn't, unfortunately). Insurance basically said the same as yours: if repairs are less than your deductible, it's probably not worth filing a claim.
One thing I learned from this whole mess is to check around for cheaper replacement parts online before going straight to a body shop. Found a mirror on eBay for way less than what the mechanic quoted me. Took some trial and error installing it myself, but hey... saved me some cash and learned something new!
"Insurance basically said the same as yours: if repairs are less than your deductible, it's probably not worth filing a claim."
Yeah, that's usually the way it goes. Had something similar happen to me last year—someone backed into my bumper at the grocery store and took off. No note, nothing. I debated reporting it too, but honestly, unless you've got solid evidence or serious damage, police reports rarely help much with insurance claims. Good call on checking eBay though...wish I'd thought of that before shelling out at the dealership. Lesson learned for next time, I guess.
