It's one of the questions we get asked most. Someone comes in with a dented door or a scraped bumper, and before we've even looked at it properly they ask: "Should I just put it through my insurance?"
Sometimes the answer is yes. Quite often, it's no. And the reasons aren't always obvious until you sit down and do the sums. So let's do them.
The two numbers that matter
When you're deciding whether to claim, there are two figures to look at straight away:
- The cost of the repair. What would you pay if you just got it fixed yourself?
- Your excess. The amount you pay towards any claim before the insurer pays a penny. Check your policy documents, because many people have a compulsory excess and a voluntary excess on top, and it's the two combined that you'll actually pay.
If the repair costs less than your excess, the decision makes itself. Claiming would cost you more than paying directly, and you'd still have a claim on your record.
The trickier situation is when the repair costs a bit more than your excess. On paper, claiming looks like it saves you money. But there's a third number that people forget about.
The hidden cost: your no claims bonus and future premiums
If you make a claim where you're at fault, or where the insurer can't recover their costs from someone else, it will usually affect your no claims bonus. Even if your no claims bonus is protected, a claim can still push up your premium at renewal, because insurers price on your claims history as well as your discount.
And that increase doesn't just happen once. Claims typically stay on your record for several years, and you'll need to declare them when you get quotes from other insurers too.
So the real comparison isn't "repair cost vs excess". It's:
Repair cost vs your excess + the extra you'll pay on premiums over the next few years.
A worked example
Let's say (and these numbers are purely for illustration) you've got a dent and scratch on a rear door. You get a quote to repair it independently, and it comes in slightly above your total excess.
Claim it, and you pay your excess straight away. Then, at renewal, your premium goes up. If that increase is even a modest amount each year, and it hangs around for three years or more, you can easily end up paying far more overall than the original repair would have cost.
The maths only tips in favour of claiming when the repair is a lot more than your excess. Think serious accident damage, multiple panels, structural work, or damage caused by someone else where your insurer can recover the money from them.
When claiming usually does make sense
- Someone else was clearly at fault and their details are known. Your insurer may be able to recover the costs from the other party, which can protect your no claims bonus.
- The damage is extensive and the repair bill is well into four figures.
- There's any chance of structural or safety-related damage, such as suspension, steering or airbag systems. This needs proper assessment regardless.
- Your vehicle is leased or on finance and the agreement requires repairs to go through a particular route. Check your paperwork.
When paying directly usually makes more sense
- Car park dings and door dents
- Bumper scuffs and scrapes
- Single-panel scratches, including key scratches
- Stone chips and minor paint damage
- Cloudy headlights or cosmetic wear before selling or returning a lease car
These are the jobs that independent bodyshops tend to fix quickly and at a sensible price, often in a single day. Most of the dent repairs and bumper scuff repairs we do fall into this category.
What about vandalism?
Vandalism is the one that frustrates people most, and understandably so. You didn't do anything wrong, so why should your premium go up?
Unfortunately, a vandalism claim is usually treated as a claim the insurer can't recover from anyone, so it can still affect your no claims bonus and your renewal price, depending on your policy. It's worth checking your policy wording and getting a repair quote before you call your insurer. If the repair is fairly small, paying directly is often the better option, even though it doesn't feel fair. We've written more about this in our guide to car vandal damage repair.
Does calling my insurer count as a claim?
This catches people out. With some insurers, simply reporting an incident gets logged on your record, even if you never go on to claim. Policies differ, so if you're unsure, read your documents first. Many policies require you to report incidents involving another vehicle regardless, so don't ignore that if another driver was involved.
For damage where nobody else was involved, like a scrape on a bollard, getting a repair quote first means you can make the decision with real numbers in front of you.
Our honest advice
Before you pick up the phone to your insurer:
- Take clear photos of the damage in good light.
- Find out your total excess.
- Get an independent repair quote.
- Think about what a premium increase might cost you over the next few years.
- Then decide.
We'll happily give you a free, no-obligation estimate so you've got that number to hand. If it turns out claiming is the better option, we'll tell you. We'd rather you made the right call than the expensive one.
This article is general information, not financial or insurance advice. Every policy is different, so always check your own policy documents or speak to your insurer if you're unsure.
