Car Insurance For Dents And Scratches

Which Car Insurance Policy is best to Choose?

The best way to get car insurance for dents and scratches is by getting a comprehensive car insurance policy. The comprehensive car insurance policy covers the damages that are caused by the driver, as well as damages that are caused by external factors. The coverage of a comprehensive car insurance policy is more than just physical damage to the vehicle.

Comprehensive Car Insurance covers:

• Physical damage to your vehicle, including dents and scratches
• Theft of your vehicle
• Theft of items from within your vehicle
• Damage caused by vandalism
• Damage caused in an accident with another person's vehicle or property.

Why You Need Insurance for Dents and Scratches?

We all know that cars are expensive, and the last thing you want is to have to pay for a new car because of some small damage. That’s why you need to protect your car with insurance. Car insurance is important because it protects your car in the event of an accident or other damage that might happen while driving. You can get coverage for just about anything, from theft and vandalism to hail and fire.

So, should you purchase car insurance for dents and scratches? Well, if you are looking for the best car insurance for dents and scratches, then it is important to consider the following factors:

• Price of the policy
• Type of vehicle (ex. sedan or SUV)
• Deductible amount
• Coverage limits
• Age of vehicle
• Type of coverage
• Age of driver.

What are the Repairs & Replacements that are covered under Car Insurance Dents & Scratches?

The following repairs & Replacements that are covered under the dents and scratches:-

• Minor chips or scratches to the paintwork.
• Minor dents to the body of the car.
• Scratches on windows or lights.
• Dents to bumpers, wing mirrors, side skirts and door handles.

This is mostly applicable for the following repair services offered by network garages linked with insurance companies:-

• Painting
• Balancing
• Wheel Alignment
• Polishing
• Minor Denting (for non-cutting and non-welding work only)
• Opening-Fitting
• Paid service labour (as per the OEM’s recommendation)
• Brake overhaul
• Clutch overhaul
• Interior cleaning
• Anti-rust coating
• Twenty points electrical check-up
• Suspension overhaul
• Engine tuning
• Tyre rotation
• Battery replacement
• Gear-box overhaul.

Advantages of Car Insurance Cover Scratches and Dents?

If you are involved in a collision with another vehicle or an object like a light post, mailbox, or pedestrian while driving, this type of insurance will cover costs to repair your car and any other losses.
Comprehensive covers damage that happens to your car in any mishaps other than collisions. Examples of comprehensive claims might include a tree falling on your car, vandalism or a hail storm breaking the windows. Here are some other possible scenarios, and how you might pay for them:

• A deer dents your car
• A squirrel chews on your car’s wires
• You get into a fender bender
• Your car gets keyed
• Road debris hits your car.

Disadvantages of Car Insurance Not Cover Scratches and Dents?

Car insurance is not going to cover any dents or scratches. If you need repair, you can't claim and the only possible solution would be to incur the expense out of pocket. Some examples include the following:

• If you don’t have collision and comprehensive coverage
• If the damage is caused by normal wear and tear
• If you acted in a negligent manner to cause the scratch or dent
• You don’t know when the damage happened or the damage is old
• If you were acting in a way that violated your policy.

Types of Policies of Car Insurance for Scratches and Dents:

A car insurance policy is made up of different types of coverage and each type offers different protection. Whether or not scratches will be covered depends both on what caused the damage and whether your car insurance policy includes comprehensive and collision coverage. Below are the types of coverage that make up a full-coverage car insurance policy, which is a policy that includes comp and collision in addition to liability.

Does Car Insurance Cover Dent & Scratches Repair?

Car insurance companies only cover dent repair if your vehicle has been in an accident. If you don’t have collision auto insurance coverage, you won’t get coverage if you were at fault in the accident.

If the other person is at fault, their liability coverage will pay for dent repairs. However, your liability insurance coverage won’t pay for your own dent repairs.

Parking lot dents: Even if you’re not driving, car insurance companies cover dents you get in a parking lot. Law enforcement will establish fault, and both parties will report it to their auto insurance companies.

Minor Damages: Auto insurance companies could cover minor damages from an accident. However, some repairs are smaller than your deductible.  So it would likely be considered minor damage if someone keyed your car or road debris flew up and left a mark or dent on the finish, for example.

Vandalism: Liability and collision won’t cover damage from vandalism. However, comprehensive coverage can cover damage from vandalism. This includes:

• Someone who keys your car
• Damage from vehicle theft
• Damage caused by a thrown object.

Why Won’t My Car Insurance Company Cover Scratches And Dents?

There are certain situations where your car insurance company won’t cover scratches and dents. Here’s a list of examples where auto insurance companies won’t cover damage:

• You’re at fault and you only have liability
• Normal wear and tear
• Damage you intentionally caused
• Delaying car insurance claims

If you get a dent or scratch on your vehicle, report it to your car insurance company right away. An adjuster will determine if the damage is worth making a claim.

How to Claim Car Insurance for Dents and Scratches?

• Register the Car Dent insurance claim: You will probably have to file a complaint with the insurance company and they will arrange a party to conduct the repairs.
• Receive the claim registration number: You'll have to contact your insurance company if you don't know what caused the scratch.
• Insurers inspection: You may be better off fixing minor scratches on your own if the damages are less than your deductible.
• Garage appointment: You do not need a police report to file an insurance claim unless your car was vandalized, but it can be helpful to have one.
• Get the Claim settled: Repair costs may be solely by you or partially by the company.

Documents Required for claiming a car insurance policy:-

• Filled claim form along with your signature.
• Tax receipts.
• Copy of your insurance policy.
• Copy of your car registration certificate (RC)
• Driving license of the driver.
• Copy of the FIR.
• An estimated bill of the car's repair cost.
• Original repair bills and payment receipts.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Does Car Insurance Cover Scratches And Dents?

Your car insurance may cover the cost to repair dents and scratches if you carry comprehensive or collision coverage on your auto policy. Without these coverages, you may be on the hook for repair costs.

How much does it cost to fix scratches on a car?

The cost to repair scratches on your vehicle depends on how many there are and how deep the scratches go. A scuff can cost as little as Rs. 2500 to Rs. 4000, according to auto body experts, but a deep paint scratch, or multiple, can cost more than Rs.10,000 to repair.

Will My Monthly Premium Be Affected?

Yes, filing claims regularly will have an effect on your NCB, claim history, and premium. This is because according to the regulations governing vehicle insurance claims, premium is based on NCB and claim history. If you file frequent claims, your insurer may decide that you are a high-risk customer and charge you more. Avoid this by filing only the necessary claims and preventing minor problems from becoming big ones.

Will It Affect My Deductible In Any Way?

The deductible is the amount of money you agree to cover in a claim settlement process. The insurance pays the rest of this. As a result, the two parties - the insurer and the insured share joint liability for claims. Regardless of your selection of deductible, you'll still have to pay for claims. Before filing a claim for small dents and scratches, it's important to keep deductible costs in mind. This will help you know how much you need to pay the insurer.

Are There Scratches And Dents That Car Insurance Won't Cover?

There are certain situations where cosmetic damage to your car won't be covered, such as:

• General wear and tear: Car insurance is designed to deal with sudden and unexpected events. It doesn't cover general wear and tear, which extends to dents, scratches, door dings, and overall paint damage that may occur over time.
• Time-lapse in filing a claim: Many insurers have time frames that must be met if you're filing a claim. Your insurer may not pay for a dent or scratch that happened years ago.

Does car insurance cover dents?

Yes, comprehensive and collision coverage will pay for repairs if the dent was caused by a covered peril, like if you backed into a pole or if a tree branch fell on your car. But if the dent was caused by an incident that isn’t covered under your insurance, or if you don’t have comprehensive or collision coverage under your policy, then your insurance probably won't cover you.

Conclusion:

Car insurance companies provide coverage for scratches and dents in some specific situations like no-fault accidents, collision claims, or comprehensive claims. If your car is involved in an accident that you're at fault for, there is also a chance that your insurance premium will go up. Any scratches or dents to your vehicle due to natural wear and aging will not be covered by the policy, as well. Damages to the vehicle that are intentional, or damages you are liable for, won't be covered either.

To ensure your auto is protected from the escalating rates of auto insurance, you should get estimates for repair costs and compare them to the deductible on your policy. Driving around in a damaged car may not be glamorous, but it's important to save money by avoiding higher vehicle insurance rates. Before you buy car insurance to cover scratches and dents, use our free comparison tool below to compare car insurance quotes from the best insurance companies near you.