Does Insurance Cover Scratches on Your Car?

Car scratches are a common occurrence for vehicle owners, and understanding whether insurance covers them is a common concern. Coverage depends on your insurance policy and the circumstances that led to the scratch. Insurance policies protect against unforeseen incidents but have specific limitations and financial considerations policyholders should understand before filing a claim.

Understanding Relevant Coverage Types

Car insurance policies offer different types of coverage, two of which might apply to vehicle scratches: Collision and Comprehensive coverage. Collision coverage addresses damage to your vehicle from a collision with another vehicle or object. For instance, if your car sustains scratches during a fender bender or by scraping a guardrail, Collision coverage applies.

Comprehensive coverage covers damage to your vehicle from events other than collisions. This includes vandalism, theft, fire, falling objects, or natural disasters. If your car is scratched due to keying or a falling branch, Comprehensive coverage applies. Standard liability insurance does not cover damage to your own vehicle, including scratches, as it covers damage you cause to others’ property or injuries. Policyholders should review their policy documents to understand their coverage limits and exclusions.

Scenarios Leading to Coverage

Scratches sustained in a car accident or from hitting a stationary object, like backing into a post or scraping a wall, are covered under Collision insurance. This applies regardless of fault.

Scratches from vandalism, such as keying or spray paint, are covered by Comprehensive insurance. Damage from natural disasters or environmental factors, like hail or falling branches, also falls under Comprehensive coverage. For hit-and-run incidents where your parked car is scratched by an unknown vehicle, Collision coverage applies. However, scratches from normal wear and tear, neglect, or self-inflicted damage are not covered.

Financial Considerations

Deciding whether to file an insurance claim for scratches involves financial considerations. A deductible is the amount you pay out-of-pocket before your insurance coverage begins. Both Collision and Comprehensive claims have a deductible, ranging from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars. If repair costs are less than or equal to your deductible, filing a claim usually doesn’t make financial sense. For example, if a scratch repair costs $400 and your deductible is $500, you pay the entire $400.

Filing a claim for scratches can increase future insurance premiums. Factors influencing this include whether the incident was at-fault, previous claims, and your claims history. While comprehensive claims might have less impact than at-fault collision claims, any claim can signal increased risk to an insurer. Insurers often reward policyholders with a claims-free record with lower premiums. This potential premium increase should be weighed against the repair cost and your deductible.