Does Insurance Cover Reversing Scratches?
3 Answers
Insurance can cover scratches caused by careless reversing, provided that the vehicle damage insurance is purchased. Extended content: In motor vehicle damage insurance, the cost is generally determined in three ways: 1. Based on the new vehicle purchase price of the insured vehicle at the time of insurance: The new vehicle purchase price of the insured vehicle refers to the price of purchasing a new vehicle of the same type (including vehicle purchase tax) at the place where the insurance contract is signed. 2. Based on the actual value of the insured vehicle at the time of insurance: The actual value of the insured vehicle refers to the price of a new vehicle of the same type minus the depreciation amount. The actual value of the insured vehicle at the time of insurance is determined based on the new vehicle purchase price at the time of insurance minus the depreciation amount. If the depreciation period is less than one month, no depreciation is calculated. The maximum depreciation amount shall not exceed 80% of the new vehicle purchase price of the insured vehicle at the time of insurance. 3. Negotiated based on the new vehicle purchase price of the insured vehicle at the time of insurance: For additional equipment beyond the standard configuration of the insured vehicle, the equipment name and price list should be specified in the insurance contract, and the insurance amount can be increased accordingly based on the actual value of the equipment. Additional equipment is depreciated together with the insured vehicle.
As a veteran car owner who has purchased three vehicles, whether you can claim insurance for reversing into something depends on the coverage you have. If you only have compulsory traffic insurance, the compensation is very limited—only covering repair costs up to 2,000 RMB for damage to another vehicle, with no coverage for your own car's damage. However, if you have comprehensive insurance (including vehicle damage coverage), the repair costs for your own car can be reimbursed. Remember to take photos to preserve evidence of the scene and call your insurance company to report the incident within 48 hours. Last year, I accidentally scraped a utility pole while reversing, denting the left door, and claimed over 2,000 RMB under vehicle damage insurance. My premium only increased by a few hundred RMB, making it more cost-effective than paying out of pocket. Note that if third-party property damage occurs, such as crashing into a neighbor's gate, third-party liability insurance must be used for compensation.
I work in auto insurance claims. A reversing scratch is considered a single-party accident, and whether it can be compensated depends on the actual situation. First, confirm if you have purchased collision insurance. If not, you can only pay for the repairs yourself. Secondly, check if there is an on-site record. For example, if you scrape a wall in a residential area and move the car, the insurance company may deny the claim. Therefore, take photos immediately after the incident: the scratched area, the overall scene, and surrounding reference points should all be captured. Last time, I handled a case where a driver reversed into a tree but didn’t take photos of the scene, and ultimately only received 70% compensation. I’d like to remind everyone that after the insurance reform, collision insurance now includes zero deductible, so there’s no need to purchase it separately. Just file a claim directly for scratches. However, for minor scratches, consider the potential increase in next year’s premium before filing a claim. If the repair cost is below 600, it’s better to handle it yourself.
