Is it necessary to report to insurance if the front bumper is cracked?
3 Answers
It is necessary to report to insurance if the front bumper is cracked. For such vehicle damage caused by one's own liability, compensation from the insurance company is only possible if the vehicle damage insurance has been purchased. If the "no deductible" option for vehicle damage is also purchased, full compensation can be obtained. Car insurance claim process: Report the incident: Generally, insurance companies require the incident to be reported within 48 hours. After the incident, the client should report it to the insurance company's claims department. The internal staff will then ask the client to immediately fill out the "Business Incident Registration Form" (if reporting via phone or fax, the internal staff will fill it out on behalf of the client). The internal staff will immediately check the policy copy and make a copy of the policy, policy copy, and attachments based on the insurance certificate or policy number provided by the client. They will also check the premium payment status and have the finance personnel confirm and stamp a copy of the premium receipt (business and statistical copy) (special payments must include the agreement or contract). They will confirm that the insured object is within the insurance validity period or that special payment was made before the incident, ask the client to fill out the "Incident Case Inquiry Form" to file a case (if reporting via phone or fax, the inspector will be responsible for asking the client to fill it out), and assign a case number in the order of reporting. Issue claim documents. After filing the case, relevant claim documents will be issued to the insured, and the claim procedures and methods will be explained (if reporting via phone or fax, the inspector will be responsible). Notify the inspector to report the loss and the location of the incident.
I encountered a similar situation last year when the front bumper got cracked. At that time, I first went to a repair shop for a quote—a simple fix would cost around 600 yuan, while a complete replacement would be over 2,000 yuan. My car insurance had a 1,500 yuan deductible, so if the repair cost didn’t exceed the deductible, filing a claim wouldn’t get me any compensation and would just waste time and effort. More importantly, the insurance company would record the incident, leading to a 200+ yuan premium increase at renewal, which would end up costing me more over the year. So, I suggest you do the math: check your insurance deductible, get a repair quote, and if the repair cost is below the deductible, it’s better to pay out of pocket to avoid the hassle. Assess the actual cost—a small crack can be fixed for a few hundred yuan, while only major cracks are worth claiming.
Safety comes first when driving. I believe that a cracked front bumper should be taken seriously, especially since it's connected to the vehicle's structural frame. Once cracked, it may weaken the crash resistance, making future accidents more dangerous. My neighbor once ignored a small crack in their bumper, and during a rear-end collision later, the damage escalated and nearly caused injuries. Filing an insurance claim ensures professional repair, allowing hidden risks to be checked and potential hazards avoided. Compared to DIY repairs, saving a small amount of money might lead to bigger troubles. I suggest prioritizing safety—if the crack severely affects the structure or driving stability, don’t hesitate to file an insurance claim and let experts handle it. Don’t risk major losses for minor savings. Also, pay extra attention to these parts during regular car maintenance to detect and address issues early.
