Is it worth filing an insurance claim for minor car scratches?
2 Answers
For minor scratches and dents on a car with low repair costs, it's not worth filing an insurance claim. This is because filing a claim will lead to an increase in the insurance premium the following year, resulting in more losses than gains. However, if the damage is significant, it's necessary to report it to the insurance company. When calculating the premium for the next year, insurance companies primarily consider the number of claims made, with little to no regard for the payout amount. Therefore, the fewer claims made, the more discounts you can receive when calculating the next year's premium. Hence, it's unnecessary to file a claim for minor scratches. Additional information: Article 21 of the "Insurance Law of the People's Republic of China" states that the policyholder, the insured, or the beneficiary should promptly notify the insurer upon becoming aware of an insured event. If the notification is intentionally or negligently delayed, making it difficult to determine the nature, cause, or extent of the loss, the insurer is not liable for the portion that cannot be determined, unless the insurer has already become aware or should have become aware of the insured event through other means.
I often commute by car and encounter minor scratches. When this happens, I first estimate the repair costs. If it's just a small paint scratch, a touch-up might only cost a few hundred yuan, whereas filing an insurance claim would require paying the deductible (usually starting at 1,000 yuan), and the premium could increase by a few hundred yuan annually. Over a few years, this could end up costing more than the repair itself. Last time, I fixed it myself using a touch-up pen bought from Taobao for less than 20 yuan, and my insurance record remained clean. I recommend getting a quote from a roadside quick repair shop first—if it's cheap, pay out of pocket to avoid affecting your premium discounts. Always inspect the damage; only consider insurance if rust appears. For safety, don’t ignore any damage to prevent small issues from becoming big ones.
