z towed and damage done
 

will my car insurance go up if i ran over a huge piece of metal sitting in the middle of the highway? reason im asking is because i got the car towed to a body shop being that the subframe is damage the gas tank and exhaust. but there was no accident so would my insurance go up if i filed it to geico to get it fixed ? its like if i ran over a deer its not an accident involving others its just an object that i have no control over some ppl told me it wont go up some told me it will insurance says they are unsure as well

Might want to call your agent/geico directly and ask.

My assumption has been that any claim, except for maybe glass damage, will cause insurance to go up.

It really depends on your company. I have had three cars now repaired for hail damage, each 5-6 thousand dollars, two in 2011, one being repaired right now...no premium increase. But I've had the same insurance for almost 30 years and they have my house policy as well. Even if it did go up a bit, you need to do the math. If it goes up 100-200 a year, but your repair bill will be in the thousands right now, which makes more sense?

:iagree:

Agree as well ^. Really depends on your company. Technically, it is an accident anytime your vehicle is damaged on a roadway, but that's more of an LE issue than an insurance issue. Often times, insurance companies will give you as hassle if the damage isn't documented some how, such as a police report. Personally, I feel that's more due to them trying to avoid paying a claim. Good luck with it. Might as well ask them about it. You can always pull the claim.

Yeah, general rule of thumb is that if you have to file a claim, they will generally increase your rate. Though whether or not they increase, or how much they increase, is dependent on the company, and sometimes on how long you have been with them.

I agree with Madwi, best way to find out would be to call your agent. They should be able to give you the run down on how it will work out.

Technically, anything that causes damage to the vehicle is an accident. the fact that there wasn't anybody else involved, unless you happen to have the info (ie, license plate) of whatever schmuck left the piece of metal in the road in the first place, is irrelevant.

Case in point, when I worked at Progressive, we had a vehicle come in (a 2003 Volvo S60 I believe) where the owner had filled the car with diesel fuel instead of gasoline. Apparently his previous car had been a diesel. Anyway, no structural damage, but his entire fuel system had to be emptied and flushed, and all of his filters, and even some gaskets, had to be replaced. All was done under his insurance policy, which of course ended up with his rates going up. I still remember one of the head estimators commenting on seeing this claim, "Well, we are in the business of insuring stupidity."

By the way JameJ1996, that isn't a slam on you. Just an example of how some in the insurance business think.

Yeah the insurance business is not a charity. Insurance company doesn't hand out EBT cards for claims :).
They're in it to make money, not to help you, haha.

That should be covered under comprehensive insurance. IF that is the case the rates should not go up. Just like if you hit a dear, etc.

I have Geico. They raised my rate after they paid for my loss when I had my wheels stolen almost 2 years ago. They are in the business to make profit.

I agree....................

:iagree:

:iagree: and explain to them exactly wat happened. and let your insurance talk to the tow company's insurance. dont try to handle the situation on your own, i guess.

I had a deer hit my drivers side front fender, I slowed down, and tried to get it to go the other way and it ran TOWARDS my car......... it was an accident that I had no control over and my insurance STILL went up .

Lets just say myself and the wife used to pay approx 800 per 6 months for both of our cars insured with Geico. She made a couple of claims due to accidents on her car. Her insurance alone is now over $950! Mine also went up a little even though she doesnt drive my car.

I agree...................

:iagree:

Just install a dash cam like I did...they might? be nice enough to not raise yout insurance if they see you have evidence of how the damage happened?

Now I record everything that happens.

A claim is a claim, regardless of what happened. As long as your insurance has to pay to make repairs (as opposed to another person being at fault and having their insurance pay for it), then there's the chance your rate might increase. The cleaner your driving record, the fewer previous claims and the longer you've been with your insurance company - the better chance you have to not have them raise rates on you.

Last year, a road cone was in the middle of the freeway in another lane and a truck hit it and launched it into my lane. Cars on both sides of me so I had nowhere to go, and it hit my front end hard (had to replace front bumper). I paid my deductible and the insurance paid the rest. Rates didn't go up, but it was my first claim, I've been with the company for 10+ years and I've got a perfect driving record. I bet if I have to make another claim within the next couple years, my rates will increase.

I didn't read all of the posts, but I think it's always wise to tell them that it was moving/bouncing on the road/kicked up into your car - takes away liability on your part for "not dodging it" or whatever.

That's what I was told way back when.

I don't recall my premiums increasing after my 240sx was $50 from being totalled after a hit-and-run in a parking lot. Walked up to it after an exam and someone in what I assume was a big truck must have backed into it - smashed both fenders, bumper, headlight, hood, and radiator support.

it's hard to tell the reason behind premium changes unless you ask your agent.

ive had my dd's premium go up due to dumbarses crashing all over the place, especially
old people. i checked with my agent why my premium went up despite my accident-free
history, no claims in recent years...and he said very sorry, but it's just the mark up from
the field as the car was now considered slightly higher risk than before. :ugh:

Have Geico right now, filed a claim July 30th of 2013 for a Comprehensive Claim on my IS250 same as what happened to you, only difference was my incident was a Blown Full Semi Tire flew off the trailer and smacked into the front. Rate Did NOT go up or increase due to Non-Fault as asked by the agent, damages were covered and Deductible applied. Simple. I asked about how things go up and it's in Fault based accidents, incidents in comprehensive where applicable responsibility can be assumed by the Policy Holder - (Best friend is adjuster for State Farm and this is a Insurance Industry standard as i was told) You should be fine. submit, call the agent give the account 20 min call about what happened, submit to Shop, and let them fix, pay deductible and go on your way :)

i read geico use inferior parts (non-oem) to do their repairs.... :ugh: unless the victim pays the difference out of pocket. :ugh2:

However the onus is on you to prove that the fault was on a third party, sometimes hard when the other party does not stop.

I find it hard to believe, meaning. If I park my car somewhere and someone swipes the side of me then if I make a claim my insurance wont go up next year? doubt it.

On friday night I nearly hit a cat crossing a road, fortunately for me the road was clear and I swerved to avoid it hitting my right corner bumper. Now, if I had hit the cat, and claimed for a new bumper are you saying my premiums would not go up? I am guessing that I would need to prove to Geico it was indeed a cat?

Well it all comes down to your agent's common sense in all aspects. Most of the time the agent determining has a good frame of mind, along with the viability of the situation and if it could happen. Anyone can get on here and go Well "what If this, and what if that' the reality is that when you get the agent in the call, is this a situation of a possibility that it could do damage or not. I can't speak to each hypothetical situation it all goes back to the agent and viable-ness of the incident.

Any claim is a claim, even if someone hit you and their company paid your company still has to pay someone to do the paperwork, that's reflected in a rate increase. Remember, there is NO altruism in any insurance company no matter what lies they tell in TV ads.

I'm not bitter and have no recent claims.

"Chargeable" vs "non-chargeable" accidents. Your policy will spell out which is which. Cheaper insurance policies, like Geico, have to cut corners somewhere. For them, a claim is a claim.