Financial Check Tools
Should I File a Claim?
Compare the long-term cost of a premium hike against your immediate out-of-pocket repair costs to see if filing a claim makes financial sense.
Your Situation
$
$
The Verdict
Pay Out of Pocket 🛑
Filing a claim will actually cost you$1,430 MORE in the long run because of the resulting 3-year premium hike.
Cost Breakdown
Out of Pocket Now
$1,500
Insurance Payout
$1,000
Your Deductible Paid$500
Est. Monthly Rate Hike+$68/mo
Surcharge Over 3 Years+$2,430
Total Cost of Claiming$2,930
Quick Tips
- Never call your insurance company "just to ask" about a claim; it can still be recorded on your CLUE report as a zero-payout claim.
- If the damage is less than 2x your deductible, it rarely makes mathematical sense to claim it.
Want to switch?
Find a More Forgiving Provider
Some carriers offer "Accident Forgiveness" to prevent these massive rate hikes. See who made our top 10 list.
This tool provides generic mathematical estimates based on industry average rate hikes (45% for at-fault, 10% for not-at-fault). Actual surcharges vary dramatically by carrier, state regulations, and your specific driving record.