Minor Fender Bender 6 Months Ago – Do I Need to Disclose This While Shopping for Insurance?
[CA] – About six months ago, I had a minor fender bender while driving a rental car. There were no injuries, and the total repair costs for both vehicles came to around $8,000. The accident was so insignificant that the police didn’t even respond; they just advised us to exchange insurance information and move on. Since it wasn’t my car and there was no police report or citations involved, I don’t think this incident is on my driving record.
After the accident, my premiums with State Farm skyrocketed, tripling my monthly payment to $750. I’m a 48-year-old male with 32 years of accident- and ticket-free driving, with this being the only incident on my record. State Farm informed me that this increased rate will last for three years.
Now, I’m in the process of looking for a better insurance rate and have a question: “Am I required to disclose this accident when requesting quotes?”
Looking back, I realize it might have been wiser to cover the repair costs myself, but since I was driving a rental, I didn’t want to risk the rental agency pursuing me for additional charges later on. It’s frustrating that my insurance would triple over such a minor incident, especially considering that State Farm has never paid out any claims in my 32 years with them. Thanks in advance for any advice!
When shopping for insurance quotes, it’s important to be honest about your driving history, including any recent accidents, even if they were minor and did not appear on your driving record. Insurance companies often use various databases to check your claims history, and failing to disclose the accident could result in complications or issues down the line.
Since this was a rental car accident and you mentioned that State Farm has marked it in their records, it’s likely that other insurers will also have access to that information. Disclosing the incident upfront can help you avoid potential problems when filing a claim in the future.
That said, you can explain the circumstances of the accident to potential insurers. Emphasize your long history of safe driving as well, which they might consider when calculating your rates. Shopping around is a good strategy, as different companies evaluate risk differently, and you may find a better rate with an insurer who takes your overall driving record into account more favorably.
Lastly, consider discussing your situation directly with prospective insurers to get insights on how this specific incident may affect your premiums. Good luck!