, it’s just a mega bummer when you get a dent in your car. It’s unsightly, probably catches your eye every time you look at your car, and makes you feel bad that your vehicle has suffered some damage.

Dents can occur for a million and one reasons. They can come out of severe situations, such as you crashing your car or

someone rear-ending you

. They can also come out of smaller situations, like getting bumped while someone parallel parks, or dinging the wall in a garage. They can even come from silly reasons, like a pinecone falling out of a tree and landing on your roof.

Whatever the reason, if you have a dent you might want to consider having it taken out. But will the cost of that come out of your wallet, or will your car insurance help you out? Read on to find out.

Does car insurance cover dents caused by a car crash?

It depends on what type of car insurance you have, and what caused the crash. If you're not at fault in a car crash, then the damage is covered by the car insurance of the driver who is at fault. Anytime you are involved in an accident, make sure to take the insurance information from the other driver. If they’re at fault, their insurance should cover any damage to your car.

If they are not an insured driver, then it depends on whether or not you have

uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage

, which is not a legally required coverage. If you have these types of coverages, you should still be good.

Finally, if you’re at fault in an accident that causes a dent, you’ll need to have collision coverage in order to be covered. Collision coverage isn’t a legal requirement, though it’s pretty difficult to buy or lease a car without proving that you have collision coverage.

Does car insurance cover dents caused by an incident other than a car crash?

For dents other than from a car crash, you will only be covered if you have a

comprehensive insurance plan

. Comprehensive coverage isn’t required by law, but it can be really helpful. With comprehensive coverage, your car is covered by incidents other than car accidents. For instance, if a vandal damages your car, or a tree branch falls on it and causes a dent, then comprehensive insurance will cover it.

Does car insurance cover dents caused by you?

If you're responsible for dents in your car, then they will not be covered by your insurance, unless they occur in an accident. So if you’re working on your car and damage it, or go a little too hard into your parking spot, or display horrible aim while playing catch with a baseball in your driveway, you’ll be on the hook for the cost of the repair.

Should you file a car insurance claim if you have a dent?

If you have just a small dent or two, then the cost of repair is likely smaller than your deductible. That means that filing a claim won’t actually reduce the amount of money you have to pay for the repair. It will, however, increase the cost of your car insurance premiums, because every time you file a claim your car insurance rates go up. So keep that in mind, because it might not be a financially smart decision to file a claim.

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