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How do you settle a car accident without an insurance company?
I backed into my neighbor's mailbox. I’m so embarrassed, and I’d rather leave my insurance out of it so that it doesn’t raise my premium. Can I do that without involving my insurance?
Lauren Smith · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
It may sound very silly, but hitting a mailbox is considered a single-driver accident.
The first step would be to talk to your neighbor. Take a picture of the damage, so they can’t claim that you caused more damage than what actually happened. If you want a third party to record the incident, it’s not a bad idea to call the police and get a police report.
Then, talk to some repair people to see how much it will cost you to repair your neighbor’s mailbox. Keep a record of any communication, including written documentation of the agreement that you and your neighbor came to.
As far as damage to your car, get quotes from a couple of mechanics to find a mechanic you trust who will repair your car at a fair price. If the damage is higher than what your
car insurance
deductible would be, it may be a good idea to go through your insurance company anyway. If you do report the claim to insurance and your rates go up, you might want to consider shopping around for quotes.
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can help! Jerry is an insurance broker app that will allow you to compare quotes from over 50 top insurers in just minutes. Once you find a policy that works for you, Jerry will help with all of the paperwork. View full answer
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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