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How much trouble can you get in for lying to insurance?

I hit a guard rail after slipping on some black ice. I don't have full coverage insurance, but I want to call to change my coverage before submitting a claim. Would I get in trouble if I lied and said the accident happened after I changed my coverage?

avatar
Emily Maracle · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Winter weather conditions and black ice can cause serious damage and injuries, so I’m glad you’re okay!
That said, you don’t want to lie to your
car insurance
. Lying to your insurance company can get you into big trouble. Even if the lie seems small, it’s insurance fraud. You are knowingly deceiving your insurance company to benefit, which can result in jail time, fines, and license suspension.
While changing your coverage to
collision insurance
is temptin, don’t do it. Paying for repairs is costly and slipping on black ice is an unavoidable part of owning a vehicle. However, the consequences of lying will likely have a greater impact on you than paying for repairs out of pocket.
While you can’t add full coverage and submit a claim after, you can still change your coverage. Although full coverage is more expensive, it’s often worth the extra protection. You should still get a quote from your current insurance company and at least two others.
By shopping around, you can hopefully save a bit more even if you’re paying out of pocket for car repairs. If you want cheap car insurance quotes fast, use
Jerry
. Jerry gathers quotes from 50 top insurance providers in seconds!
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