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What should I do if someone dings my car door?
I was in the Target parking lot the other day loading up my trunk, and the car that pulled up beside me flung open the door, and it dinged my door. The dent isn’t huge, but it’s more than noticeable. I didn’t say anything then, but now I have a $500 car repair bill. What should I do if this happens again?
Shannon Martin · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
If someone dings your car door and you aren’t able to see who caused the damage, here’s what you’ll want to do:
- Take photos of the damage
- Check with security and see if they have video footage of what happened—you may be able to collect the license plate to file a police report
- If there is enough damage to warrant a claim, contact your insurance company and file acomprehensive coverage claim
If this were to happen again and you know who caused the damage, you’ll want to do the following:
- Advise the other driver of the damage and exchange insurance information
- If the other driver doesn’t comply, take a picture of their license plate
- Check with security to see if there is a video recording of the incident
- Contact your local police department and file a report
- If there is enough damage to warrant a claim, contact your insurance company and file a comprehensive coverage claim
Remember that if you’re filing a comprehensive coverage claim, you’ll have to pay your deductible before insurance will pay. That’s why it’s a good idea to check with a local repair shop to get an estimate of the cost of repairs before you contact your car insurance company.
If the cost of the repairs is less than your deductible, you should pay for the repairs out of pocket and avoid the subsequent increase in your insurance rates from filing a claim.
View full answer
- Gregory R.
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