How a Little Fender Bender Can Greatly Affect Your Car Insurance

If you get into an accident, chances are there are a few thousand thoughts going through your head. One of them is probably, "how is this going to affect my car insurance rates?" Even the smallest, most innocuous, tiniest collision could leave you with financial repercussions; regardless of whose fault the collision was.

Insurance Claim 101: At the Scene of an Accident

There is an abundance of misinformation out on the Internet that will try to convince you that you should pay out of pocket for fender benders. At the scene of the accident, don't be so quick to cut the other person a check; likewise, don't accept any money from the other person as well.

Raise Your Deductible to Save on Car Insurance

Car accidents are expensive and a major inconvenience. However, having the lowest possible deductible probably isn't going to make a difference in the long term costs. Instead, you should consider raising your deductibles to lower the overall cost of you car insurance premiums; its one of the best ways to save on your car insurance.

Yes, a collision will be a little more expensive, but you're probably not going to experience enough accidents to justify the forgone savings. If you're a safe and responsible driver, save on your overall premium, not on the out-of-pocket costs in an accident.

Always Be Prepared For a Car Accident

Always have a pen and paper readily available next to your proof of insurance. You'll want to collect the names and addresses of all drivers, passengers, witnesses, and law enforcement officials involved; in addition to license plate numbers, the make and model of each car, driver's license numbers, insurance information, and as much scenario detail as possible.

There are two points of wisdom that strongly support any resolution that most people overlook: 1.) Never admit fault, and 2.) Have a disposable camera handy to take undisputable images of the scene. In any type of auto accident, everything happens in a flash and "hindsight is 20-20".

If a fender bender has bruised your driving record and you are suffering from what seems to be unreasonable car insurance premiums, shop around for a new car insurance policy. There are auto insurance companies that specialize in insuring high risk drivers with reasonable rates. To find them you must shop around and compare multiple quotes from multiple companies. InsWeb can make the process of shopping and comparing quotes quick and easy.