So I noticed yesterday that the front end of my car was hit while parked. The only damage to the car is a few small scratches on the front bumper (can most likely be buffed out) and a very small ding in the plastic that is only noticable at certain angles. The lady that hit it was nice enough to leave a note with her number saying she would report it to insurance and get it fixed for me. I have two questions though:

1) Will I still have to pay my $250 deductible even though I wasn't in the car, and the lady is admitting it is 100% her fault?

2) Will this get reported to carfax as an accident? The only damage at all is on the front bumper. I'd imagine the repair will be <$100

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

 

I assume she left a number for you to reach her?

If so, just get a printed quote for the damages, call her up and arrange for a cash payment. Leave the insurance companies out of it. Hopefully she's amenable to it.

 

This is why I don't park next to anybody.

 

Why would she pay cash when she buys insurance incase of accidents?

 

Same thing happened to me. I had two small scratches on the bumper and on the fender (down to the metal). If her insurance covers it, you do NOT pay any deductible. Likewise if you decide to cover under your own insurance, as long as the other party admitted fault, you get the deductible waived.

To fix the paint, the shop i went to had to blend the front bumper and the fender which cost around $1300.

 

Her insurance might drop her or her rates may double for a few years outweighing the payment in cash. Insurance is usually more for the big accidents and not a fender bender (especially if medical payments come into play which can cost in the hundreds of thousands or major).

 

Carfax shows very little. My sister's car was crashed into three times (one time almost totaling the car), had a few other fender benders, and numerous engine problems and carfax said her car was perfect.

 

Could be several scenarios. She feels responsible (she is doing the right thing) and want to make things right. First off she can do that out of pocket (nobody "knows" insurance wise so rates are unaffected, no police reports etc).

Second, she can do that via insurance and her deductible. May or may not be reported via police. Won't appear on other reports. It should not affect your insurance, indeed, they may not even know it happened unless you have an issue with her fixing things and you get them involved. In this case, with her admitting responsibility (you were legally parked) it will not affect your rates.

If you are happy with the fix results, that will be the end of it. If not, after working with her about it in good faith, you may have to contact your insurance company and let them go to bat for you.

As an aside, when I do park in the city (especially parallel park) I image the cars in proximity in the event the car is damaged and the offenders took off without leaving a notice. I have evidence they were in position to cause damage and can be tracked down. Cheap insurance.

 

I believe Carfax only shows accidents if a police report is filed.

 

Thanks for the replies everyone. Just spoke with the lady on the phone and she said that she will just report it to her insurance and have them take care of it. No police report or anything involved.