A couple of months ago, I accidentally scraped the side of my car on the edge of my narrow garage. At the time, I was nervous about reporting it because I thought it would raise my rates, so I figured I’d pay out of pocket. Now I’ve learned it’s going to be a much more expensive fix than I expected. Lesson learned—I’ll definitely report it next time.
Is it possible to make a claim for something that happened a while back, or does it need to be reported immediately? I have full coverage with GEICO.
Also, I know this might sound silly, so please go easy on me—I’ve learned my lesson!
Yes, you can still report it. Just be honest about why you waited, and it shouldn’t cause a denial, especially if you have photos from the time of the accident. This happens sometimes.
As long as your policy was active when it happened, yes, you can file. Just let them know you originally planned to pay out of pocket but changed your mind. As long as your coverage hasn’t just recently changed, it shouldn’t raise any issues.
Check your deductible too—it may not be worth filing if the repair costs aren’t much higher than that. And remember, this will count as an at-fault claim, which might lead to higher premiums.
You might want to ask your insurance if they can estimate how much a collision claim would affect your rates before filing. I know State Farm can do this; not sure if GEICO can, but it’s worth checking. Knowing your deductible, repair costs, and potential rate increase could help you make a better decision.
