Does auto insurance cover bumper damage?

Minor car accidents happen, from fender benders to parking lot dents and dings. Sometimes the damage to your car is so small, it leaves you wondering, “Should I even file an insurance claim for bumper damage?”

You may be hesitant to file a claim for minor accidents and car damage,  including bumper damage, but your insurance policy might have a clause in it that requires drivers to notify the insurance carrier for any damages or accidents involving a covered vehicle.

But don’t panic. There are ways you can prevent your car insurance rates from going up, like adding accident forgiveness insurance to your policy, if you file a claim for bumper damage. But first, you need to make sure you have the right kind of auto insurance to cover bumper damage. 

Make sure you have the right type of coverage that will pay for repairs. Enter your ZIP code above to get free quotes from multiple insurers before learning more about if car insurance covers bumper damage. Find the best bumper damage car insurance company for you now.

Is bumper damage covered by auto insurance?

The answer to the question of whether car insurance covers bumper damage depends on the type of policy you have and whose bumper is damaged.

Liability Coverage

If you have a liability policy, any bumper damage that you cause to another car is covered, but bumper damage that someone or something causes to your own car won’t be covered.

Liability coverage is the minimum amount of car insurance that most states require registered car owners to buy, with the sole exception of New Hampshire, which does not have a mandatory car insurance law.  (For more information, read our “Does liability auto insurance cover hitting a deer?“).

States that require liability insurance for drivers want to make sure at-fault drivers have the ability to fully and adequately compensate victims of car accidents for their personal injuries and loss of property. In other words, liability coverage starts and ends with other people and property. (For more information, read our “Does auto insurance cover accidental damage?“).

So, what kind of car insurance covers bumper damage to your own car?

Collision and Comprehensive Insurance

If you want auto insurance that will cover damage to your car, including your bumper, look into collision and comprehensive auto insurance.

Collision and comprehensive insurance aren’t included in a liability policy. They’re optional add-on coverage and cost extra to be a part of your standard liability policy. 

Keep in mind that collision and comprehensive are two separate policies that provide different types of coverage. The main difference is collision insurance pays for damage to your automobile from a collision, whereas comprehensive insurance covers vehicle damage that is not caused by a collision.

Collision Coverage

Collision insurance is exactly what it says it is, insurance that covers you and your vehicle in a collision. A collision is generally defined as your car colliding into other vehicles or pedestrians, or other vehicles or pedestrians colliding into your car.

There’s an important caveat to collision insurance. The definition of collision is limited to hitting stationary or inanimate objects. It doesn’t cover you if you hit a deer, moose, or some other animal that damages your car. (For more information, read our “What to Do if You Hit a Deer“).

Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive insurance pays for damage to your vehicle from accidents or events that don’t involve colliding into another car or inanimate object. Comprehensive coverage is considered the catch-all of car insurance. 

It covers auto damage from all of the following:

• Hail 
• Fire 
• Flood 
• Vandalism 
• Theft 
• Falling objects 
• Hitting an animal 

Comprehensive insurance also covers any personal items in your vehicle.

Read more: Does auto insurance cover bullet holes?

Will my insurance rates go up if I file a claim for bumper damage?

It’s cheaper for insurance companies to cover low-risk drivers. That’s why low-risk drivers get the cheapest rates.

Low-risk drivers tend not to file a lot of claims or have a lot of claims filed against them. It’s safe to say that insurance companies don’t like to see a lot of claims made on a policy. As such, filing multiple claims could increase your car insurance premiums.

But, there are some things you can do to keep your car insurance costs down even if you have to make a claim for damage to your bumper.

Maintain a Safe Driving Record

The best way to keep your car insurance rates low is to practice safe driving. Driving safely reduces the chances of you getting into an accident in the first place. Secondly, safe driving reduces the likelihood of an accident being your fault in the event you happen to get in a wreck.

All of that is good news because insurance rates likely won’t increase for first-time and no-fault accidents, especially if no one was injured and the damage to property is minor. 

Ask About Accident Forgiveness Programs

If you’re in search of auto insurance or already have a policy, you should look into accident forgiveness programs.

Accident forgiveness essentially means your insurance premiums won’t be raised if you get into an accident. Accident forgiveness programs vary from provider to provider, so make sure you ask about eligibility requirements, like enrolling in a safe driving course or having no history of accidents within the past three years. 

Should I file a claim for bumper damage?

If you do decide to file a claim for bumper damage, the table below shows average rates from some major insurance providers for auto insurance before and after a first-time accident.

Read more: How to File an Auto Insurance Claim

Average Annual Auto Insurance Rates After One At-Fault Accident by Company

As shown in the table, if you’re at fault a car accident can increase your rates significantly. Make sure you ask about accident forgiveness programs, which promise not to raise rates for a first at-fault accident. Also ask about other programs that can reduce your insurance costs, like usage-based insurance, also known as pay-per-mile, pay-as-you-go, pay-as-you-drive, or pay-per-use insurance, that can help keep premiums down after a minor car accident.

What are other ways to keep car insurance premiums low?

As a consumer of auto insurance, you should always look for discounts for things like enrolling in telematics, making electronic payments, buying car insurance online, and bundling multiple policies, like auto, homeowners, and life, with one insurance company.

Most providers also offer discounts for students with good grades, veterans and military personnel, and members of alumni associations, professional associations, and other special interest and affinity groups.

Make sure you have the right type of coverage to cover bumper damage. Buy bumper damage car insurance now by entering your ZIP code to get FREE bumper damage car insurance quotes from multiple insurers.