[DreamFusion]

So I have a friend that scratched the entire side of her car against a column from a parking lot. The accident left a dent on the back passenger door and the scratches ranged from just a nick on the passenger door to about the middle of the back passenger door. There's also scratches on the bottom on the side skirt of the car.

We went to see an autobody shop and the guy quoted approx. $1500 in repairs. He said the whole side will probably have to be replaced.

She has comprehensive coverage. If she were to claim ICBC, would there just be the $300 deductible to be paid or will she have to pay for the whole damage herself?

If she is able to go with the $300 deductible, I'm assuming her rates will go up, does anyone know by how much? If the insurance rate does rise, it might be cheaper to just pay the $1500 herself?

She was thinking of claiming hit and run, but the scratches make it seem obvious that it appears to be more of a scrape along a column. I also don't think it wise as ICBC will ignore your claim if fraud is found.

Anyways, please share your experience or any advice you might have, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Mancini]

This is not a comprehensive claim. This is a collision claim.

Therefore, she would be subject to her collision coverage deductible, assuming she has such coverage. She would indeed move up the claim rated scale.

She should initiate the claim with ICBC. She would still have the option of deciding whether or not to proceed with repairs after an estimator looks at the damage. If she does proceed, she still has the further option of "buying back" her claim from ICBC or paying it outright herself.

[jlenko]

I also don't think it wise as ICBC will ignore your claim if fraud is found.

Oh, they'll do more than just ignore the claim... they'll make your ass so sore you won't sit for years!!

Fraud is a big no-no with ICBC... they find out, you're toast.

[godwin]

At fault accident makes you move up 4 the ICBC scale.

More info here http://www.icbc.com/insurance/insura_prmset_yurcla_crsinf.asp

[heleu]

If she is able to go with the $300 deductible, I'm assuming her rates will go up, does anyone know by how much? If the insurance rate does rise, it might be cheaper to just pay the $1500 herself?

Thanks!

It depends how many years of accident free driving she has. You roughly get a 5% additional discount for each year of accident free driving.

When you accumulate enough years, if you get into an accident, you only go back 2 levels or so. However, if you got into an accident without much of a discount (e.g. 2 years), you can get pushed up 40%. It took my fiance ~ 3 years to work back down to 0%. Call any broker...they can confirm.

[heleu]

At fault accident makes you move up 4 the ICBC scale.

More info here http://www.icbc.com/insurance/insura_prmset_yurcla_crsinf.asp

Wow..they increased it a lot. It used to be only 10 years of accident free driving and then you only moved up 2 spots.