car insurance–rates hiked after filing claim for hit & run?

by hirby

Do car insurance companies hike your rates if you file a claim for someone else doing hit & run damage to you? I’ve heard stories of car insurance companies doing that–even if you had nothing to do with the damage.

I called my insurance company and they refused to give me a strait answer. I was parked when this happened, so I didn’t do *anything* to cause the accident. (I have Allstate; liability only–with uninsured motorist–I don’t have comprehensive.)

so…have you ever heard of CAR insurance rates hiked because someone filed a claim in which they had NO fault in the accident at all? (I know this happens for home insurance–but I’m only asking about CAR insurance here)

If your car was parked, I don’t think your uninsured motorists coverage will cover the damage. The uninsured motorists coverage only covers you if there is an accident while driving and it’s the other driver’s false and he’s uninsured. If your car was parked, only the comprehensive coverage will pay for the damage.

Insurance can go up with no claims, due to cost of living or any other factor they can think up.

If all you have is liability, they won’t cover the hit and run anyway. If you’re thinking "uninsured motorist" will, it won’t. Unless you can catch the person and find out he is uninsured, they don’t know he is. He could just as easily HAVE insurance that will pay you. But since you can’t find him…your insurance will do nothing. That would be a comprehensive claim. But you don’t have that coverage.

Well, there are two answers to this, and I’m not trying to give you the runaround.

They can’t SURCHARGE you, and you don’t get points. So, technically, they don’t raise your rates.

HOWEVER, they CAN move you to a less-preferred subcompany (read, higher rates), and they CAN take away your no claims discount, if you’re getting one.

Read more...