Someone tried to break into my car causing damage to the outside lock and handle. Everything is still fully functional but there is a lot of cosmetic damage that may impact the long term stability of the handle. I have very good progressive insurance because I'm still paying the car off. I think the comprehensive deductible is around 1000 dollars. I have never filed any claim with insurance in my life and have no idea what the steps or process looks like of getting this covered. Any and all help is appreciated.
Need help and advice after someone tried to break into my car.
byu/OrangeFries inInsurance
Posted by OrangeFries
3 Comments
i can help
Step one is to figure out what it will actually cost to get the car fixed. If it’s within your deductible (or even somewhat above it), it’s probably a bad idea to make a claim. You’d have a claim on your record, lose any claim-free discounts, risk non-renewal, etc.
If it’s going to cost well in excess of your deductible to fix, then you either call your carrier or make the claim through their online portal. Take lots of pictures and be prepared to describe the location and condition of the car when the break in attempt occurred. Your carrier will tell you how to proceed from there, and in all likelihood, they’ll just ask you to go to one of their approved/network shops to get it repaired. If you have rental car coverage and the repair will take a few days, ask for a rental car. Your carrier will walk you through that as well.
Don’t get the repairs done until after you’ve spoken with your carrier if you go through insurance. Good luck.
If you use the Progressive app, the “Report a Claim” button is visible at the top. First, select your policy, then enter the date of the incident when prompted. You’ll provide your phone number and go through a few screens before being asked to submit photos of the damages. Once submitted, the information goes directly to the adjuster, who will contact you within a few business days with next steps. Progressive lets you choose any body shop you like, and you can schedule an appointment within days. The invoice will then be sent to the adjuster.