I tapped someone's bumper at a red light — do I have to pay out of pocket with basic insurance?

Don't be so hard on yourself — most people have no idea what's actually in their policy until something happens. That's just reality. You're handling it by asking questions, which is the right move.

Worked in claims for years. Liability coverage paying for the other party's property damage is the most basic, standard thing your policy does. You're almost certainly fine for the repair costs unless the damage is unusually severe. What people often don't realize is that bodily injury liability is the piece that can get expensive — if the other driver later says they have neck pain or something, that's a separate part of your coverage. Keep an eye out for any injury claims coming in down the road, even if everyone seemed fine at the scene.

Call your insurance company today. Like, right now. Tell them exactly what happened. That's it — that's step one. Everything else flows from that conversation. Stop spiraling and make the call.

Just a heads up — if the other driver's insurance contacts you before your own does, be careful what you say. Adjusters are trained to gather information that protects their company, not you. You're not obligated to give a recorded statement to the other person's insurer. Talk to your own insurance first and let them handle communication.

Liability coverage exists to protect other people from your mistakes on the road, so yes, it should cover the damage to the other vehicle up to your policy limits. The key phrase there is up to your limits — if their repairs somehow exceed what your policy covers, the gap could come back to you. For a minor bumper tap that's usually not an issue, but it's worth knowing. Report it to your insurer ASAP if you haven't already. Delaying a report can sometimes complicate claims.

I was in almost the exact same spot a couple years back — caused a minor fender bender and panicked because I didn't really understand my coverage either. Here's the short version: liability insurance is specifically designed to cover damage you cause to someone else. That's literally what the 'liability' part means. So the other person's repairs should go through your policy, not your wallet. What it does NOT cover is your own car if it got dinged. Call your insurance company directly and just tell them what happened — they walk you through it. It's uncomfortable but way better than waiting and letting it get messy.