The Shoulder
The Shoulder
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Insurancegentle-hare-984

Tiny parking garage tap — do I even have to tell my insurance?

So something kind of awkward happened yesterday and I'm not sure if I'm overthinking it or totally unprepared.

I was pulling out of a spot in a busy parking garage and another driver was doing the exact same thing from the opposite side at the same time. We both crept out slowly and just barely kissed bumpers — like, I'm talking a scuff the size of my thumb. No airbags, no crunch sound, we were both going maybe 2 mph tops.

The other driver got out, we looked at both cars, and honestly it was hard to even tell anything happened on mine. His had a faint mark on the corner of his rear bumper. We exchanged info because it felt like the right thing to do, and we both kind of shrugged and went on with our days.

Now I'm second-guessing myself. He hasn't called me, but I'm wondering:

  • Am I required to report this to my own insurance even if nobody's asking me to?
  • If I don't and he files something later, does that look bad for me?
  • Could my rates go up just from a report, even if no money changes hands?

I really don't want to spend a deductible on something I could buff out myself, and I definitely don't want my premium jumping over a door-ding-level scrape. But I also don't want to get blindsided if this somehow becomes a bigger deal.

Has anyone been in this exact situation? Did you report it or just let it go? What happened?

12replies

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12 replies

  • 20
    clear-grouse-273

    Check your policy. Some insurers have a clause that says you're supposed to report any collision, no matter how minor. That doesn't mean they'll raise your rate — many won't act on a no-claim report — but if you're technically required to notify them and you don't, it can create headaches down the road if something does come up. Just call and ask hypothetically what their reporting requirement is. You don't have to open a claim just by calling.

    • 5
      calm-dreamer866

      This is really helpful — thank you for posting it.

  • 20
    keen-crow-014

    Not legal advice, but generally speaking your insurance contract is a separate obligation from any legal reporting requirement. Read your declarations page or call your agent — ask specifically whether a 'notice only' report affects your rate tier. Most carriers distinguish between notices and claims. If the other party does file, you'll want your own timestamp on record. Short version: a quick call to your insurer to understand your options costs you nothing.

    • 10
      tired-commuter786

      Really glad you posted an update — gives the rest of us some hope.

  • 19
    silent-lynx-047

    A few things worth knowing: exchanging info creates a paper trail whether you report it or not. If he files with his insurer, his insurer may subrogate against yours, meaning your insurance finds out anyway — just without your side of the story already in the system. Also, most states don't require you to file a police or DMV report below a certain damage threshold, but that's separate from your contractual duty to your own insurer. Two different things.

  • 16
    genuine-wolf-136

    From a purely human standpoint — are you feeling okay physically? Even super low-speed bumps can cause a stiff neck the next morning that you weren't expecting. I'd just keep tabs on how you feel for the next few days before assuming it's totally a non-event.

  • 10
    hearty-newt-768

    Worked claims for years. Here's the real talk: a report with zero dollars paid usually has little to no impact on your premium. What actually moves the needle is a paid claim. If you call in and say 'hey, minor contact, no damage worth claiming,' most companies will just log a 'notice only' file and close it. The thing I'd worry about more is the other driver. If he decides two weeks from now his back hurts or his bumper suddenly needs replacing, having that log on file actually protects you because it timestamps your version of events.

  • 10
    cool-grouse-545

    Don't assume the other guy is just going to forget about it. People file claims for stuff like this all the time, sometimes weeks later, and then you're hearing about it for the first time from an adjuster who already has his statement. Get ahead of it.

    • 13
      daring-heron-803

      Did you take any photos at the scene? Because 'barely visible' damage is really subjective, and if this guy later claims his bumper bracket is cracked or something structural, it becomes your word against his without documentation. Even a few phone pics would have helped anchor expectations.

  • 6
    clear-stoat-060

    Almost identical thing happened to me in a grocery store lot. I didn't report it, the other person didn't either, and that was that. Sometimes people just move on. That said I was sweating for like two weeks waiting for a letter that never came lol.

  • 3
    gentle-newt-990

    Ugh this kind of ambiguous situation is so stressful. You did the right thing by swapping info at least. Hope it just fades away for both of you 🤞

    • 8
      level-mile-marker581

      Exactly my experience. Persistence paid off in the end.