How costly it depends on how it happened
Damage to a car’s side mirror is never major—assuming there’s no other destruction involved. It’s one of life’s small irritations that always seem to happen at precisely the wrong time. It’s always aggravating, and part if the worry is if you should file an auto insurance claim to have the damage covered.
The answer to whether to file an insurance claim is not as easy as it might sound and will depend on many elements.
When the Damage Is Your Fault
Who pays for the repair of your broken side mirror depends on how it was broken and who broke it. Say the mirror was broken in a minor collision with another vehicle that was caused by your negligence. Or, perhaps, the mirror clipped a bush as you backed out of a driveway in your front yard. The answer in both situations is relatively simple as either you or your insurance company or both are going to pay to repair the damage.
Your insurance will pay some of the repair costs if you are carrying collision coverage on your policy at the time of the accident. However, you also need to consider the amount of your deductible compared to the costs to repair. A deductible is an out-of-pocket money you will pay before your insurance company covers their portion of damages.
Collision Coverage
Collision coverage allows you to file a claim with your insurance company for any damage to your vehicle. You can file regardless of who was as at fault. In most states, collision coverage is optional if the vehicle is paid off in full. If you are still carrying a note on the car, the lender may require you to also carry collision coverage.
If you don’t have collision coverage, you will pay the full costs to repair any damages to your vehicle in an accident caused by you, including damage to your side mirror. However, even if you have collision coverage, you will have to pay any deductible amount before your insurance kicks in.
If the only damage is to the side mirror, there’s a good chance that the bill will be less than your deductible amount. According to “AutoServiceCosts.com”, a side mirror replacement generally costs somewhere between $130 and $328 including parts and labor, although it can cost more than $1,000 on some luxury models.
When Someone Else Did the Damage
If the damage was someone else’s fault, you’re in luck. You can file a claim against the other driver’s insurance policy, get an estimate or two, have it repaired, and the other driver’s insurer will cut you a check.
If you have collision coverage, you can file a claim with your insurance provider while you are working out the details with the other driver’s insurance company. You’ll get at least some of the cash needed for the repair more quickly. Your company will take care of getting reimbursed.
When It’s a Hit-and-Run
It gets complicated if the damage was caused by a hit-and-run driver, or if the other driver doesn’t have insurance.
You can file a claim with your own insurance company if you have uninsured motorist coverage. If you don’t, you’ll be paying for the repair yourself.
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