Need advice guys...

[Dave2013M3]

If you save photo's of the damage and if the car fax date matchs, they'll understand it was a tiny event, and not be an issue.
But if it is a cheap fix and want to pay out of pocket, that is up to you.
The cops should have pulled the guys plates and towed the car. but cali. tends to support law breakers. So.

He was homeless, had no insurance not even a driver's license and his car hadn't been registered in over 2 years. Cop said they wouldn't do anything

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[Seanuf99]

You might be right about that; my statement is based on personal experience. I haven't even seen uninsured liability offered as an option, but maybe I haven't looked hard enough. That sounds like a wise investment these days, and I'll look into it. Thanks.

Edit: Wow! Who knew? Looks like you are correct. I'll be talking to GEICO ASAP. Thanks again.

I worked in claims for Nationwide for a year like 20+ years ago, so always hesitant to say anything with certainty regarding insurance, but that was how I remembered it going.

 

[Seanuf99]

Is that an issue with trivial cosmetic damage?

I think it depends on the buyer and the asking price. Also some Carfax reports I have seen are descriptive enough like that it wouldn't dissuade me but some were just something like 'minor paint damage' which for me was too ambiguous.

 

[Cory S]

I think it depends on the buyer and the asking price. Also some Carfax reports I have seen are descriptive enough like that it wouldn't dissuade me but some were just something like 'minor paint damage' which for me was too ambiguous.

My car has a mark on the Carfax as "minor damage reported". I've yet to find anything in/on the car anywhere in 3 years, where any damage ever was. So honestly, I really DGAF.

 

[kiksbutt]

Look for a reputable PDR (Paintless Dent Repair) shop and see if they can get the indentation out of the fender. Some really good shops can get that dent out to the point you couldn't tell it ever happened, but it depends on the factory fender lines/crease and expertise of the PDR specialist. The front fenders are aluminum.

The scuff there - try buffing it out with a good compound/polish. 95% or better of that mark may disappear. Any scrape of the paint layer, get Dr. Colorchip kit (hit up @Bikeman315 - he did a repair on his prior Ruby Red S550 and he said it came out very well).

Now for the headlight and bumper cover - grasp the bumper cover and front fender at the edge of the wheel well where both meet; give a slight tug toward you. It should conform and pop back into place. I don't think your headlight assembly is damaged, doesn't appear to be from the images. It just looks like the fender is pressed inward which is pulling the bumper cover in as well, skewing the body lines of where the headlight is making it appear visually skewed (but may not be).

If all else fails and you want to keep repair costs to a minimum and avoid a body shop visit/down time - go online and source out the same color used front fender (eBay, LKQ, local salvage yard, etc.) and swap out the fender - not hard to do at all.

This.

Get a reputable PDR place to see what they can do. Have a pro shop buff it out and put some touch up paint over it. Dr.Colorchip works as does the Ford OEM pen which is pretty easy to use. I wouldn't file insurance claim over this. Your deductible could be higher than how much damage is here.

 

[ice445]

Honestly that's not that bad. I get that it's frustrating having to share the road with degenerates but, I can't see that costing that much to fix

 

[WItoTX]

A) Screw that guy, I am sorry for you having to deal with this. I hate when people have no regard for others or their belongings.

B) I honestly can't see any damage besides the scuff. Do you have better photos of the damage? It all look so minor, I'd bet you could fix all of it yourself.

C). Sick sandals.

 

[Dave2013M3]

Honestly that's not that bad. I get that it's frustrating having to share the road with degenerates but, I can't see that costing that much to fix

Getting a quote on Friday. Shops are so busy here it takes weeks to even have them look at the car. Found a good mobile company quoted me $750.

 

[Dave2013M3]

This.

Get a reputable PDR place to see what they can do. Have a pro shop buff it out and put some touch up paint over it. Dr.Colorchip works as does the Ford OEM pen which is pretty easy to use. I wouldn't file insurance claim over this. Your deductible could be higher than how much damage is here.

There is tiny crack at the edge of the fender. The PDR guy couldn't help.

 

[NJMike]

I used to do auto insurance 20 years ago, but the rules from state to state vary. I see in the thread that Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage is optional in your state? Here in NJ it is mandatory for a standard policy. Several years ago NJ initiated a new coverage with extremely low liability amounts of 15/30/5 (15 per person/30 aggregate total/5 property damage) - at $5k property damage any repair that needed for my vehicle wouldnt be recouped by my insurance company via subrogation. I chose to keep my uninsured/underinsured limits at the same amount as my own liability ($500,000 CSL). Your mileage may vary, but I would strongly recommend upping the coverage for UI/UM if you dont have it already.
Your company should cover the loss regardless of the offender being insured or not, but they have no means to recoup any portion of the loss

 

[Dave2013M3]

I used to do auto insurance 20 years ago, but the rules from state to state vary. I see in the thread that Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage is optional in your state? Here in NJ it is mandatory for a standard policy. Several years ago NJ initiated a new coverage with extremely low liability amounts of 15/30/5 (15 per person/30 aggregate total/5 property damage) - at $5k property damage any repair that needed for my vehicle wouldnt be recouped by my insurance company via subrogation. I chose to keep my uninsured/underinsured limits at the same amount as my own liability ($500,000 CSL). Your mileage may vary, but I would strongly recommend upping the coverage for UI/UM if you dont have it already.
Your company should cover the loss regardless of the offender being insured or not, but they have no means to recoup any portion of the loss

I am going to keep the insurance company out of it, as long as the damage is just this superficial. I have uninsured motorist coverage and it will cover it, its just a ding against you. My deductible is $500.00 if the amount is truly just $750.00-$1000 I would rather take care of this myself. Thanks so much for your advice.

 

[The Demon]

I am going to keep the insurance company out of it, as long as the damage is just this superficial. I have uninsured motorist coverage and it will cover it, its just a ding against you. My deductible is $500.00 if the amount is truly just $750.00-$1000 I would rather take care of this myself. Thanks so much for your advice.

Yep. I fix it myself without the insurance if it was my doing on all my cars if it is pretty minor.

In your case the guy is a deadbeat so I would do exactly what you are saying.

 

[Dave2013M3]

Yep. I fix it myself without the insurance if it was my doing on all my cars if it is pretty minor.

In your case the guy is a deadbeat so I would do exactly what you are saying.

To be frank, his car was his home. You could see he was living out of his car. He only put $5.00 in for gas, which isn't even a gallon here in Cali. It was probably just enough to move the car from one sleeping point to another.

What is sad though, if the shoe was on the other foot the authorities would be all over me.

 

[IPOGT]

I used to do auto insurance 20 years ago, but the rules from state to state vary. I see in the thread that Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage is optional in your state? Here in NJ it is mandatory for a standard policy. Several years ago NJ initiated a new coverage with extremely low liability amounts of 15/30/5 (15 per person/30 aggregate total/5 property damage) - at $5k property damage any repair that needed for my vehicle wouldnt be recouped by my insurance company via subrogation. I chose to keep my uninsured/underinsured limits at the same amount as my own liability ($500,000 CSL). Your mileage may vary, but I would strongly recommend upping the coverage for UI/UM if you dont have it already.
Your company should cover the loss regardless of the offender being insured or not, but they have no means to recoup any portion of the loss

So, let me understand this. You have to pay for extra uninsured insurance but they get to drive with no penalties with no insurance at all. I’d move.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

More worried about the Carfax. I will eventually sell at one time.

Maybe not universal and maybe changed, but when I had my stripes painted a few years ago, I used a large high end repair shop that had a lead painter who did a lot of custom paint in a prior life. Anyway, talked a lot with the manager and down the line and one question I asked them all was about the Carfax reporting. They all said they don't do that BUT if work is paid for by insurance, those companies did report the work. Same for warranty paint. The dealer/manufacturer reports it. But if you pay for repairs, Carfax wouldn't know.

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