Should I Claim on My Insurance for a Small Bump? (UK 2026)

The five-minute rule

If the total repair sits within 20 percent of your renewal premium, pay privately. Anything above that, claim. Here is why.

What claiming actually costs

A single at-fault claim typically increases renewals by 30 to 40 percent in year one, tapering to about 10 percent by year five. On a £500 renewal that is roughly £900 of extra premium spread over five years — before you have paid the excess.

When to pay privately

• Small scratches, kerbed alloys, scuffed bumpers
• Anything under £600 with no third party involved
• Any single-panel repair on a car worth over £15,000

When to claim

• Any repair over £1,500
• Anything with third-party damage or injury
• Any repair that needs OEM parts a private repair budget will not cover
• Windscreen replacement (usually excluded from no-claims)

Named driver claims

An at-fault claim by a named driver still affects the main policyholder. Do the maths before agreeing to notify.

Non-fault claims

Non-fault claims should not affect your premium if the third-party insurer accepts liability. If your insurer records it as fault or 50/50 while liability is disputed, ask them to change the marker once the third party admits.

How WBARC helps

Send us the damage photo. We will give you a private-pay quote and tell you what the insurance route would cost, so you can decide with both numbers in front of you.

Frequently asked

Does telling my insurer count as a claim?

Yes. A notification-only counts as an incident on renewal even if no money changes hands. Only report if you intend to claim.

Will paying privately protect my no-claims bonus?

Only if you never notify. The moment the insurer knows, the bonus is at risk.

What about protected no-claims?

It protects the bonus, not the premium. Your renewal will still go up.