shaytun

So this morning I was hit very lightly from behind straight on at a red light. I think the driver had stopped and looked at her phone and subsequently took her foot off the brake. I posted a picture of the bumper guards that had minimal damage. The main damage is a scratch on the driver's side bumper guard. The panels look lined up as before. I will take it to a Porsche specialist to look at. However, based on your experiences, how bad does it look and anything specific to look for?

autobonrun

You’re fortunate. That doesn’t look bad at all. Personally I wouldn’t replace it unless I was trying to sell the car and the scratch bothered a buyer. You keep it long enough and it could get another scratch. I’d take the insurance payment and buy beer and pizza. But it obviously depends on how much looking at it bothers you.

Spyerx

Don’t even claim that on your insurance or theirs!!

just replace the pads. They did their jobs.

theiceman

those things arent cheap

Bahman

Replacing the pad(s) might be cheaper than the bump in insurance premiums.

autobonrun

Absolutely correct. There are also dampers behind the bumpers. It probably felt light because the dampers did their job. The damper is typically replaced along with the bumper. The OP was struck from the rear. No one is saying to put it on his own insurance.

Spyerx

i can guarantee the hit from a carfax report is worse that the cost of the bumper

autobonrun

That’s true. Perhaps he can just receive payment directly from the woman that hit him. It’s always a choice what to do.

theiceman

thats quite the guarentee....

especially if he just takes a pic to show prospective buyers....
Reasonable and experienced car buyers know and understand a car goes through bumps and scrapes over its lifetime. I would have no problem buying or selling a car this has happened to and would aprreciate the transparency. The super **** retentive who would see this as a "red flag" i would not likley sell to anyway.
But agreed everyone has to do what is right for them .

My car has a dent underneath in the body pan like it actually landed on something, it even broke the sound insulation on the floor of the car. It was there when i bought it , so what , its been a fantastic car for the last 16 years.

Spyerx

doesn't make sense I know. but the last thing you want is a "accident - minor rear end" on a Carfax despite the reality. I have a couple friends who are dealers and any note of accident or 'rollback' odometer readings is a hit on sale price. always. Plus you now get to explain the story.

The guard is about $600. just buy one, or ask the person who hit to pay for it.

last accident I got into, guy tapped me, very minor but it was about 2k in bumper cover work... the driver of the other car just offered to pay cash after I showed him quote. Neither of us wanted to deal with insurance.

For smaller stuff like this, it's just the better way to handle things

shaytun

So I'm going to have it checked out soon. I did file a claim with the other person's insurance out of the fear there might be some bigger problem later. I have not accepted any payment. The issue is the Carfax part everyone is bringing up. Is it already too late? I'm okay not accepting the payment, but can a claim be dropped? Her insurance is Geico and they have said mixed things about when it's reported from "it's not reported until payment is made" or "minor accident is not reported by them".

parkerfe

If there was a Police Report made, they will likely file with CarFax even if you don't make an insurance claim.
Take photos of the minor damage, repair with insurance claim, and then make a diminished value claim.

autobonrun

From your photo your car appears immaculate. From what I can see, you have a very minor tear in the part of your car that was placed there for this very reason; to prevent any damage to the body. As others said, take photos, not just of the damage but the entire car so you can prove the entire condition.

I can only speak for myself, but as a buyer, this wouldn’t bother me in the least. And as a seller I would disclose the hit whether it shows on carfax or not. If someone tried to use this minor damage to reduce my sales price, my counter offer would be higher than my original price and I’d tell them to keep walking.

Don’t lose any sleep over whichever decision you make. IMO.