Cosmetic Touch-Ups: How Scratch and Dent Insurance Saves You Money

Tired of seeing unsightly dents and scratches on your vehicle? Budget Insurance has the perfect solution: Scratch and Dent Insurance. Picture this: you’ve parked at the supermarket and returned from shopping to find a fellow driver has clipped your vehicle and left an ugly mark. Relax! Scratch and Dent Cover is here to save the day. Discover how this insurance will provide peace of mind and substantial savings in the long run.

Touch-ups for cars: what’s covered by insurance?

Maintaining the condition of your vehicle is more than a regular trip to the carwash – it requires attention to detail and fixing any minor imperfections as soon as possible. According to findings from Auto Trader[1], a car's resale value may drop dramatically if it has scratches, chips or dents.

The vehicle's value can also decline further due to rust and corrosion, which are frequently the result of scratches. With Scratch and Dent from Budget Insurance, you can rest assured that your vehicle is protected against common cosmetic issues. 

Here is what’s covered by our insurance to help your vehicle look its best:

1. Scratch Repair: Included in our Scratch and Dent Cover are methods to repair scratches on your vehicle's paintwork, including surface level or deeper indentations. Your car is covered from buffing and polishing for light scratches to wet sanding and paint touch-ups for more severe marks.

2. Dent Removal: This cover includes techniques such as paintless dent repair (PDR) for minor dents. The process involves using specialist tools to massage the dent from the inside without repainting. More traditional repair methods may be used for severe dents to ensure your vehicle looks as good as new.

3. Paint Touch-Ups: Chip marks or areas on a car where the paint has started to peel away can be unattractive. With Scratch and Dent Insurance, you are covered for paint touch-ups. An expert will carefully match the paint colour and apply it to any affected areas, preventing further damage like rusting, which will help maintain your vehicle’s resale value.

While our Scratch and Dent Insurance is extensive, it’s crucial to be aware of what’s not included:

• Trim and plastic restoration: The restoration of exterior trims and plastic components is excluded from our cover.

• Wheel refinishing: Wheel refinishing falls outside the scope of our cover but is included in our Tyre & Rim Insurance.

• Headlight restoration: fixing oxidised or cloudy headlights is not covered.

• Interior detailing: Minor interior detailing is not covered.

Can I claim on my Car Insurance for scratches and dents?

Yes, you can claim on your Car Insurance for scratches and dents, but it’s not recommended. Filing small claims for minor cosmetic damages can have its drawbacks. It may lead to increased premiums over time as frequent claims can flag higher risk potential to insurance companies. As a result, you could end up with higher premiums or lose any no-claims cashback bonuses.

In addition, the cost of repairing minor scratches and dents may often be lower than your insurance policy’s deductible. In these instances, you would pay for the repairs directly, making the claim unnecessary and potentially more expensive due to the increased premiums.

It’s also important to note that making frequent claims for minor damages risks forfeiting any claims-free discount, further raising insurance costs in the long term. It’s, therefore, financially savvy to reserve insurance claims for significant accidents or damages where repair costs exceed your deductible and where the claim is essential to cover substantial liabilities or expenses. Independently paying for repairs for minor damages can be more cost-effective and will help avoid potential long-term financial consequences.

The 4 ways Scratch and Dent saves you money

1. Covers small repair costs: With Scratch and Dent Cover, you can deal with minor damages pre-emptively. If left, minor scratches and dents can deteriorate and become more of an issue. With this coverage, you can mitigate the risk of small repairs in the long run. This will ultimately result in savings because you won’t have to pay for repairs that would have been paid out-of-pocket. 

2. Maintain your vehicle’s resale value: With Scratch and Dent Insurance, your car will maintain its visual appeal, which is crucial if you plan on reselling it. This could assist in getting you a higher resale price. Therefore, the cost of the cover is outweighed by the potential increase in resale value that comes from keeping the vehicle in good condition.

3. Avoid insurance premium increases: Making claims for minor cosmetic damages can result in increased premiums over time or the loss of no-claims bonuses, as insurance companies may view these as indicators of higher risk. By having Scratch and Dent cover in place, you can avoid the risk of increased premiums associated with making small claims. It will also help you maintain more consistent insurance costs over time, saving you money on premiums in the long run.

4. Earn your Cashback Bonus: Did you know that Budget Insurance offers a cashback bonus if you remain claim-free for a certain number of years? By keeping your car in good condition and avoiding the need for claims, you will become eligible for these bonuses, effectively earning back a portion of the premium paid for the cover. This promotes proactive maintenance and care of your car and rewards you for keeping it in good condition and avoiding damages that would result in claims. These cashback bonuses represent further savings and financial benefits for car owners.

Get Scratch and Dent Insurance from Budget Insurance

Don’t wait until scratches and dents have already happened – get a Scratch and Dent Insurance quote from Budget Insurance and protect your vehicle. With our cover, you’ll maintain your vehicle’s resale value and avoid unnecessary stress and potential insurance premium increases while saving you money!

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Sources:

[1] Auto Trader: How do scratches affect how much my car is worth? - Car Ownership - AutoTrader

Disclaimer: The information in this article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal, or medical advice.