Handyman Insurance, Auto and Home, Avoid Small Claims
For you Auto Insurance: If you get a small dent or other minor damage on an older car, you may want to think twice about filing a claim and getting it fixed. To avoid rate hikes, it might be worth your while to just live with it if there are no safety issues.
If you have towing coverage on your auto policy and use it to get your jalopy towed every six months, be ready for a possible ten percent rate increase on your next renewal. Buy a roadside assistance plan (available from AAA, AARP and other vendors) instead. It is cheaper.
This rule can also applies to homeowner’s insurance: A good rule of thumb is do not file a claim if it is worth less than $1,000 over your deductible. Statistically, if you file two claims in a three year period, or make claims related to maintenance issues such as a chronic leak or some missing shingles, you risk triggering a rate hike or worse. Your insurance company may even drop you completely. Just inquiring about a claim (without even filing it!) could raise your rates.