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Can I change my deductible or coverage levels before filing a claim with my insurance company?
I was driving on the freeway and an object from the road ended up damaging my car. I have a high deductible of $1,500 and to fix the damages, it'll cost $2,000 to $2,200. Before submitting my claim, can I call my insurance company to lower my deductible? Or can I switch to a new policy with a different carrier?
Emily Maracle · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Doing either of those things prior to submitting a claim would be illegal. Changing your
comprehensive coverage
and collision coverage
deductible, or changing insurance policies to get better coverage prior to submitting a claim, is considered insurance fraud.By committing insurance fraud, you can lose your coverage and face large fines and jail time, depending on the insurance regulations in your state.
While it is upsetting to pay a large amount of money for damage to your vehicle, the best thing you can do is pay your deductible and repair the damage. Once your claim is submitted and closed, you can change your deductible or
shop around for a better policy
to ensure this doesn’t happen in the future.View full answer
- Gregory R.
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