Is it worth claiming insurance for a car scratch?

Short answer: usually not. Most cosmetic damage — scratches, paint chips, bumper scuffs, kerbed alloys — costs less to repair than a typical comprehensive insurance excess, which means claiming would leave you out of pocket before the premium consequences even start.

The maths in 30 seconds

A typical comprehensive excess in Australia sits between $650 and $1,200. Compare that with what mobile cosmetic repair actually costs:

If the repair quote is lower than your excess — and for cosmetic damage it almost always is — a claim costs you more than paying for the repair outright. You hand over the excess AND take the premium consequences below.

What a claim really costs you later

1. Your premium rises at renewal. An at-fault or single-vehicle cosmetic claim typically pushes your premium up for several years.
2. Your no-claim bonus takes a hit. Depending on your insurer and NCB protection, one claim can cost you a discount tier you spent years earning.
3. The claim follows you. Insurers ask about claims history when you switch — a cosmetic claim can affect quotes elsewhere too.

When claiming DOES make sense

• The damage is major: structural damage, panels that need replacement, or damage across multiple large areas.
• Someone else was at fault and their details are captured — claim on their insurance (no excess for you, in most cases).
• The quote genuinely exceeds your excess plus the premium impact — get the repair quote first so you are comparing real numbers, not guesses.

Get the real number before you decide

You can't make this call without a repair quote — and ours are free. Send a couple of photos and your suburb through the online quote form and your local operator will come back with a firm price, usually within 24 hours. If it's under your excess (it usually is), you've just saved yourself the claim. If it's not, you've lost nothing — claim with confidence.

Common questions