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"If you change car insurance companies, can you file a claim on an old accident with the new company?

This was an accident where I accidentally scraped a mailbox, putting an indention into the side of my car...it is about a $1,500 repair; my old insurance had a $500 deductible, but I never filed-and now I'm wanting to change companies. For lack of a better term, is this like having a pre-existing condition with medical insurance?

Public Comments

1. I'm pretty sure it'd be like a pre-existing condition.
2. Your new insurance company will only cover you for damage that occures after the date you take out the new policy. If this was not so, people would drive without insurance and only take out insurance after they had an accident.
3. no. If done properly, the new agent will inspect your car and note the scrape so they won't pay to have it fixed
4. If you are within your time to file a claim, you can go back on your old policy. Otherwise it is existing damage...
5. The appraiser will know that it is old damage. Your new policy would only cover you for losses that occur within your policy effective dates. Depending on your insurance company, you may have to have the vehicle pre-inspected before you add Comprehensive and Collision coverages anyway. The damage will be ID at that time. Why don't you just file with your current carrier. Let them know that you do not have the money for the deductible, you need to raise it first. They can still appraise the vehicle, and place it in your file. You can reopen your claim once you have the money.
6. No insurance pays for damage done previous to the effective date of the policy. I mean, can you imagine phoning to get home insurance, then asking how you put in the fire claim? If you are within the time constraints, you can file under your old policy, the one in effect the date of the accident. Be aware, it will be a single-vehicle at-fault accident, and when your new policy comes up for renewal, if they do a check, or give you a questionnaire, it can raise your rates. Now there are people who would put in a claim, saying it happened on a different date. But that would then be insurance fraud.
7. When you get a new company the agent should inspect and take pictures of your vehicle. Even if they don't, if you have an accident at the new company, the adjuster will be able to see "old" damage as opposed to "new" damage.
8. You cannot claim it as you were not covered with the new company at the time of the incident. Also, a good resource is... http://www.safelinked.info/go.php?link=insurance Best of luck to you.