If a car wash refuses to pay, your own auto insurance may be another way to get the car fixed. Here's how it typically works.
Which coverage might apply
It depends on your policy and your insurer. Some treat car wash damage as collision; others may look at it under comprehensive. Many car wash claims are small and fall near or under typical deductibles. Call your agent and ask how they'd classify it before you assume anything.
The deductible question
| Repair cost | Deductible | You'd recover |
|---|---|---|
| $645 | $500 | $145 |
| $645 | $1,000 | $0 |
| $2,000 | $500 | $1,500 |
For small repairs, an insurance claim may not be worth it. Ask your agent whether a claim could affect your premium.
Subrogation: your insurer can pursue the wash
If your insurer pays, it may try to recover the money from the car wash, and sometimes your deductible too. This is called subrogation. When a car wash says it will only deal with "your insurance company," this is what it means.
What insurers will want
- Before and after photos
- The car wash incident report
- Repair estimates
- The car wash's written response
- The date, time and location
When to call insurance
- The repair is well above your deductible.
- The car wash denied your claim or stopped responding.
- The damage affects safety, such as glass or mirrors.
You can still go to small claims
Insurance and small claims aren't mutually exclusive, but you can't be paid twice for the same damage. See suing a car wash in Florida small claims court.
How to talk to your insurer
- Ask how they'd classify car wash damage under your policy.
- Ask whether a claim of this size would affect your premium.
- Ask whether they pursue subrogation and could recover your deductible.
- Ask what documents they need.
Write down the agent's name and the date of the call.
If the car wash says "we only deal with insurance"
That's sometimes said to customers to make claims go away. It doesn't stop you from pursuing the car wash yourself in small claims court. Your insurer is an option, not a requirement.
Keep the claims coordinated
If you file with insurance and also send a demand to the car wash, tell each one about the other. You can't be paid twice for the same damage, but you can pursue whichever route makes sense.