Are dents and scratches covered by car insurance?
Yes — but only under comprehensive cover, and only in certain circumstances. Whether dents and scratches are covered by car insurance depends on how the damage happened, your policy type, and your excess. For many minor scrapes, the financially sensible answer is to pay out of pocket rather than claim.
What level of cover do you need?
Third-party only (TPO) and third-party, fire and theft (TPFT) policies do not cover damage to your own vehicle from most causes. A scratch in a car park, a dent from a runaway trolley, or a scrape against a gatepost — none of these fall within TPO or TPFT cover.
Comprehensive cover includes accidental damage to your own vehicle. So most scenarios where dents and scratches occur do qualify — provided the damage was accidental rather than the result of wear and tear or deliberate self-damage.
Scenarios and whether you’re covered
| Scenario | Covered? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| You scraped a wall pulling out of your drive | Yes (comprehensive) | At-fault claim — excess applies, NCD affected |
| Someone hit your parked car and drove off | Yes (comprehensive) | Untraced third party — excess applies |
| Someone hit your parked car and left details | Yes | Non-fault claim through their insurer — no excess if they accept liability |
| A shopping trolley blew into your car | Yes (comprehensive) | Accidental damage — excess applies |
| A stone chip from the road cracked your paint | Usually yes (comprehensive) | Minor paint damage typically qualifies |
| A hailstorm dented the bonnet | Yes (comprehensive) | Weather damage counts as accidental damage |
| You scratched the car yourself while cleaning it | Generally no | Not a sudden accident — likely excluded as misuse |
| Gradual wear and tear over time | No | Gradual deterioration is not an insured event |
The excess calculation — when claiming makes no sense
This matters more than most people realise. Claiming for minor dents and scratches often costs you more than self-paying, for three reasons:
- You pay your excess — typically £300–£600 on most policies.
- Your no-claims discount steps back, adding to your renewal premium for two to three years.
- Cosmetic repair costs often run between £100 and £300 — less than the excess alone.
Even when the repair cost exceeds your excess, the NCD impact across renewals can push the total cost of claiming above the cost of self-paying. Our guide to whether car insurance goes up after a claim breaks this down in full.
As a rule of thumb: if the repair costs less than £400–£500 and the damage is cosmetic only, get a paintless dent repair (PDR) or touch-up quote first. PDR for a small dent typically costs £50–£150. A scratch repair at a specialist usually runs £80–£200. These figures often sit well below the break-even point for making a claim.
Paintless dent repair — the alternative worth knowing about
Paintless dent repair (PDR) removes minor dents without repainting. It works on metal panels where the paint has not cracked or chipped. A mobile PDR technician can often fix a supermarket car park dent at your home or workplace for £60–£150. No claim, no excess, no NCD impact.
PDR does not work for deep creases, damage where the paint has broken, or very large dents. For those, get a bodyshop quote. If the cost is significant relative to your excess, a claim may then make financial sense.
When is it worth making a claim?
A claim makes financial sense in three situations. First, when the repair cost substantially exceeds your total excess. Second, when a clearly identified third party caused the damage and you can pursue a non-fault claim through their insurer — preserving your NCD and recovering your excess. Third, when the damage forms part of a larger incident that also caused mechanical or structural harm.
If the incident involved vandalism rather than an accident, our guide on whether vandalism is covered by car insurance covers the specific rules that apply.
FAQ
Does comprehensive insurance cover scratches?
Yes — a comprehensive policy covers scratches that a sudden accidental event caused. However, claiming for minor scratches is often not cost-effective once you factor in the excess and NCD impact.
Is a car park dent covered by insurance?
Yes, under comprehensive cover. If the other driver left their details, a non-fault claim through their insurer is usually the better route. If they drove off, you would claim on your own policy and pay your excess.
Will claiming for a scratch affect my no-claims discount?
Yes — any claim against your own policy typically steps back your NCD. Protected NCD cover prevents this for up to two claims per policy period.
What is paintless dent repair and does insurance cover it?
PDR removes minor dents without repainting. Insurers will usually authorise PDR where appropriate, as it often costs less than a bodyshop repair. You can also use a PDR specialist privately to avoid making a claim altogether.
Does insurance cover stone chip damage?
Usually yes — stone chips and minor paint damage from road debris fall under accidental damage on a comprehensive policy. Whether claiming is worth the excess depends on the repair cost.
How Rooster can help
If another driver caused the damage and you need help navigating a claim, Rooster’s free Accident Assist service provides independent support to help you get the best outcome — including recovering your excess on a non-fault claim.
And if you’re looking for a policy that rewards safe driving rather than penalising you for your postcode, take a free test drive with Rooster. Drive normally for around three weeks and let your actual driving record determine your quote.
Are dents and scratches covered by car insurance?