Would comprehensive claim affect premium

I recently had some nature damage to the bottom harness of my BMW and it's not an external car collision and am wondering if I should go through the insurance comprehensive claim to get it repaired or shell out my own money.

For a California driver (specifically), the short answer for whether the claim would affect my premium is: No, it typically will not.

Because you are in California, you have stronger consumer protections than almost anywhere else in the US regarding this.

Here is the detailed breakdown of why, and the one small risk you should know about.

1. The "Prop 103" Protection

In California, insurance companies are generally legally prohibited from raising your rates (applying a "surcharge") for accidents where you were not at fault.

• Comprehensive claims (rodent damage, theft, vandalism, falling trees) are by definition "not-at-fault" incidents.

• The Result: Unlike in other states where a claim might raise your rate by 3-5%, filing a comprehensive claim for a chewed wiring harness or water-damaged BDC should not trigger a surcharge on your next Allstate renewal.

2. The "Frequency" Risk (The Only Real Catch)

While they cannot raise your rate for one claim, they are allowed to look at your "claims frequency" when deciding whether to renew your policy at all.

• Scenario: If you file 3 comprehensive claims in 3 years (e.g., a windshield this year, rodent damage next year, and vandalism the year after), Allstate’s algorithm may flag you as "high risk."

• Outcome: They likely still won't raise the rate, but they might send you a Non-Renewal Notice, effectively dropping you as a customer.

• Advice: If this is your first claim in 3+ years, you are generally very safe.

3. The "Hidden" Cost

Even if your premium doesn't go up, you still "pay" for the claim in two ways:

• Deductible: You must pay your deductible (e.g., $500 or $1,000) immediately.

• Claims History (CLUE Report): The claim goes on your permanent record (CLUE report) for 5-7 years. If you decide to switch insurance companies next year, the new company (e.g., GEICO or State Farm) will see the claim. While they also shouldn't surcharge for it in CA, it can sometimes affect your eligibility for their "new customer" discounts.

Summary Recommendation

If the repair cost is close to your deductible (e.g., Repair is $1,200 and Deductible is $1,000), do not file the claim. It is not worth putting a mark on your record for $200.

However, if you have a major BMW repair (like a $4,000 wiring harness replacement due to rats), you should absolutely file the claim. California law protects you from a rate hike, and that is exactly what you pay insurance for