Rex says
Money math without the spreadsheet headache. Plug in your numbers and I'll show you exactly where the dollars land.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Recommendation
File the claim
Net financial advantage of filing
$900
Repair cost where filing breaks even
$1,900
What insurance would actually pay you
$1,800
Total surcharge cost over the years it applies
$900
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How to use this
- 1Enter estimated repair cost ($).
- 2Enter your deductible ($).
- 3Enter estimated annual premium surcharge if you file ($).
- 4Enter years the surcharge typically applies.
- 5Read your recommendation on the right — it updates as you type.
- 6Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
Filing a small claim can end up costing more than paying the repair out of pocket once you account for the deductible you still owe and the premium surcharge many insurers apply after a claim, which frequently persists for three to five years before rolling off your record. This calculator compares the net claim benefit — repair cost minus your deductible — against the total surcharge you'd pay across the years it stays on your record, so you can see the real breakeven repair cost above which filing actually makes financial sense.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Estimated repair cost: 2800 $
- Your deductible: 1000 $
- Estimated annual premium surcharge if you file: 300 $
- Years the surcharge typically applies: 3
Results
- Recommendation: File the claim
- Net financial advantage of filing: $900
- Repair cost where filing breaks even: $1,900
- What insurance would actually pay you: $1,800
- Total surcharge cost over the years it applies: $900
What each field means
Inputs
- Estimated repair cost ($)
- The estimated repair cost used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 2800 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Your deductible ($)
- The your deductible used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 1000 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Estimated annual premium surcharge if you file ($)
- The estimated annual premium surcharge if you file used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 300 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Years the surcharge typically applies
- The years the surcharge typically applies used in the calculation. Starts at 3 so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–10.
Results
- Recommendation
- Returned as a plain value and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Net financial advantage of filing
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Repair cost where filing breaks even
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- What insurance would actually pay you
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Total surcharge cost over the years it applies
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
How do I find out how much a claim will raise my premium?
Call your agent or insurer and ask directly for a 'claim surcharge' or 'loss history impact' estimate before filing — many will give you a real number since it's based on your state's approved rating rules. If they won't estimate it, use a conservative benchmark of 10-40% premium increase for an at-fault claim, applied for 3-5 years depending on your insurer and state.
Does this math change for a not-at-fault claim?
Yes — most states and insurers don't surcharge for claims where you're not at fault, like a parked-car hit-and-run or comprehensive claims (glass, weather, theft). If your claim is clearly not-at-fault, the surcharge input here should likely be zero or much smaller, making filing the claim almost always the right call above your deductible.
What about a CLUE report affecting future insurability?
Beyond your current insurer's surcharge, claims get reported to a shared industry database (CLUE for home/auto), which future insurers can see for 5-7 years when you shop for a new policy. Multiple claims, even small ones, can make it harder to get competitive quotes elsewhere, which this calculator doesn't fully capture but is worth weighing for borderline decisions.
Is there a minimum claim amount below which I should basically never file?
As a rule of thumb, if the repair cost is close to or below your deductible, there's nothing to gain by filing — you'd pay the full cost yourself either way plus risk a surcharge. Even moderately above the deductible, run the numbers here first since surcharges often erase most or all of the apparent benefit for smaller claims.
Accuracy and limitations
- Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.
- Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.
- This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant.
Related tools
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). File a Claim vs. Pay Out of Pocket Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/claim-vs-pay-out-of-pocket
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/claim-vs-pay-out-of-pocket" target="_blank" rel="noopener">File a Claim vs. Pay Out of Pocket Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [File a Claim vs. Pay Out of Pocket Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/claim-vs-pay-out-of-pocket) (2026).