Will Hitting a Deer in New York Raise Car Insurance?

My husband was on a windy back road driving home from work late one-night last week when a deer ran out in front of his car, clipped the front bumper, and then ran smack into the back bumper as it was making its escape back into the woods.

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My husband considered trying to re-attach the broken parts of the bumper himself over fear that calling our insurance company to report the hit would cause our insurance rates to go up. With how things are priced these days, nobody wants to incur any additional costs.

I understood where he was coming from but thought I remembered hearing that if a vehicle sustains damage from something like hitting a deer, the driver won’t see their insurance rate increase. To be safe, I decided to check around.

What Type Of Insurance Covers Hitting a Deer?

If you have comprehensive insurance on your vehicle, it covers hitting a deer, and your auto insurance rates shouldn’t increase. More than likely, if you have comprehensive insurance, you probably won’t have to pay anything extra by way of insurance rates, but you will need to pay your deductible if you have one.

SEE ALSO: If You Crash Into a Deer Can You Legally Keep the Antlers?

Will I Get in Trouble if I Hit a Deer?

Hitting a deer doesn’t come with the same insurance rate hike as hitting another vehicle because hitting a deer isn’t categorized as the same as hitting another vehicle. Deer move around unexpectedly and most of the time, the driver can’t help the impact which is why your insurance should not increase and you should not see any negative consequences to your driving record.

Do I Have To File a Police Report if I Hit a Deer?

When you hit a deer, you’re not required to file a police report unless your vehicle sustains $1,000 or more in damage, and/or someone has suffered an injury. However, keep in mind that if you report multiple deer-hitting instances to your insurance company, they might begin to question the validity.

SEE ALSO: Rare White Deer Spotted in New York

If you file a report with the police at the time of the accident, it will show that there's truth to your claim with your insurance company.

Does Hitting a Deer Raise Insurance Rates?

Not generally. However, keep in mind that your insurance company may not agree to pay for the damages – that all depends on the type of insurance coverage you have. If you’re not sure what kind of insurance you have, you should reach out to your insurance agent.

What Do I Do if I Hit a Deer and It's Injured or Killed?

Any time you hit an animal in New York, the law requires you to stop and either contact the owner or file a police report.