Do Car Insurance Rates Go Up if You Hit a Deer
A deer strike is almost always filed as a comprehensive claim, but whether your rate rises depends on your insurer and your claims history.
Usually a smaller increase than an at-fault accident, but not always none
Hitting a deer is treated as a comprehensive claim by nearly every insurer, since you didn't cause the collision and couldn't avoid it. That matters because comprehensive claims are rated differently than at-fault accidents, and most insurers treat them as less predictive of future claims.
That doesn't mean your rate is guaranteed to stay flat. Some insurers raise rates after any claim, regardless of fault, especially if you've filed other claims recently. Whether yours does, and by how much, depends on your insurer's rules and your own claims record over the past several years.
Your insurer's own rules for comprehensive claims
Insurers differ in how they treat comprehensive claims. Some hold the rate steady after one such claim, reasoning that a deer strike says nothing about how you drive. Others apply a smaller surcharge than they would for an at-fault accident, but a surcharge all the same.
This is set by each company, not by state law, so there's no single answer that applies to everyone. If you want to know how your policy will be treated, ask your agent or insurer directly what happens to your rate after a comprehensive claim, before you file one if you have the choice.
It also matters how many comprehensive claims you've filed recently. One deer strike after years with no claims is viewed differently than a second or third claim in a short span, even if none of them were your fault.
What people get wrong about filing the claim
Many drivers assume that because the accident wasn't their fault, filing a claim carries no risk to their rate at all. That's often close to true, but it isn't a guarantee, and assuming it can lead to a surprise at renewal.
The size of the damage matters too. If the repair cost is small, it may be worth paying out of pocket and skipping the claim altogether, since even a modest surcharge could cost more over time than the repair itself. Compare the repair estimate against your deductible before deciding.
It also helps to know that filing a comprehensive claim for a deer strike doesn't affect your fault record the way an at-fault accident would. Insurers and DMVs generally don't treat it as a sign of poor driving, so it shouldn't follow you the way an at-fault claim can.
Questions people ask about this
Does hitting a deer count as an at-fault accident?
No, it's typically classified as a comprehensive claim rather than an at-fault accident, since you didn't cause the collision. Comprehensive claims cover damage from events outside your control, like animals, weather, or falling objects. This classification is why the impact on your rate is usually smaller than after an at-fault crash.
What kind of insurance covers hitting a deer?
Comprehensive coverage is what pays for damage from hitting an animal, not collision coverage. If you only carry liability insurance, there's no coverage for this kind of damage to your own car. Check your policy declarations page to see whether you have comprehensive coverage and what your deductible is.
Should I file a claim after hitting a deer with minor damage?
That depends on how the repair cost compares to your deductible and how your insurer treats comprehensive claims. If the damage is close to or less than your deductible, filing may not be worth it. Ask your insurer how a claim like this would affect your rate before you decide.
Will my rate go up if I don't file a police report after hitting a deer?
Whether a police report is required depends on your state and sometimes on the amount of damage. Filing an insurance claim and filing a police report are separate steps, and skipping the report doesn't by itself change how your insurer rates the claim. Check your state's rules on reporting accidents involving animals, since some require a report above a certain damage threshold.
Does swerving to avoid a deer and crashing count the same as hitting it?
No, this is usually treated differently. If you swerve and hit another car, a tree, or a guardrail, that's typically classified as a collision claim, not comprehensive, and collision claims are more often treated like at-fault accidents. Ask your insurer how they'd classify this scenario, since it can change both your deductible and your rate impact.
See how insurers in your area handle claims like this before you decide whether to file.
Pull up your policy's declarations page and check whether you have comprehensive coverage and what your deductible is. Get a repair estimate before deciding whether filing a claim makes financial sense. Call your insurer or agent and ask directly how a comprehensive claim for an animal collision would affect your rate at renewal, since this varies by company. If you're shopping around anyway, compare quotes from a few insurers to see how their comprehensive coverage and claims handling differ before your current policy renews.
