Before you call the carrier, see what you’re actually comparing

A plain-spoken, client-side estimator for repair cost, deductible, possible premium impact, and documented resale-equity assumptions. It gives you a comparison structure—not a verdict.

How to use it

Make the unknowns visible

Premium impact and resale equity begin at zero on purpose. If you have evidence or a conservative working assumption, enter it and watch the comparison move.

Should I call if the damage is drivable? Does an inquiry count as a claim?

Vehicle year

Make and model

Use the vehicle you are deciding about. This field is not sent or saved.

Current approximate mileage

An estimate is fine; it is a context input, not a valuation.

Estimated repair cost

Use an independent physical repair estimate, not a guess.

Insurance deductible

Enter the deductible that would apply to this loss.

State

State can affect notice, coverage, and legal context.

Claim path

Which insurer would receive the formal claim?

First-party claim with my insurer Third-party claim against the other driver’s insurer

Possible premium impact ASSUMPTIONEditable

Start at $0 because no premium change is assumed. Add your own documented or conservative estimate if you want to model one.

Potential lost resale equity ESTIMATEEditable

Tie this to documented damage and market evidence if available. This is not a fixed industry number.

Runs in this browser only. Nothing is stored or transmitted.

Your modeled result

Complete the fields to see the estimate

Waiting for inputs

Use your own facts and assumptions. The result will compare them transparently; it will not predict an insurer’s decision.

Out-of-pocket deductible

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Premium impact / assumption

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Resale equity / estimate

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Conclusion

Enter your facts to compare the modeled exposure.

Next three actions

1. Document current condition with a time/date-stamped report.
2. Get an independent physical repair estimate.
3. Compare that estimate against the deductible before deciding to file.

How this estimate works

The triage model compares your entered repair estimate with three entered or editable components: deductible, a possible premium-impact assumption, and a possible resale-equity estimate. It labels the result Low when modeled exposure is below half of the repair estimate, Moderate when it is at least half, and High when it reaches or exceeds the repair estimate. Those comparison thresholds are model assumptions, not actuarial findings.

The premium and resale fields start at $0 because ClaimStinger does not assume a carrier will change a premium or that a particular vehicle will lose a fixed amount of equity. Replace those starting values with your own documented estimate if you have one.

It does not account for policy notice requirements, coverage decisions, fault, claim-history reporting practices, repair quality, taxes, financing, or a professional appraisal.

Keep researching

After the repair: estimate diminished value →Read the four state guides →Meet the author →