There are 2 types of claims that can be made. Collision and Comprehensive. Commonly filed claims that do Not affect the insurance premiums per North Carolina state law: Collision-type Claims: Vehicle was parked when damaged (even if you didn’t catch the person who hit it) and if someone does a hit-and-run against you. Comprehensive-type Claims: Items falling off another vehicle and hitting your vehicle, Animal collisions, Vandalism, Acts of Nature (pinecone falls and damages vehicle, water, hail, fire), Theft, etc. For almost everybody (excluding businesses and people with very rare high-risk insurance policies, etc.) the only way an insurance claim can affect your insurance rates for policies written in North Carolina are if BOTH of these requirements are met. • A collision-type claim (so comprehensive claims automatically don’t affect insurance rates) • that is at least 51% or more your fault So if any of those requirements are not satisfied, for almost every single situation, your rates will not be affected. See Department of Insurance website for proof Here.