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Small scratches after the mudik trip often occur due to heavy traffic and parking in tight spaces. However, not all damage needs to be submitted as an insurance claim. Vehicle owners need to understand how Own Risk (deductible) costs, the possibility of separate claims, and the impact on policy discounts work. By considering a few simple factors, you can determine when filing a claim is truly beneficial and when it is more economical to repair the damage yourself.
The Mudik journey often becomes a real test of your car’s durability. Crowded roads, packed rest areas, and parking in narrow spaces make small scratches or minor dents difficult to avoid.
Many car owners only notice these “travel marks” after arriving home. The next question is usually the same: should this damage be claimed through insurance?
In reality, not every minor scratch needs to be submitted as a claim. In many situations, a wiser decision is to compare the repair cost, the own risk (deductible) fee, and the potential impact on your insurance policy. To answer that question, it helps to understand how minor damage claims actually work in practice and what factors determine whether a claim is truly worth submitting.
This article explains how minor damage claims work in car insurance based on common practices in Indonesia’s vehicle insurance industry. The goal is to help vehicle owners understand when filing a claim becomes a financially reasonable decision and when repairing the damage independently may actually be more efficient. Before discussing how to evaluate a claim, it is useful to first understand why minor scratches and dents tend to appear more frequently after the mudik season.
The Eid homecoming season (Mudik Lebaran) represents one of the largest mobility periods in Indonesia. A survey by the Ministry of Transportation (2024) estimated that around 193.6 million people traveled during the mudik period, or about 71.7% of Indonesia’s population.
Of this number, approximately 35 million travelers used private cars, making them one of the main transportation modes for intercity travel.
This surge in mobility directly affects traffic congestion. Data from PT Jasa Marga shows that during the 2025 Eid mudik flow, about 2.17 million vehicles left the Greater Jakarta area through four main toll gates, an increase of 28.1 percent compared to normal traffic conditions. On routes toward the Trans-Java highway through Cikampek Utama Toll Gate, traffic volume even increased by more than 130 percent compared to regular days.
Under such dense traffic conditions, minor incidents become more likely. Light contact in congestion, scratches while parking at rest areas, or small dents in tight spaces are common examples of cosmetic damage that often occur after long-distance travel.
Because these minor incidents are relatively common during peak travel periods, many car owners quickly consider filing an insurance claim. However, the decision is not always as straightforward as it seems.
One important component in car insurance is the Own Risk cost (deductible). This is the amount you still need to pay each time you submit a claim.
In many car insurance policies in Indonesia, the Own Risk cost is typically around IDR 300,000 per incident, although the exact amount may vary depending on the insurer’s policy and the type of coverage you have.
This means that even when vehicle damage is covered by insurance, you are still responsible for paying part of the repair cost before the repair process begins. Because of this, it is important to consider whether the repair cost is higher or lower than the Own Risk cost.
As a simple illustration, consider the following comparison:
Type of Damage |
Estimated Repair Cost |
Own Risk Cost |
Consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
Light Scratch On The Bumper |
± IDR 150,000 |
± IDR 300,000 |
More economical to repair yourself |
Moderate Panel Scratch |
± IDR 500,000 |
± IDR 300,000 |
Claim may be considered |
Full Panel Repaint |
± IDR 1,000,000 |
± IDR 300,000 |
Claim is usually more reasonable |
Disclaimer: The information in this table is provided for general reference purposes only. Repair costs and Own Risk terms may vary depending on the workshop, vehicle type, and the policies of each insurance company.
In other words, car insurance is generally more effective for damage with significant repair costs, while minor cosmetic damage is often more practical to handle independently.
Beyond repair costs and deductible fees, another important detail in insurance claims often goes unnoticed by vehicle owners.
Another aspect that many car owners may not realize is how insurance companies calculate claims.
Damage that occurs from two different incidents is usually counted as two separate claims.
For example:
A scratch on the front bumper caused by a light collision at a rest area
A small dent on the rear door caused by parking at a relative’s house
If these damages come from different incidents, you will most likely need to pay the Own Risk cost twice.
For this reason, it is important to evaluate whether the damage truly needs to be submitted as a claim or whether it is more practical to repair it independently at a workshop. In addition to how claims are calculated, there is another factor that may influence your decision to submit a claim.
Some car insurance policies also offer a No Claim Bonus (NCB) or premium discount if the policyholder does not submit any claims during a certain period.
This means that small claims may sometimes affect your insurance cost in the following year.
For example, if the repair cost for a scratch is only around IDR 500,000, submitting a claim may seem beneficial in the short term. However, if that claim causes you to lose your premium discount when renewing the policy, the financial benefit could become smaller.
For this reason, it is important to consider the long-term impact before deciding to submit a claim.
Before deciding to submit a claim, you can consider three simple questions:
What is the actual repair cost?
Is the cost higher than the Own Risk fee?
Could the claim affect your policy discount?
If the repair cost is relatively small, paying for the repair yourself is often the more practical option. Even though not every scratch requires a claim, this does not mean insurance protection is less important.
Minor damage such as bumper scratches can happen during everyday travel. However, larger risks such as accidents, significant panel damage, or repairs to modern vehicles can cost millions of rupiah.
This is where car insurance becomes important. Insurance protection helps vehicle owners manage financial risk when more significant damage occurs. Choosing the right car insurance provider can make this protection easier to manage when unexpected damage occurs.
Car insurance from Oona is designed to provide practical and transparent vehicle protection for car owners in Indonesia.
Some benefits you may consider include:
A simple digital application process
Support from a network of partner workshops
Transparent policy and claim information
By understanding the benefits of vehicle protection early on, you can manage travel risks with greater peace of mind. Ultimately, the key is knowing how to use insurance coverage strategically rather than automatically relying on it for every minor issue.
Small scratches after a mudik trip are common, especially under heavy traffic conditions. However, not all damage needs to be immediately submitted as an insurance claim.
By understanding how Own Risk costs, separate claims, and policy discounts work, you can make more rational decisions.
In many situations, insurance claims are best used for truly significant damage, while minor repairs can be handled independently.
This approach helps you maintain the optimal benefits of your insurance while managing vehicle expenses more wisely.
