📈 ZERO POINTS? Why Your NC Auto Insurance Still Jumps After a Comprehensive Claim

The Myth of the "Free" Claim: Why Rates Jump Without Points in NC

AI OVERVIEW: In North Carolina, Comprehensive claims (hail, deer, glass) do not add SDIP "insurance points." However, your rate can still increase because carriers can remove your "Claim-Free Discount" or move you to a higher-risk "Tier." Carriers look at loss frequency; multiple non-point claims signal higher risk, leading to base rate adjustments.

Points vs. Tiers The Discount Trap Loss Frequency When to Claim

The Mystery Solved

• Why "Zero Points" doesn't mean "Zero Cost."
• The secret life of the Claim-Free Discount.
• How 3 tiny glass claims can cost more than one fender bender.

1. Insurance Points vs. Risk Tiers

In North Carolina, we have the **Safe Driver Incentive Plan (SDIP)**. This is a law that says if you speed or cause a wreck, the state allows the carrier to charge you points. Comprehensive claims (hitting a deer, hail damage, or a cracked windshield) are **not** part of this point system. But here is the 2026 reality: Your policy has two layers—the *Points layer* and the *Tier layer*.

"Points are public law; Tiering is private math. One you can see, the other you feel in your wallet."

2. The "Claim-Free Discount" Trap

When you signed up with Bill Layne Insurance, you likely received a significant discount for having a clean record for 3 to 5 years. That discount can be as high as **15% to 25%**.

The Point System

Zero Points added.

You stay at "0" on your official NC record.

The Rating Factor

Discount REMOVED.

You are no longer "Claim-Free." Your base rate returns to standard.

3. Loss Frequency: The Silent Trigger

Carriers in 2026 use AI to predict risk. If you file one hail claim, you're unlucky. If you file three windshield claims and a theft claim in two years, the AI flags you for **"Loss Frequency."** Even though you have zero points, the company may "re-tier" you into a higher-priced bracket because you are statistically more likely to file another claim.

Tap to reveal the threshold carriers watch...

3 IN 36

Filing 3 comprehensive claims in any 36-month period is the "Red Zone" for most NC carriers. It triggers a risk-tier audit.

Claim Type	Adds Points?	Impact on Rate
Deer Hit	NO	Possible loss of "Claim-Free" status.
Hail Damage	NO	Usually low impact unless frequent.
Glass Chip	NO	Small impact, but adds to "Frequency."
At-Fault Wreck	YES	Points + Tier Hike + Surcharge.

4. The Pro Plan: When to File?

• The $1,000 Rule

  If your comprehensive damage is under $1,000, consider paying out of pocket. Preserving your "Claim-Free" discount is often worth more over 3 years.

• Audit Your History

  Ask us for your CLUE report. If you already have 2 claims on record, that 3rd glass claim could be the one that triples your premium.

• Call Before You Click

  Never file a claim through a mobile app without calling your agent first. Once you click "Submit," that claim is on your record forever—even if you cancel it.

Was this insight helpful?

NC Claim FAQs

Is it legal for them to raise my rate for a deer hit?

In NC, they cannot charge SDIP points for a comprehensive claim. However, they can change your "Rating Tier" or remove local discounts, which achieves the same result: a higher bill.

How long does a claim stay on my record?

Most carriers in North Carolina look back 3 to 5 years. A claim filed in 2023 will typically stop impacting your tier rating by late 2028.

Protect Your Discount

Don't let a small claim ruin your clean-record status. Call us for a strategy session before you file.

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Bill Layne Insurance

1283 N Bridge St, Elkin NC 28621

336-835-1993

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