Can a cop find out what you report to your insurance company?

[denys]

I got pulled over for a traffic violation. After giving me the ticket, the cop noticed the dents on the side of my car, which I got about 2 years ago from backing up and hitting a tree. I told him this, and he asked if I reported it to my insurance company. I said no, and he said that I need to do it right away and if he finds out that I haven't, then he will give me a ticket.

Thing is, I told my dad that some random people bashed my car around the time this happened. And he bought it. He doesn't know that I hit a tree. I don't want to tell him the truth now because then he will know that I lied to him before.

Question: Can the cop find out what exactly I report to my insurance company? For example, if I tell my insurance company that some random people on the streets hit my car, can the cops get this information from them?

All answers are appreciated.

[eddis]

DO NOT VOLENTEER INFORMATION TO NOSEY COPS what were you thinking ? say anything like I bought it like that are you nosey or what? thats the problem with some a hole cops write a letter to your insurance company and take it outside and burn it in the barbecue and if he ever asks that question again say yes I did writh my insurance co a letter and leave it at that you never heard back? or fix the damn things and say what dents. (which you should have done anyway the word is cheap

[burdett]

DO NOT VOLENTEER INFORMATION TO NOSEY COPS what were you thinking ? say anything like I bought it like that are you nosey or what? thats the problem with some a hole cops write a letter to your insurance company and take it outside and burn it in the barbecue and if he ever asks that question again say yes I did writh my insurance co a letter and leave it at that you never heard back? or fix the damn things and say what dents. (which you should have done anyway the word is cheap

Since you already made the mistake of volunteering information to police like that...i think he was just trying to scare you. He's not going to take it that far.

You dont need to report hitting a tree to your insurance company unless you caused major property damage.

[starling]

Since you already made the mistake of volunteering information to police like that...i think he was just trying to scare you. He's not going to take it that far.

You dont need to report hitting a tree to your insurance company unless you caused major property damage.

[benon]

Oh, but the tiny details of our lives that reveal what and how we think, or fail to think, how to handle the tiny details of our lives. You mention "my car" and you mention "my dad' in reference to a traffic violation that you received. You mention car damage that you caused by backing up into, and hitting, a tree that for some reason you felt the need to lie to our father and not report the damage to your insurance company. So two years past and now you are worried about this two year old damage to the car the never got repaired as this policeman notices the damage and makes a comment about it. So rather than do the correct and appropriate and legal and ethical step of reporting the backing up accident to your father and to the insurance company now you still wish to continue this lie and not do the correct and appropriate and legal and ethical step. Why did you not reveal the correct information to dad and the insurance company in the first place? If you told dad that the damage was done while you were parked why not report that to the insurance company? There is a huge difference between doing the right thing and doing the wrong thing and now this is coming back to haunt you. And you wish to continue? Really? Are you serious? Don't you see how this has not worked out for you? So you made a bo-bo and hit a tree? Happens by thousands of times each day in the USA. Backing up is difficult at best. About 210 children are killed each year in the USA by parents, relatives, friends backing up carelessly. Who knows how many are injured. So, I strongly recommend that either you pay for the repairs to this car right away as you should have done already two years ago, or you tell dad and let hims advise as to what to do in reference to the insurance company. I suspect that because you failed to report the damage at that time and that you dad failed to do so as well, that your policy may be canceled. So the best solution is for you to pay out of pocket. In many states and for many insurance companies all damages, self inflicted or not, are to be reported. Period. End of discussion.Case closed. The old adage says it best, "honesty is the best policy." Now, go and do the right thing. And the next time do the right thing. And stop committing traffic violations. If need be take adult driving courses to improve your driving skills. This time you got a citation. You could have ended up in a crash. Best wishes.

[jerrick]

The cop had no business telling you to report the dents to your insurance company. He cannot find out if you did report them or not.

But..........To his defense, he must have had some good reason for trying to scare you. ? What haven't you told us?