Cosmetic car insurance

Cosmetic car insurance covers the cost of fixing scratches, dents and scuffs on your car.

Read on to find out what's covered and how it works.

What is cosmetic car insurance?

Cosmetic car insurance covers the costs to fix minor cosmetic damage to your car, without the need to claim on your car insurance policy. It's sometimes called scratch and dent insurance because it covers just that.

Without this cover in place, if you were to make a claim to fix these small issues, your no-claims bonus would be impacted.

It's also likely that your car insurance premiums would go up after claiming.

Can you claim for scratches and dents on a standard car insurance policy?

Yes, you can. Most policies will cover scratches and dents that result from vandalism to your car or certain other causes. But you'll have to weigh up if it's worth it.

If you do claim, you’ll have to pay your excess. In terms of voluntary excess, £250 is by far the most popular option among Confused.com customers*, but it could be higher, depending on what you choose. This could end up being more expensive than if you were to take out cosmetic insurance or pay to get it fixed yourself.

Your NCB could also take a hit, which could make next year’s insurance more expensive. Keeping your NCB intact is crucial in keeping car insurance costs down. In fact, our data shows that you could potentially see a price increase of 70%*, on average, if you drop from 1 year of NCB to none.

Not only that, but car insurers look at your claims history, which can push up future costs. For small cosmetic damage, it may make more sense to pay out of pocket, unless you have cosmetic car insurance.

_{^{*Confused.com data based on comprehensive car insurance policies, May - August 2026}}

What’s classed as cosmetic damage?

So, you know what the purpose of cosmetic car insurance is, but you might still be asking, 'Exactly, what is cosmetic damage?'.

It's usually classed as small exterior damage that doesn't impact the functionality of your car. What insurers define as cosmetic damage may vary, but it typically includes: 

• Scrapes and scratches
• Small dents
• Stone chips
• Minor bumper damage

Most repairs are done using small to medium area repair technology (SMART). This is usually inexpensive, and the technician can usually come to your home or workplace to do the repairs.

If your car has extensive damage or needs more costly repairs, such as having entire panels replaced, this may not be covered. Double check your policy documents to see exactly what you're covered for.

How can I get cosmetic car insurance?

There are 2 ways you can get cosmetic car insurance:

• As an add-on when taking out a policy: We don’t compare cosmetic car insurance, but some insurers we compare might offer it if you call them directly.
• As a standalone policy: Again, you won't be able to get this through us. You’d need to go direct to an insurer to buy it.

Will a dent cause my car to fail its MOT?

It depends. A small dent or scratch isn't likely to make you fail your MOT. But if the damage makes the car unsafe, then yes, your car would fail.

During the MOT, a mechanic inspects the body condition of your car. If the body condition of your car has any of the below, then you would need to get it fixed in order to pass the MOT:

• Body panels that are insecure, damaged or corroded and likely to cause injury
• A body pillar (this connects the roof to the lower part of the car) that is so insecure that stability or security is impacted
• It's not just damage that can cause the car to fail. Any unsafe modifications that negatively impact braking or steering will also cause your car to fail.

For full details on what would be classed as a major issue or dangerous, causing your car to fail, visit GOV.UK.

What if someone hits my car and drives off?

It's frustrating, but it happens. If you don’t have cosmetic car insurance, you have 2 options:

• Pay for repairs yourself (ouch!)
• Claim on your main insurance, which could increase your costs next year (double ouch!)

If you had cosmetic car insurance, you’d be covered for minor damage without impacting your no claims bonus.

Is cosmetic car insurance worth it?

If you want to keep your car looking brand new without paying a fortune, it could be a good option. It helps cover the cost of repairs without impacting your main policy.

So, while we don’t compare it directly, it might be worth checking with your insurer to see if you can add it on.

But if you can accept that the odd scratch or scuff here and there is part of wear and tear, then there's no need to pay out this extra expense.