It’s no secret that good drivers receive the lowest auto insurance rates, but the type and frequency of claims also play important roles in determining premiums.

“At-fault claims definitely will increase rates, but so will speeding tickets and talking on the phone and crashing into a tree,” says Marjorie Young, senior vice president at E.G. Bowman Co. Inc., a New York-based full-service independent insurance provider. “No-fault accidents won’t increase your rates, unless you have a frequency of that type of claim. Some companies won’t want to renew you or will raise your rates for excessive claims of any sort.”

Young relates her own experience of living in Brooklyn and having her new car broken into frequently. She didn’t file claims for the broken glass because she was worried about being dropped by her insurer. In frustration from the repeated vandalism, she moved to another area and hasn’t had that problem since.

“Insurance companies will tell you to report all claims, but if you have a frequency of reports or claims during a period, you could be at risk of higher deductibles or being dropped.”

The key here is to determine whether a particular incident requires the services of your insurance company. First off, what’s your deductible? Repairs from a minor fender-bender where no one was at fault may be under the deductible amount anyway. Glass repair from a simple break-in probably will be under the deductible, too, unless the front windshield is involved.

Your first call could be to a body shop or auto glass repair business to get an estimate to fix the damage. If the estimate is below or just over the deductible, it may be advisable to pay for the repair out of pocket rather than file a claim. And if you do decide to file a claim, you can use the independent estimate to make sure the insurance company has estimated the amount of damage correctly.

Higher deductibles will result in lower premiums, but you will be liable for more out-of-pocket expenses should a loss occur—regardless of whether the damage or claim exceeds your deductible. People in a better overall financial situation likely fare better with a high-deductible policy than those living paycheck to paycheck. The key is find a balance between the premium and the amount of money you will be comfortable paying yourself should a loss or accident occur.

“If you get a ding, don’t report it,” Young advises. “If a bicyclist runs into your car and wrecks the door, report that. And, of course, if you’re in a major accident, definitely call your insurance company.”

The best advice often goes unheeded, however, Young says. “If you want your rates to stay low, drive defensively, don’t do anything stupid behind the wheel and make sure you have enough insurance should anything happen,” she says.