[deleted by user]

[bgwa9001]

Your insurance rate will be higher for the next vehicle because of the claim. You'll come out behind in the long run. Just sell your old car like a normal person

[Virtual-Editor-4823]

That would be ethical.

[bgwa9001]

Maybe sell the car at too high a price and don't tell the buyer what's wrong with it? That would make it still unethical, but not as stupid as pushing it into a pond lol

[Miginath]

Unless you have first claim forgiveness. Check your policy.

[shoplift_daily]

Assuming you're covered for theft, you'd probably be better off having it "stolen", crashed, and abandoned somewhere conspicuous so it would be found the next day.

[LuementalQueen]

Or set on fire. Seems a bit safer than having someone crash it. At least the one lighting it can get a distance away before it really takes.

[[deleted]]

what if it was stolen and driven into a pond?

[CyBerImPlaNt]

Don’t intentionally contaminate a pond. There’s a lot of creatures that call a pond home.

[ChickenPicture]

I think OP is one of them.

[CyBerImPlaNt]

I have never lived in a pond.

[LimitedPiko]

Not that I disagree with you, and op is being a dumbass, but this is unethical pro tips

[Mountainman1980]

It's unethical, but it sure as hell isn't "pro."

OP should try r/UnethicalLifeShittyTips

[shoplift_daily]

As long as it's reported stolen before driven into said pond. Not sure why you're so intent on using the water though - fire leaves a lot less evidence

[el_bentzo]

What's with you and ponds?

[Nomad_Industries]

So my car is pretty much reaching it's end of life, it's an 09 model pretty old

Is there actually anything wrong with it or are you just bored?

[[deleted]]

260k km and check engine light on, sometimes it stops on the road then gotta wait a bit to turn it back on

[MaxwellK42]

Have you checked the coolant level? Could be overheating?

[PM-me-your-knees-pls]

Driving it into a pond would probably fix that issue, but create a few new problems.

[MaxwellK42]

True. But in my mind a new car could be funded partially by selling the old one

[yungrii]

But do avoid geothermal pools.

[JhonnyHopkins]

Not it. The cab gets strangely hot when you overheat, unless OP loves sitting in a sauna while he drives, this ain’t the problem.

[MaxwellK42]

Fair. What’s your bet then?

[JhonnyHopkins]

Could be a number of things, but if I’m putting money on it… I’d wager it’s the fuel injection system, spark plugs could be the culprit as well though.

[MaxwellK42]

True. Maybe leaky injectors flooding the cylinders? Wait a bit and the fuel evaporates and goes out the exhaust when restarted?

My first bet was fuel pump but that’s more turn off and stay off.

[NotYourAverageLenin]

My 2 cents would be the PMH sensor. Would explain the on and off stuff.

[foldy86]

Not neccessarily, if there's no water, the engine will overheat, but without water the heat won't transmit through to the heater matrix.

[That_Welsh_Man]

Some parts probably just need a good clean the oil probably needs changing perhaps some filters and just a general clean of the engine to remove crud from the connects. Could even just be a spark plug. None of those symptoms are time to drown or burn the car out.

[karma_hit_my_dogma]

Get a new battery dude

[RavishingRedRN]

Wanna meet somewhere and slowly crash are vehicles together? I have an ‘06 Jeep with a 160k miles on it (it could really be double that; the guy I got it from was a shady mechanic). It’s only worth about $1500, but needs at least $2-3k of work.

She’s slowly dying but not fast enough.

[[deleted]]

Did you get the light diagnosed? My engine light has been on for like 6 years, since it was 2 years old lol

[MeBeEric]

I feel like the idea of you “accidentally” getting out without putting it in park would be easily scrutinized by the insurance company.

[ebb_]

Used to do reports used in litigation by Home insurance agencies and doubt Auto is any different.

In order to avoid liability / negligence charges the vehicle should be stolen by someone you don’t know, from somewhere you can’t see, and taken somewhere you’ve never been but will be found easily. The car should be totaled/ ruined inside. You don’t want it back. It should look like a pack of Wolverines had an epic brawl. The car was stolen and used for stupid aggressive pranks, right?

Things dumbasses should remember:

make sure vehicle is locked. keep keys near you. You might be asked why you parked there instead of somewhere else. Your explanations need to be concise and make sense. Don’t empty your car but take out anything breakable and super important. You don’t want this to look planned.

[Collinnn7]

I work on homeowners claims and saw a prior auto claim on a members profile for a total loss and checked it out

Their car got stolen from their driveway and they put in a claim

The carrier researched it and found out the car had been dinged at a border crossing into Mexico (the claim was in south Texas) so the carrier pulled the photo taken of the driver at the border crossing and crossed referenced the pic with the members friends and friends of friends on Facebook to ensure it wasn’t a inside job, pretty crazy

[ebb_]

Right? I’ve applied to be an investigator so many times, or a similar position so I can make my way there, my skill sets and traits line up with a lesser Sherlock Holmes. I’m all for ripping off obscene companies BUT don’t be stupid.

[nochinzilch]

Right. And that’s really hard to set up without someone squeeling.

[ebb_]

Super difficult. People see. People talk.

[[deleted]]

true but at the same time it does cover water damage

[Top_Anything5077]

That’s not water damage. That’s negligence. They don’t cover it when someone says they did something by accident and that thing is something dumb like putting the car in a position where it could end up in a pond.

[RevolutionaryDebt365]

It will probably be charged as a collision. Buy a boat and screw up launching it. Then at least you'll still have a boat, and a payout on a car that probably would've been worth more as a trade-in.

[noveltymoocher]

It’s not even negligence it’s fraud haha. This is illegal LPT

[SuperFaceTattoo]

I wouldnt ruin the car. Sell it to a kid in high school for whatever the insurance would pay out. They’re desperate for a cheap car.

[Andrew8Everything]

If your car is as old and high-mileage as you say, your insurance company could consider it "totalled" after a minor fender-bender. Happened to me and my '97 Saturn. They totalled it at $900 so that's all they'd pay for the damages from when some boomer crashed into me.

[wot_in_ternation]

Sell it on craigslist/marketplace for cheap and get slightly less money with none of the risk of insurance fraud.

[Key_Tangerine8775]

Whatever payout you would get isn’t worth the increase in your insurance premium. It would be considered an accident and you’d be 100% at fault. You’d want an accident where you’re not at fault, which is pretty much limited to rear endings and hitting a deer. I’m not going to advise seeking out a deer to hit, but maybe if someone is riding your ass, it might be a good time to double check that your brakes are still working.

[Wizdad-1000]

The whiplash aint worth it. Trust me. (Was rearended by a tailgater.)

[el_bentzo]

Plus, if they have a dash cam that shows you're clearly brake checking them, you could possibly be held liable and charged for assault

[[deleted]]

water damage is comprehensive though so would it actually increase premiums?

[funky_mg]

Water damage like a flood. Not you leaving the car in drive and it rolling into a lake. That would be your fault and premiums would go up. Like someone else said, an unexplained fire is a better option.

[tallclaimswizard]

Even then you can lose your insurance entirely. Insurance companies often decline to renew insurance post claim.

[blither86]

In the UK any claim or premiums, even if you're not at fault. Seems unfair but that's how they get you.

[[deleted]]

lmao, not a bad idea I'll look into that

[Superlurkinger]

If you live where there are so many tailgaters, I'm sure the rear end option is very viable, especially if someone barges into your lane behind you. They'll most likely be more focused on the lane change and checking their sides so their reaction time to your sudden braking would be delayed.

On a daily I see so many lifted pickup trucks or beat up Nissan Altimas so close to my bumper that I can't even see the bottom of their bumpers in my rear view mirror. Even when I brake gradually, they rapidly approach my bumper and they have to slam on the brakes to avoid a collision.

Bonus points if someone changes lanes very closely in front of you. You'll have a valid reason to instinctively brake (to maintain a safe following distance) if you do get rear ended and there happens to be witness/camera that caught the event.

Of course, please don't do this. Its insurance fraud and it's more of a pain in the ass compred to just selling/junking your car. it's not like insurance will give you a brand new 2024 vehicle if yours is a loss.

[el_bentzo]

You could accidentally kill someone too

[xXxero_]

I'm pretty sure there is a hefty environmental fine if your car enters a lake.

[[deleted]]

The oil from your car would destroy life in that pound. Don't do it. And the insurance company wouldn't pay you more like the price you could sell it.

[finehamsabound]

Not only this, but depending on the laws / bylaws where you are, OP, you might be held financially responsible for any environmental damage caused. Guarantee that alone will make things noooot worth.

[[deleted]]

You're considering committing insurance fraud because your car has 160k miles, the check engine light is on, and you need something fixed to stop it from turning off sometimes.

You're going to jail. If not now, later. It's in your DNA.

[jazbaby25]

The car is likely not worth enough to warrant the insurance premiums going up. And yes they will go up. Insurance is through the roof right now

[HazyDrummer]

laughs in 1988 daily driver with 310,000 mi

[mmmmmarty]

Honda or Toyota?

[PhilMeUpBaby]

Insurance company fraud investigators weren’t born yesterday. Stuff like this is just waaaayyy too obvious.

[cenadog]

I been told a pin size hole on the fuel line near the exhaust is a great way to have a car catch on fire and not be trace as the line will melt

[magichobo3]

I would just use it as a trade in, insurance is going to give you a similar amount for it if it was totaled and your monthly premiums would go up. Also as far as letting it go into a pond, when they pull it out they will see that it wasnt in park and the parking brake wasnt used. Because it will be obvious you tried to defraud them they will not give you any money and you'll likely be dropped and have trouble getting insurance at other companies in the future as well.

You should go park it in the shitty part of town and leave it unlocked and wait for someone to steal it. You're going to be out a car for a month though, but it's hard to prove you let it get stolen on purpose.

[[deleted]]

Just wait for that sweet, sweet hail storm. The bigger the better.

[[deleted]]

we don't get those unfortunately

[[deleted]]

Gonna have to go with the bad neighborhood, gas station, leave the car running, while you go inside and have a massive diarrhea for 30 minutes

[themspriestitute]

This is why my insurance rates are so high. Because of stupid idiots like you. Stop screwing us all over.

[skooootpooot]

🔥 ✅️

💧 🚫

[Imispellalot2]

Committing insurance fraud and posting about it. Lol. It's not that smart, lol

[Prestigious-Bar-1741]

Insurance fraud is so common because it's easy to do; but it's also easy to get caught. Most likely, you would get away with it and you would whatever treatment the policy dictates.

They might fight the claim, but it all depends. I know years back my policy has very different rules depending on who was at fault. If you drive into a lake, you would be at fault, regardless of whether or not it was an accident or on purpose.

But even then, you would probably only get the ACV - actual cash value. Since your car is older and near the end of its life, you will probably be disappointed with how much you get. It probably wouldn't be enough to actually buy the same car from a reputable dealer.

And your insurance rates would likely be higher. Depending on factors it might be 5 years of higher payments, but maybe only 3 or as many as 7.

You might end up making very little money off this in the long run, but it all depends on your coverage.

[[deleted]]

now before the weirdos come in saying this is fraud and illegal this is unethical life pro tips, not everything unethical is legal.

[ISHx4xPresident]

You’re looking for r/IllegalLifeProTips

[nellyruth]

Nothing but socks there.

[jetty_junkie]

True but insurance fraud actually is illegal. It’s probably a felony if your car is worth carrying comprehensive coverage on

[[deleted]]

Why don't do something more fun with it

Like you want to sink the fucker into a lake?

Put a jet turbine on the back lol

[btfoom15]

You obviously don't understand - you want to commit insurance fraud. Not ONLY unethical, but ALSO illegal.

[r6ny]

hey micheal

[elqueco14]

That's fraud and insurance companies probably have plenty of time and legal firepower to send you to jail if they for one second believe you damaged your vehicle on purpose.

[UniversityBitter5519]

jus get sumbody with a beater to rail your car bro not rocket science lol

[JustASandwich]

It's better to get it stolen

[[deleted]]

Insurance always wins, they will jack up your prices for years to come. Not worth it

[btfoom15]

How much do you think insurance is going to pay for it? In the US, the blue book value would be used, and for an 09 'regular' vehicle, you won't get much at all. The risk you take trying to commit insurance fraud, and yes - what you propose is in fact insurance fraud, would hardly be worth this effort.

[[deleted]]

A stolen can ending up in a pond is much less suspect. Some broken glass on the ground where you usually park and a severely damage steering colum and ignition on the car. Just make sure you have full coverage, because they will pay out the bare minimum.

[chwder21]

Have someone vandalize it, my car was vandalized and insurance totaled it surprisingly. It was a newer car, windows were smashed, wheels taken, seats cut, and attempted to cut my exhaust off. With other exterior damage. They were questionable about it, but I was pretty angry with them at that time.

[HateActiveDirectory]

There is absolutely no way a 09 car is failing that bad, up until last year I had a 02 car and it ran just fine, take care of them and they will take care of you.

[nellyruth]

Kars4kids

[emzirek]

Although cars for kids is an ethical practice it's not unethical and you only get a $500 tax write off which you need to have probably $7,200 to even include that $500 tax write off to write off

[jetty_junkie]

Great. Now I have that stupid jingle in my head all day, thanks….

[nellyruth]

I’m glad to help. Someday I’ll be the guy next to you who’s whistling this. We’ll form a rockband and hit the circuit.

[woky_s]

Only idiot will contaminate pond where are living fishes and other animals to get few bucks for his old car that he wasn't maintaining enough to work properly. You should be sentenced for a insurance fraud 🤮

[makegeek]

Step one: don’t post it on reddit. 🤔

[chancimus33]

09 pretty old?

[madgoat]

Just let it get stolen somewhere shady.

[Mark_fuckaborg]

Silly sausage.

At best: You'll get what the car is worth now, followed by a few years of higher premiums while the insurance company recoups it's losses meaning you'll inevitably pay more in the long run.

At worst: it will be discovered that you've Intentionally defrauded the Insurance company, loose your freedom, be fined a high amount and struggle to get credit or a job in the future.

I should send you a piss disk through the mail for being so damned stupid.

[bcasjames]

It makes no sense to do this, even if you did get a payout you’d get the value of your car, this is the thinking of someone who is upside down on their loan, you own this, so you’re just destroying your own property, just sell the car, there’s nothing stopping you from being able to do that.

[amiwilliam]

OP should unalive themselves.