For many drivers, the open road is not nearly as treacherous as parking lots, driveways or intersections, for these places are where the event known as a "fender bender" is most likely to occur. A fender bender is a minor accident that generally causes minor damage to the vehicles involved, but can still become a major issue for the owners of those vehicles. Most automobile insurance agencies provided coverage for damages and injuries caused by a fender bender, but they also have the right to raise a driver's premiums following the report of even a minor accident. For this reason, it is not unusual for drivers to settle the cost of a fender bender between themselves.

A fender bender is so named because the fenders often receive the bulk of the damage in typical accident scenarios. A driver making a sudden stop at an intersection, for example, may cause another driver to crash into his rear bumper or trunk. Another driver may pull out of a driveway without looking for oncoming traffic, creating a hazard for other drivers. The result could be a low-speed collision on the passenger side. A fender bender type of car accident is also likely to occur in large parking lots, as cars jostle for the best spots or inattentive drivers move in the wrong direction.

The good news is that a fender bender rarely causes major injuries or damages, but the bad news is that most insurance companies require that all accidents, large or small, must be reported. Generally, this means a police officer must come to the scene of a reported fender bender and document all that he or she observes about the accident and drivers involved. Photographs of the damage and position of the vehicles may also be taken by either driver to bolster any future legal claims. While an insurance company may ultimately cover the cost of repairs or medical claims, there are occasionally other legal issues which can arise from a fender bender.

Sometimes an insurance company will overlook or "forgive" a policy holder's occasional fender bender and not raise his or her future premiums. Parties involved in a minor fender bender can still work out their differences privately, although financial experts warn against paying too many accident-related damages out-of-pocket. Many drivers involved in a fender bender tend to underestimate the actual cost of repairs, rendering their initial offers null and void. Unless the damages caused by a fender bender are clearly less than an insured driver's deductible, it may be best to report the accident to the insurance companies right away.

Some drivers involved in a fender bender elect not to make repairs, simply because the damages appear to be cosmetic in nature. As long as the vehicle remains in acceptable mechanical condition, owners are not always obligated to fix minor damages caused by a fender bender. A number of car experts, however, strongly encourage owners to have dents and dings repaired as soon as possible, since exposed metal is vulnerable to rust damage and loose bumpers or fenders could create other problems down the road.