So you've had a small fender bender. You're a little shaken up and annoyed, but it could be worse. You're OK, the car can be fixed. Life goes on.

But then there's that nagging thought, "What will this do to my car insurance rates?"

It's worth thinking about, because a small and apparently insignificant fender bender could have lasting financial repercussions whether the accident is your fault or not.

Never Pay at the Scene of an Accident

This is a huge myth and one that could really cost you. Never pay out of pocket at the scene of a small wreck. Neither should you accept money from anyone after a wreck or fender bender. You can have no way of knowing the exact extent of any damages until both vehicles have been looked at by professionals. There's a lot of false information on the web describing this practice. Be safe and just say no.

Save By Raising Your Car's Deductible

Choosing the lowest possible deductible is not necessarily the best way to find long-term savings. You need to know yourself and your saving patterns. If you are able to put something aside for a rainy day, maintaining a higher car insurance deductible makes sense. Insurance provides protection for the big things, but a small wreck doesn't necessarily qualify as a big thing. In the long run, you'll save by having a little cash in the bank for the small things and a higher deductible for the big ones.

Be Prepared at the Scene of an Accident

Put a pen and paper in your glove box for the unexpected. You'll want to be able to provide your insurance agent with as many details as possible about the accident. Make sure you get the names and addresses of any witnesses, passengers, and officials involved. Jot down the details and describe the scenario in as much detail as possible. Include license plate numbers, makes and models of vehicles involved, and everyone's car insurance information.

You know what they say about a picture being worth 1,000 words! Keeping a disposable camera in the glove compartment will help keep your memory fresh. We tend to forget small details over time, and magnify others out of all relation to reality, so a camera is a valuable ally.

A fender bender may leave you with a bit of a bruised ego and a slightly marred driving record, but you don't need to settle for unreasonable insurance premiums. You can easily find quotes for the best possible insurance rates from reputable providers at InsWeb.com.