Yes, it is usually best to inform your insurance provider of any accident but especially if you may have caused damage to another vehicle in an accident that could allow a claim to be placed against your liability policy. In fact the terms of your policy may require you to notify your insurance company of any accidents you are involved in.

Even if the other person makes a claim with their insurance carrier instead of yours, your insurance company end up being informed of this parking lot fender bender by the other person's insurer if they choose to subrogate with your insurance provider since you were at fault.

It appears you may be from Canada. If that is the case, the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) states that if you've been involved in a collision that may result in a claim, contact your insurance representative as soon as possible. You must notify your insurer as soon as possible (some policies specify within seven days) about any accident involving the automobile:

• that must, by law, be reported to police; or
• for which you intend to make a claim under the policy.

The IBC goes on to say that if you are going to place a claim through your own collision coverage that most policies state that a written declaration ("proof of loss") must be made within 90 days of the accident. If you don't make your claim within this time, your insurance company may not be legally bound to honour your claim. In practice, however, most companies will honour a claim made within one year if there is a reasonable explanation of the delay.

If you are making a claim against another driver, you should notify him or her as quickly as possible. It's also a good idea to notify the other driver's insurance company of the claim yourself; don't assume that the other driver has done so.