Trying to figure out if my damage clears the threshold to go after the other driver's insurance

I had almost the exact same situation — rear corner hit, busted tail light, the whole thing. My body shop estimate came in way higher than I expected once they factored in the tail light housing, repainting the panel to match, and realigning the bumper supports underneath. The alignment issue ended up being a separate line item from a mechanic they referred me to. Definitely ask the body shop upfront if they do a full mechanical inspection or if you need to go somewhere else for that — don't let them miss it.

Get the body shop estimate first before you stress too much. Cracked bumper + crushed quarter panel + destroyed tail light assembly is almost certainly going to run more than you think — parts and labor add up fast. Then add an alignment check on top. You'll probably have a clearer picture after Tuesday than anything any of us can tell you right now.

From my time on the other side of this: a lot of people are surprised by how much tail light assemblies cost to replace on newer cars — OEM parts alone can be steep, and body shops usually document that separately. The hidden structural stuff (bumper reinforcement bars, foam impact absorbers) often doesn't show up until they start pulling things apart. My honest advice: ask the shop to do a full teardown estimate, not just a surface visual. You want every single line item documented if you're going to pursue a third-party claim.

The threshold rules in no-fault states vary a lot — some are based purely on the dollar amount of property damage, others factor in injury too, and some have both. It's worth looking up your specific state's statute (just search your state name + 'no fault property damage threshold') before your appointment. That way you know exactly what number you're aiming to document. Also, keep every receipt and photo from day one — documentation is everything if you end up needing to escalate.

Whatever you do, don't call your own insurance company 'just to ask a question' before you know what you're doing. Those calls get logged and it can sometimes trigger things you didn't intend. Get your estimate, understand your state's rules, then decide which direction to go. Adjusters are trained to move things toward the path that costs their company the least — that's not always the path that's best for you.

The fact that someone grabbed that plate and you got a police report is genuinely huge. So many people in hit-and-runs don't get that. You're already in a much better position than you'd be trying to chase an unknown driver. The estimate appointment is the right next step — you've done everything correctly so far.

Quick question — when you say there's a 'weird vibration,' is it in the steering wheel, the whole car, or just at certain speeds? That distinction can change a lot about what's actually wrong mechanically and how much it costs to fix. Also, have you gotten the alignment concern in writing anywhere yet, or is it just something you noticed driving? Just want to make sure you don't end up with a body shop estimate that looks like it clears the threshold but then the mechanical stuff gets handled separately and muddies the picture.