How to File a Car Insurance Claim
- Get car insurance claim details at the accident scene.
- Don’t wait too long to start a claim.
- If another driver is at fault, you can file a claim with their insurance.
To file a car insurance claim, you’ll need to have information about the accident ready, including details of others involved and the damage that resulted. You can then contact the insurer online or by phone, though in some cases, you might decide not to file a claim at all.
Step 1: Gather information for your car insurance claim
For car accidents, it’s best to gather information for a claim at the scene, when possible. You will want know:
- Other drivers’ contact and insurance information
- Contact information for passengers and witnesses
- Make, model and license plate numbers for involved vehicles
- Smartphone pictures showing damage to vehicles and property
- Pictures of any visible injuries
- Pictures of the accident scene
Also jot down the date, time and location of the accident — you’ll be asked for this information when you file your claim.
Call law enforcement to the accident scene if there are injuries or major damage. Make sure to get contact information for the responding officers.
Step 2: File your car insurance claim
Most insurance companies let you file claims online, but you can usually call in if you prefer. Either way, you’ll describe the incident and provide relevant details.
For most claims, you should start with your own car insurance company. However, if another driver was clearly at fault, you can go directly to their insurance company. This is known as a third-party claim.
Insurance companies usually give you a claim number, which you should keep handy, along with any emails or other communications you have with the insurance company.
For car accidents, insurance companies may send an adjuster to inspect a damaged vehicle or ask you to take your car to a shop in their repair network.
You can have your car repaired at any shop. But if you go outside the insurance company’s network, it may not cover repair costs it considers excessive.
How to file claims for injury accidents
Injury accident claims tend to get more complicated than damage-only claims. Insurance companies usually require you or your care provider to send in medical reports.
It’s important to get medical attention for car accident injuries as soon as possible. Be sure to let your care providers know about the accident and your symptoms.
If you have medical payments (MedPay)
Health insurance also covers car accident injuries, but you usually have to pay deductibles and coinsurance. You may need to share copies of your accident and medical reports with your car and health insurance companies.
An auto policy requires you to cooperate with your own insurance company’s claims investigators. However, you’re not required to talk to another driver’s insurance representatives. You can decline to answer their questions and refer them to your own insurance team.
How long do I have to file a car insurance claim?
In most cases, insurance companies require you to file a claim as soon as reasonably possible. However, some states have stricter deadlines for certain types of car insurance claims.
For example:
- In New York, you have to file a personal injury protection claim within 30 days of an accident.
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State Farm requires Ohio motorists to report a hit-and-run accident within 30 days for an uninsured motorist
claim.Uninsured motorist covers you and your passengers for injuries caused by a driver with no insurance. It’s required in about 20 states and optional everywhere else.
Restrictions like these vary by state and company, so don’t wait too long to file a car insurance claim.
On the other hand, you may want to get a repair estimate before you file a claim for minor fender benders. This way, you can first decide whether to use insurance or pay on your own to avoid a future insurance rate increase.
When not to file a car insurance claim
You might not want to file a car insurance claim for minor accidents with no injuries, especially if collision
| Hitting an object like a light post or wall | This kind of incident is covered by your policy’s collision coverage, and the damage might be less than the deductible. Even if it’s slightly more, you may want to pay for the damage yourself to avoid a rate hike. |
| Slightly damaging someone else’s car | If you offer to pay for the other driver’s repairs, ask them to get at least one estimate first. If the cost is too high, your policy’s property damage liability can cover them. |
| Minor damage to your own car | If an at-fault driver offers to pay for your repairs, get their insurance information anyway. This way, you can still file a claim with their insurer if they change their mind. |
When you pay for repairs with insurance, the claim typically shows up on your vehicle history report. This can affect its future sale price or trade-in value. This is another reason to avoid car insurance claims for minor repairs.
Expert tip: You can call your insurance agent to ask what your policy covers and if a claim would affect your rate. Just make sure to let them know you are only inquiring, so they don’t open a claim for repairs that you end up paying for yourself.
Do I need a police report to file a claim?
You usually need a police or accident report for claims involving car theft, hit-and-run incidents and severe accidents.
Reporting accident claims
State laws require reports for car accidents involving injury or property damage above a certain amount. The dollar threshold for damage varies by state, ranging from $50 to $2,000. Insurance companies review these reports during their own claims investigations.
Reporting car theft claims
Insurance companies almost always require a police report to document a stolen car. Your policy only covers car theft if you’ve added comprehensive
If your car is recovered, comprehensive coverage pays to repair damage from the theft. If your car can’t be recovered, you will usually get a check for the car’s cash value, or resale price. In either situation, your deductible
How to dispute an insurance claim settlement offer
If you disagree with a settlement offer, start by letting the insurance company know you’re not satisfied. Provide documentation that corrects any mistakes in its findings. The notes and photos you have for your car insurance claim may come in handy.
Most policies include an appraisal process to resolve claims disputes, but you can file a complaint with your state insurance commissioner’s office instead or seek arbitration.
Contacting an attorney is considered a last resort for car insurance claims. High attorney fees may not be worth it for a dispute over a few thousand dollars or less. But for a more expensive claim, especially if injuries are involved, an attorney may be worth it.
Frequently asked questions
An auto insurance claim is a demand for insurance money to pay for injuries, damage or car theft. Usually, your insurance company investigates your incident and pays you for covered losses. But if another driver is responsible, you can file a “third-party claim” with their insurance company.
How long it takes to process an insurance claim depends on how complex it is. Simple claims may only take a few days to process, but complicated claims can take weeks or more.
Some states have stricter time limits on this than others. In Texas, for example, insurance companies have 15 days to begin investigating claims from their own customers. They usually have to approve or deny a claim within 15 days of receiving all the information they need.
Your car insurance rate typically only goes up after a claim for an accident you cause. These include liability
However, some companies may raise your rate or drop you for multiple claims of any type within two or three years.
Insurance claims usually stay on your insurance record for three to five years. The exact length of time varies by insurance company, your state’s laws and the size of your claim. Claims for accidents you cause tend to make your rates go up, but no-fault claims usually don’t.
If you cause an accident, your liability coverage pays for other people’s medical treatment and car repairs. An at-fault accident raises the price of car insurance by an average of 49%, according to LendingTree data.
Car insurance companies usually raise your rates for about three years after a liability claim. The exact amount of time varies by company and the severity of the accident.
If the other driver causes the accident, their liability should cover your car repairs. However, the amount you receive may be reduced if you are partially at fault.
Collision coverage pays to repair your own car after a crash with another vehicle or object. These include accidents you cause and those caused by a hit-and-run or uninsured driver. Collision claims usually only make your rates go up after an accident where you’re at fault.
Comprehensive insurance covers your car for theft and damage from non-collision causes like fire, flood and vandalism. Most of these claims don’t lead to a rate increase.
If a driver without insurance injures you, uninsured motorist coverage (if you have it) pays your medical bills. You can usually get coverage for damage to your vehicle, too. These claims usually don’t increase your car insurance rate.