What is an auto insurance claim, and how do I file one?

If your car has been stolen or damaged – whether in an accident or a natural disaster – you must file an auto insurance claim to be compensated for the damage or loss. An insurance claim is an official record (along with a police report, if applicable) of what happened and what you are requesting your insurance company to pay for.

The claims process has many steps – including contacting your insurer, gathering data, filling out and filing forms, working with an adjuster and getting an estimate – and you want to make sure you do each step correctly to ensure your insurer pays you in a timely manner.

The sooner you file, the sooner you’ll likely be reimbursed and the sooner you can return to your life.

Key highlights

• The claim process can vary based on the type of incident, how many other people, vehicles or other pieces of property were involved, and what kind of insurance you (and/or any other involved parties) do or do not carry. 
• It’s usually wise to initiate the claims process at the accident scene or soon thereafter.
• A claims adjuster from your insurance company will guide you through the process, which could take a few weeks or months.
• Filing a claim can increase your car insurance premium, sometimes for years after an incident. 
• If the damage is minimal, paying out of pocket for damages might make more sense – especially if they’re less than your deductible.

How do I file a car insurance claim?

Nobody wants to find themselves in a situation where they need to file a claim, but accidents happen – that’s why you have insurance. When there’s an event in which you damage a vehicle or injure a person, or in which your vehicle is damaged or you’re hurt, you need to file a report, or claim, with your insurance company.

The process varies from insurer to insurance, but if you’re in an accident the process usually consists of the following steps:

1. If you can, move your vehicle to a safe location, and call the police. Do not leave the scene. They’ll dispatch additional emergency services (medical, fire) if required.
2. Trade insurance policy and contact information with any other parties involved. If it’s unclear who was at fault, try to keep calm; don’t get heated or admit wrongdoing if you’re not sure who’s responsible. If you were the victim of a hit-and-run, don’t try to chase down the driver who hit you. 
3. Wait for the police at the scene. “When another driver causes you to be involved in a car accident, the most important things that you need to know are their name and contact information,” says Jean Lucey, former director of The Insurance Library Association of Boston. Less important is who their insurance company is.
4. The sooner you can involve your insurance company, the better. Call them from the scene of the incident, if you can. If your car was involved in an incident that didn’t involve a moving vehicle, contact your provider as soon as you discover the damage or loss. 
5. Take photos of any damage. Note where the incident took place, what the weather conditions were and any other contextual details that could be helpful for your insurance company’s later determinations. Get witness statements if anyone saw the accident.
6. Your insurance company will connect you with a claims adjuster, who will guide you through the claim-filing process over the next weeks or months, depending on the accident's severity, timing, repairs, etc. The claims adjuster may also come to see the damage to your vehicle in person.
7. If your vehicle or property has suffered significant damage, your insurance company may require you to get an estimate for the cost of repairs. Do this as soon as possible to keep the process moving and quickly get your car back in working condition. The repair shop should provide the estimate to the claims adjuster for review. 
8. Don’t get anything fixed until you’ve spoken with your claims adjuster. They may have information you need about the repairs (and payment for them). Your insurance company also might have recommendations for specific repair shops to visit. You’re not obligated to take these recommendations, but having a trusted vendor can be helpful.
9. If your car has been totaled or needs significant repairs, ask your insurance provider if they’ll cover or subsidize the cost of a rental car, rideshare or public transportation
10. If you called the police, make sure you get a copy of the police report. Keep it in a file about the incident.
11. Stay in touch with your claims adjuster; they’ll be able to guide you during specific milestones as you look forward to completing the whole process as quickly and smoothly as possible.

Necessary documents for your car insurance claim

You’ll need the following information to begin filing a car insurance claim:

• Police report, if applicable
• Contact and insurance information for all parties involved
• Photos of damage to vehicles or property
• Witness statements
• Information or medical records in the event of personal injury
• List of property/vehicles involved (including make, model and license plate number)
• Information about the weather conditions when the incident occurred, or any other relevant environmental details like road damage

When to contact your insurance company

File your claim as soon as possible. Some states have laws that require you to do so within a specific time period, and your insurance company may deny payment on a claim if you’re reporting outside of the designated window.

Check with your state’s Department of Insurance for details about specific rules in your area – but no matter where you live, it’s best to file as quickly as possible.

You’ll need to know what kind of insurance you have and what’s covered. Some drivers have coverage in addition to the standard, required liability insurance – knowing what you have will help you and your claims adjuster better understand your policy.

Liability coverage is typically the minimum required policy in most states. It covers damages to others’ vehicles if you are responsible for an accident. If you were involved in an accident in which another insured driver was at fault, your repairs are covered by their liability policy.

Comprehensive coverage, or other-than collision, is what drivers use when their vehicles have been stolen or damaged – by weather events, animal strikes or vandalism. You are not required to carry comprehensive coverage unless you have a lien on your vehicle, but many drivers add it to their policies.

Collision coverage is what drivers use to pay for repairs to their own vehicles damaged in a collision. Depending on where you live, even if you didn’t cause an accident, you and your insurance company may be responsible for the repairs (check to see if you live in a no-fault state).

Personal injury protection can help to cover any medical costs. Laws about these policies vary by state, so check with your insurance provider about the local regulations about personal injury protection (or PIP) where you live.

Filing an insurance claim if the other driver is at fault

If you were involved in an incident clearly caused by another driver, that person – and their insurance company – will be on the hook for any expenses related to the accident. You should still notify your insurance provider very soon after the accident, even if it is clear that the other person was responsible. Sometimes, depending on your insurer and where you live, you’ll still be required to file a claim.

Currently, 12 states are “no-fault,” which means that regardless of who is responsible for the accident, your insurance provider is responsible for covering your bills. Check to see if you live in a no-fault state before filing a claim or expecting the other party to do so.

What if the other driver is not insured?

In most states, driving without liability insurance is illegal. But uninsured drivers are still out there – and when they’re the cause of an accident you’re involved in, they’re responsible for paying for any related claims.

Many insurance companies offer uninsured motorist policies, which provide coverage on your policy in case you are a victim of damage done by a driver without insurance. (In some states, this is mandatory.) It’s a good idea to have this coverage because even if you pursue legal action against an uninsured driver who’s at fault for an accident you were involved in, there’s no guarantee that you’ll be compensated.

Post-accident actions: What to do in different scenarios

Call your insurance company as soon as possible – from the scene of the accident, if possible – to share details about what happened and to learn what may be covered.

If the incident involved a moving vehicle, another person or an injury, call the police. The same goes for if your car was vandalized or stolen. You don’t need to get a police report for a weather-related event or “act of God,” like a tree falling on your car or hail damage, but depending on the severity, you may still want to file a claim.

Minor accident with no injuries

If it’s a minor accident – a small fender bender or an incident only involving one vehicle – you may still want to call the police so that the incident is well-documented for your insurance company if you plan on filing a claim. But often in these scenarios, minor damage might not exceed your deductible, so your insurance company won’t cover these smaller repairs. 

Plus, since filing a claim raises your premiums, it could benefit you in the long run to pay for minor repairs out of pocket, if you can.

Hit and run incidents: Handling the unexpected

If you’ve been the victim of a hit-and-run, stay on the scene and call the police immediately.

Most of the steps outlined above will still apply. When you file your claim, you’ll receive a police report to submit to your insurance company. Unfortunately, you and your insurance company may be responsible for the damages unless the responsible party is later found. This means, too, that you may experience higher premiums in the future despite not having been at fault.

Disagreement over fault determination

If there’s a disagreement over fault, go through your insurance company. Make sure to document all interactions with the other party in writing. If you need legal representation, ensure your claims adjuster has their contact information. Your claims adjuster may also contact any witnesses, ask for additional photos, documents or other information, so it’s important to gather as much of this as possible at the scene of the incident.

Disagreements about who is the at-fault party may take longer to resolve; remember that your insurance company is your advocate in these situations. Some complicated, expensive or multi-party accidents may also result in the need to go to court.

How long does it usually take to settle a claim?

Every claim is different, and it’s hard to determine the “average” length of the process. The simpler the incident, and the fewer parties involved, the shorter the claim should take to resolve. It could be a few weeks, but many take much longer. Accidents involving personal injury/medical claims typically take longer than those in which only property or vehicles were affected.

Reasons why auto insurance claims get denied and how to avoid them

There are several reasons why an auto insurance claim might be denied. Here are a few scenarios and how to avoid them.

Fraud. Insurance fraud is common, and it probably should go without saying that your claim will be denied if your insurance company discovers you’ve misrepresented an incident or damages. Claims adjusters are experts at navigating these situations; trying to pull a fast one is never a wise idea. Be honest about what happened, who was involved and the value of property and vehicles damaged or stolen.

Illegal activity. Your claim could be denied if you were driving under the influence, without a legal driver's license or otherwise in violation of any law.

Policy limitations or type of coverage. If the claim you file exceeds the coverage limits on your insurance policy, your provider can deny payment or pay only up to the policy limit. This is why it’s always important to carefully evaluate your policy options when selecting one, and choose the coverage you feel most confident will protect you when you need it.

If your policy has expired. Stay current on regular insurance premium payments to make sure that there’s no issue with your claim being denied for nonpayment. Always pay your premiums on time – even a temporary lapse in coverage will cause your rates to increase.

When filing an auto insurance claim might not be in your best interest

There are scenarios in which filing a claim may not make sense. Filing an insurance claim can increase your monthly insurance payments for as many as three years after the fact. If the damage to the vehicle or property involved is minimal, it could be in your best interest to pay for any necessary repairs out of pocket and avoid a multi-year rate increase.

Your insurance company might also not cover damages if they amount to less than your deductible or if you were the only party involved in a minor incident. Work with them to determine whether filing a claim will be worthwhile.

Is there a way to speed up the claim process?

The sooner you file, the sooner your claim process can start – and be completed. While there aren’t many things you can do to significantly speed up filing a claim and receiving payment, one of the best things you can do when filing is to be as organized as possible. Refer to the above list of documents you’ll need to file a claim and keep everything together in an easily accessible location to help you supplement and track any follow-up conversations you have with your insurance company, repair providers, attorneys or medical providers.

Local laws can also affect the speed of claim resolution. Check with your state’s department of insurance to set expectations and ensure compliance with any necessary regulations.

Final thoughts

Nobody ever wants to file an auto insurance claim or be involved in an accident or situation that results in damage, injuries or trauma. But following simple steps can help make the process as smooth as possible.

Frequently asked questions

How can you negotiate a settlement with an insurance claims adjuster?

When your claims adjuster gets back to you with the amount of money your insurance company has deemed you are owed, it’s possible to engage in some negotiations if you think you’re entitled to a bigger payout. Again, documentation is key; if you’re considering a back-and-forth on the final amount, be ready with any repair estimate(s) you’ve received from service providers, medical bills and information about any other costs incurred.

If your car is totaled, remember that the responsible insurance company is only required to reimburse you for the actual cash value of your vehicle. This means your payout could be less than expected based on the current market or resale value for a similar car. Negotiating in these situations typically will not net you more money.

Should you get an estimate before filing an auto insurance claim?

It’s a good idea to get an estimate for what repairs or replacement for a vehicle might cost. Your insurance company may even require it, especially for more expensive or specialized repairs. As previously stated, don’t actually have the car repaired until you’ve already spoken with your claims adjuster. They’ll be able to tell you the approved amount and recommend repair shops that work with your insurance company frequently.

What if I discover additional damage after the initial claim is settled?

Contact your insurance company to explain the situation if you find additional or unexpected damage to your car post-claim. Your claims adjuster may ask to see pictures or visit the car in real life. Still, in situations where the car has not clearly been restored to very close to its prior state, you should be able to work with a repair shop – either the initial one you used or a new one – and your insurance company to have additional repairs made and covered.