I need to file an auto claim -- what do I do?
Oh no! There’s a good chance that, if you’re reading this article, you’ve found yourself in a situation where you need to file an auto insurance claim. Luckily, millions of auto insurance claims are filed every year, and the process is as straightforward as can be, which is a relief. After all, the accident itself should be the most stressful part of the experience.
Police report
If you’ve been involved in an accident, or suffered from theft, you’ll need to file a police report. Although 9-1-1 is the number engrained in our heads from a young age, thefts and other non-urgent matters can be reported to your local police via their non-emergency line. If anyone on scene is in immediate need of medical attention 9-1-1 is the way to go.
When the officer arrives, they’ll verify your information and take a statement from you, from any other accident victims and from any witnesses. Before leaving, get a copy of your accident report, or (at the very least) the file number. Depending on the incident, your insurance company might require a police report to pay a claim.
Contact your insurance company
Next, you’ll need to contact your insurance company. If you aren’t sure how to reach the company, your insurance broker can point you in the right direction.
Some insurance companies will let you file a claim online while others require you to phone in. Whichever way you contact your insurance company, the process will be the same – you’ll provide information about the accident or incident and a representative from the company (a claims adjuster) will contact you to review the information and explain the process further.
In many cases, when you file an auto insurance claim, you will be responsible for paying a deductible. If your vehicle suffered $6,000 worth of damage and your deductible is $1,000, the company will only pay $5,000. When you speak to a claims adjuster, they will go over your deductible information so that you aren’t surprised when it comes time to pay the repair bill.
Get an estimate
Unfortunately, car accidents are expensive. If you’ve been involved in an auto accident, your insurance company will require you to get a damage estimate before they finalize your claim. In some cases, you will need to have this estimate (and the repair work) completed at a repair shop authorized by your insurance company.
Once the estimate is completed, the claims adjuster will review it and decide whether or not to authorize the repairs or “write-off” the vehicle. If your vehicle is “written-off” it means that your vehicle’s value is not high enough to merit repairing. A $10,000 vehicle with $9,000 worth of damages, for example, might be “written-off.”
However, if the claims adjuster reviews the repair estimate and authorizes the claim, you can schedule an appointment and get your car fixed. The process to file an auto claim is not complicated, but it can take a bit of waiting. Luckily, cars are generally still operable after a minor accident and many insurance companies will provide a loaner vehicle if you need to wait for severe damages to be repaired.