Being involved in a car accident can be stressful and scary, no matter who’s at fault for the incident. But while getting into an accident is never ideal, having the right car insurance policy can help cut down on some of the stress. After all, you pay your car insurance premiums to ensure that you have coverage to help provide financial protection from at-fault accidents and other incidents, and if you’re involved in one, you can start the process of filing a claim to get a payout for damages or injuries. It can also be helpful to understand how the insurance claim process works. Here’s what you need to know.

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What is a car insurance claim?

An auto insurance claim is essentially your way of notifying your insurance provider that you’ll need to use your policy to cover expenses. The auto insurance claim process varies from provider to provider, but it usually starts with a phone call or filling out an online form.

It’s important to note that you should file a claim as soon as possible after your accident. You may even be able to do it while you’re still at the site of the accident. You should file a claim whenever something happens that your policy would cover. So, for example, if you have comprehensive coverage and your car was vandalized or stolen, you would file a claim for the related loss.

Really, when you’ll file an auto insurance claim depends on the types of coverage you have. So let’s look at some of the most common coverage types:

  • Liability coverage: This provides protection when you cause an accident or do damage with your car. Most states require you to have bodily injury liability coverage if you hurt someone else and property damage liability coverage if you damage someone else’s car, fence, mailbox or other property while you’re behind the wheel.
  • Collision coverage: While your liability coverage can pay toward fixing someone else’s car if you’re at fault in an accident and their liability coverage can pay toward fixing yours if they’re responsible, you may still require insurance to step in with paying for repairing or replacing your vehicle regardless of fault. That’s where collision coverage steps in.
  • Comprehensive coverage: Usually, comprehensive covers damage or loss to your vehicle not caused by an accident, or damage that occurs when the car is not moving. This includes theft, vandalism or a fallen tree branch that smashes your windshield. Comprehensive also covers you for hitting a deer.

The more coverage you add to your policy, the more you’ll pay. But you’ll also be protected against more risks, which means your car insurance claim can cover losses so you don’t have to.

When should I file a car insurance claim?

Generally, there are more cases when you should file an auto insurance claim rather than skip it. Here are a few key examples:

When you’ll save money

You should consider filing a car insurance claim whenever your out-of-pocket costs would extend past your deductible. Reminder: your deductible is the amount you’ll pay for certain auto insurance coverage types to kick in. For example, if you do serious damage to your car — say, you back into something large and cause $1,500 of damage. If you have a $500 deductible, you’d really be receiving $1,000 for your auto insurance claim.

When you caused an accident or damage to someone else’ car or property

If your accident caused damage to anything other than your own car, it’s important to file a claim. If the damage is minor, it might seem like something you can work out with the other driver or property owner. However, it’s often safer to connect with your insurer and file a claim through the proper channels. Your insurance company has claim agents who can work with the agents of the other person’s company to ensure that the rights and responsibilities of each party are taken into consideration.

When someone hit your car

If someone else hits your car, no matter who’s at fault, you should begin the claims process as soon as possible. If possible, gather as much information from the other driver as possible, including information on their vehicle and their insurance policy info. Get the contact information of any witnesses who are willing to give it and take photo and video evidence of the damage if you can. Keeping an accident checklist in your glove compartment can help prompt you if you’re shaken up by the incident.

When people were injured in an accident

If you’re in an accident with injuries, it’s even more important to file a claim as soon as possible. Your insurance company will need to have a full picture of any medical costs involved in the accident so it can properly determine the payout amount it will provide. Even if it appears that no one is hurt in the immediate aftermath, those involved may later discover that they require medical attention, which can make skipping a claim risky.

Is there ever a time I shouldn’t file an insurance claim?

Even though it’s almost always a good idea to go through the insurance claim process for the financial and legal protection it provides, there are a few times you may consider skipping it:

When the damages are extremely minor

If you’re in a fender bender that leaves little damage to either car, you may not want to file a claim since it might increase your premium rate, no matter who is at fault. But be cautious here. If it’s truly a minor bump — say, you hit your brother’s car when backing out of your parents’ house and left a small dent in his bumper — you might be justified in skipping it. But generally, unless you can come to an agreement with the other person immediately, it may be beneficial to contact your insurer.

When you damaged your own car

If you damage your own car, you typically have a little more leeway in regard to filing a claim with your insurance company. Let’s say you’re in a one-car accident, perhaps you backed into a pole or sideswiped a cement barrier, and it results in your car having only minor damage. In these cases, you may be able to get the damage fixed for less than your deductible, so it may make more sense to pay for the damage yourself rather than making a potential premium-raising claim. If the damage is significant, though, you may want to consider contacting your insurer to get help paying for repairs.

How will an insurance claim impact my car insurance rates?

Even if you are not at fault in an accident, you may see your premium rise after you make an insurance claim. Why? Insurers are in the business of assessing risk and it’s possible that they may consider you a higher-risk driver once you are involved in an accident, regardless of the circumstances.

But this isn’t always the case. Many insurers offer accident forgiveness. What this means exactly varies from insurer to insurer, but in general, it means your rates won’t go up after your first at-fault accident. Some insurers charge extra for this option while others include it in the basic policy. It’s worth considering looking for an insurer with this option if you have a clean driving record for at least the last three years.

Frequently asked questions

    • Not necessarily, provided you can get the necessary information (like proof of damages) to your insurance company. But getting a police report can help you in two ways when you’re figuring out how to file an insurance claim.

      First, the report gives you evidence of the accident. This can be especially helpful if the other driver was at-fault and you need to prove it.

      Secondly, many states require that certain accidents get reported to law enforcement. Usually, you need to report the accident when the damages exceed a certain dollar amount or someone was injured. By getting the police report, you make sure you’re covered there.

    • The process of filing a claim varies from one insurer to the next, but in general, most insurance companies have a phone number you may call to start your claim. Others may offer an online claim form or may allow you to start a claim via the app. No matter what route you take to make a car insurance claim, be sure to give the claims representative or your insurance agent all the requested information, which will help get your auto insurance claim process started.
    • No. But if you’re thinking about filing a claim, there’s probably a timeline in place. Look up your deadline for submitting your car insurance claim so you don’t miss your window and miss out on your policy benefits.