What happens when you file a car insurance claim
When you file a car insurance claim, you are telling your insurance company that you have had an accident or other damage, and asking them to pay for repairs or injuries under the terms of your policy. The company will assign an adjuster to your case — this person inspects the damage, reviews police reports if there is one, and decides how much the company will pay. You do not have to accept their first offer if you believe it is too low, and you can hire your own appraiser to challenge their estimate.
The process usually takes two to six weeks from the time you file until you receive payment, though it can be faster if the damage is minor and liability is clear. If another driver caused the accident, you may be able to recover money from their insurance company instead of using your own coverage — this is called a third-party claim. If you caused the accident, you will file a first-party claim with your own insurer.
Key Takeaways
- File your claim as soon as possible after an accident, ideally within a few days, and have your policy number, driver's license, and the other driver's information ready.
- Take photos of all vehicle damage, the accident scene, and any visible injuries before anything is moved or cleaned up.
- If police responded, get the report number at the scene or call the police department later to request it — your insurer will need this.
- The insurance adjuster's damage estimate is not final; you can hire an independent appraiser if you believe the repair cost is higher.
- Keep all receipts, medical bills, and repair invoices in one place, because you may need them to support your claim or challenge a low offer.
What to gather before you call your insurance company
Have your policy number in front of you when you call — it is on your insurance card or in your policy documents. You will also need your driver's license number, the date and time of the accident, and the location. If another vehicle was involved, write down the other driver's name, phone number, address, driver's license number, license plate, vehicle make and model, and their insurance company name and policy number. If there were witnesses, get their names and phone numbers too.
Take photos of all damage to your vehicle from multiple angles, the accident scene, road conditions, traffic signs, and any visible injuries. Do this before the vehicles are moved if it is safe to do so. If you were injured, take photos of bruises or cuts. These photos are your evidence and will support your claim if the other driver disputes what happened.
If police came to the scene, ask the officer for the report number before they leave. If you did not get it, call the police department's non-emergency line the next day and request the accident report by date and location — you will need the report number to give your insurer. Some police departments charge a small fee to send the report, usually five to ten dollars.
How to file your claim
Call your insurance company's claims line — the number is on your policy or insurance card. Have all the information from the previous section ready. The representative will ask you to describe what happened, when it happened, and whether anyone was injured. Be factual and stick to what you know; do not guess or speculate about what the other driver was thinking or why they acted a certain way. Say "I don't know" if you are unsure about something.
The company will ask whether you want to use their preferred repair shop or choose your own. Using their shop may speed up the process, but you have the right to use any licensed repair shop you trust. The company will also ask about your deductible — this is the amount you pay out of pocket before the insurance pays. If your deductible is five hundred dollars and repairs cost two thousand dollars, you pay five hundred and the insurance pays fifteen hundred.
After you file, the company will assign an adjuster and give you their name and phone number. The adjuster will contact you to schedule a time to inspect the vehicle. This inspection usually happens within three to five business days. You do not have to be present, but it is a good idea to be there so you can point out all damage and ask questions.
What the adjuster does and what to do if you disagree
The adjuster will examine your vehicle, take photos, and write an estimate for repairs. They will also review the police report, medical records if anyone was injured, and any other evidence. Within a few days of the inspection, they will send you a written estimate and tell you how much the insurance company will pay. This amount is based on the cost to repair your vehicle to its condition before the accident, minus your deductible.
If you believe the estimate is too low — for example, if the repair shop you contacted gave you a higher quote — you can challenge it. Get a written estimate from a licensed repair shop and send it to your adjuster. If the estimates differ significantly, ask the adjuster to explain the difference. Some damage, like rust or pre-existing dents, may not be covered, and the adjuster should explain why.
If you and the adjuster cannot agree, you can hire an independent appraiser to inspect the vehicle and write their own estimate. The cost is usually three hundred to five hundred dollars, and your insurance company may split the cost with you or pay it entirely if the appraiser's estimate is significantly higher than the adjuster's. Ask your adjuster about the appraisal process before you hire someone.
Dealing with medical bills and injury claims
If you were injured in the accident, you will need to report this to your insurance company as part of your claim. Keep all medical records, bills, and receipts — these are your proof of what you spent on treatment. Your insurance company will ask for these documents before they pay any medical bills.
If the other driver caused the accident, their insurance company may be responsible for your medical bills instead of yours. This is called a third-party claim. Your own insurance company can help you file this claim, or you can contact the other driver's insurer directly. Do not sign anything or accept a settlement offer from the other driver's insurance without reviewing it carefully — once you sign, you usually cannot ask for more money later.
If you have health insurance, your health insurance may pay your medical bills first, and then the car insurance company reimburses your health insurance. This is called subrogation. Ask both your health insurance and your car insurance company how they will handle this so you understand who is paying what.
What happens after the adjuster approves payment
Once the adjuster approves the estimate, the insurance company will issue payment. The check is usually made out to you and the repair shop jointly, which means both of you have to sign it before the shop can cash it. This protects you by ensuring the money goes to repairs rather than somewhere else. If you want to use a different repair shop than the one on the check, contact your adjuster and ask them to reissue the check with the new shop's name.
Take the check and the estimate to the repair shop and ask them to start work. The shop will keep the vehicle until repairs are complete, which usually takes one to three weeks depending on the damage. Once repairs are done, inspect the vehicle carefully before you pick it up. If something does not look right or the repair is incomplete, tell the shop before you leave — they are responsible for fixing it correctly.
Keep all repair invoices and receipts. If you sell the vehicle later, a potential buyer may ask whether it has been in an accident and repaired. Having documentation that repairs were done by a licensed shop and paid for by insurance is better than having no record at all.
Rental car coverage and other expenses
If your policy includes rental car coverage, your insurance company will pay for a rental vehicle while yours is being repaired. The daily limit varies by policy — it might be thirty dollars a day or fifty dollars a day. Call your insurance company and ask them to arrange the rental; they usually have agreements with rental companies that will bill the insurance directly so you do not have to pay upfront.
If your policy does not include rental coverage, you will have to pay for a rental yourself and may be able to recover that cost from the other driver's insurance if they caused the accident. Keep all rental receipts and submit them with your claim. Some insurance companies will reimburse you for reasonable rental costs even without rental coverage on your policy, so ask.
Other expenses you may be able to recover include towing costs, storage fees if your vehicle is impounded, and the cost of a police report. Keep receipts for everything and submit them to your adjuster with an explanation of why the expense was necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a claim after an accident?
Most insurance companies ask you to report an accident within 24 to 72 hours, though some allow longer. Check your policy or call your company to confirm their important date. Filing quickly helps because memories are fresh and evidence like skid marks or traffic camera footage may still be available.
Will filing a claim raise my insurance rates?
That depends on your policy and whether you were at fault. If the other driver caused the accident, your rates usually will not go up. If you caused the accident, your rates may increase when your policy renews. Ask your insurance company what to expect in your specific situation.
What if the other driver does not have insurance?
If you have uninsured motorist coverage on your policy, your own insurance will pay for your repairs and medical bills. If you do not have this coverage, you may have to sue the other driver in small claims court to recover your costs. Contact your state's insurance commissioner's office for information about uninsured driver funds, which exist in some states.
Can I choose my own repair shop, or do I have to use the insurance company's shop?
You have the right to use any licensed repair shop you choose. The insurance company cannot force you to use their preferred shop. However, if you use a shop outside their network, the company may not may provide the work, so ask about this before you decide.
What should I do if the repair shop finds additional damage after starting work?
Tell your adjuster when ready. The shop should not proceed with repairs that were not on the original estimate without approval. The adjuster will inspect the additional damage and issue a supplemental estimate. This can extend the repair timeline, so let your insurance company know as soon as the shop discovers it.