How to File an Auto Insurance Claim: A Step-by-Step Guide

After ensuring everyone is safe and contacting the appropriate authorities after an accident, here are the steps to follow with your insurance company to make the process as painless as possible.

Step 1. Check your insurance coverage

The first order of business is to review your policy to confirm what's covered and what isn’t. That way, you’re prepared for what the claim will – and, perhaps, will not – cover. 

How you’re covered for an accident depends on the type of coverage under your policy and the severity of the damage: 

• Liability: You’ll almost certainly have this coverage, which pays for damages, injuries or medical bills; the question will be how much of it you have. In almost all states, you must have at least a liability-only policy that meets state-minimum requirements for bodily injury or property damage you cause to another motorist, their passengers or their vehicle. It’s possible you have more than those minimums, though. With liability insurance, there isn't a deductible. 
• Comprehensive: Comprehensive coverage is optional. It pays for damages to your own car that occur outside of an accident, such as storm damage, theft or vandalism. This form of coverage has a deductible. Deductibles can range from $0 to $2,500. The maximum coverage amount is the cash value of your car. 
• Collision: Collision coverage is optional, but lenders often require it if your car is financed. It pays for repairs to your own car in an accident. As with comprehensive insurance, collision coverage has a deductible, and it can range from $0 to $2,500. The maximum coverage limit is the value of your vehicle. 

Additionally, your policy may include rental reimbursement, which pays for the cost of a rental vehicle or temporary transportation costs, while your car is in the shop for repairs. Rental reimbursement usually pays for a portion of your rental, up to a total maximum. For example, Amica policies cover up to $1,200 in rental costs.

Step 2. Contact your insurance company

After the accident, as soon as it's safe, contact your car insurance company. Typically, insurers allow you to begin the insurance claims process through an online portal, by filling out the claims form through a mobile app or by calling the insurer's claims number. 

Whatever method you use for filing claims, you'll be asked for details on the incident:

• The date and general time it occurred
• Who was involved, and the other person's contact information, phone number and insurance details
• What happened and where
• If applicable, the police report number

You'll also be asked for any photos or video you may have taken at the scene of the accident.

As a rule, it’s best to contact your own insurance company, so they can conduct a thorough liability investigation. However, if the auto accident involved another driver who was at fault, you have the option of filing a claim with the driver's insurer rather than using your own insurance company. By doing so, you can avoid paying a deductible. To go this route, you report the incident to the driver's insurance company and provide the other driver's name and policy number.

Step 3. Assessing the damage

After you submit the claim, the insurance company may assign an appraiser to your claim to assess the damage to your vehicle. This person will review the claim and supporting documents, and they may schedule an in-person inspection or request repair estimates from a local repair shop. In some cases, they may request additional photos of the damage, or other supporting documents if they need additional information.

Step 4. Receive a settlement and take next steps

Once the appraiser has done their work, an insurance adjuster reviews the claim and your policy, determines liability, and contacts you with a settlement offer. If your car was damaged in the accident, the insurer will inform you if the car is a total loss — where the cost of repairs would exceed a high percentage of the car's value — or if it's repairable.

If the car is repairable, the insurance company will tell you how much of the repair costs it will cover. For the repairs, you can choose any repair or body shop you like, or you can ask the insurance company for recommendations. Depending on the situation and repair shop, the insurer may pay the shop directly, or it may issue the payment directly to you.

If your policy includes rental reimbursement, your insurance agent or the insurance company's claims representative can help you book a rental car while your car is unusable or in the shop. 

If the damaged vehicle is declared a total loss, the insurer will typically send you a check for the car's value at the time of the accident.

Navigating the claims process 

Whether it's a minor fender bender or an accident that causes your car to be a total loss, a car insurance claim will go more smoothly if it’s prepared correctly and you stay in contact with your insurance company. Don't be afraid to ask questions so you always know what to expect and what will happen next.

Remember, your auto insurance policy is designed to help you after the unexpected occurs. By being prepared and proactive when filing a claim, you can minimize swerves and unexpected bumps as the process proceeds.