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Question

Can I add coverage after I've had an accident?

Can you add collision coverage to your vehicle after an accident and still be covered if you haven't made a claim yet?

Dec 23, 2017 Lee's Summit, Missouri

Answer
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Ava Lynch

Insurance Analyst

Ava joined The Zebra as a writer and licensed insurance agent in 2016. She now works as a senior insurance contributor, providing insights and data a…

Credentials
  • 9+ years of Experience in the Insurance Industry

Unfortunately you cannot add collision coverage after an accident and then use that coverage for the accident; your coverage only becomes applicable for accidents that occur after you add the coverage - not before. The date of the accident is what they look at, not when you file the claim. At this point, your best course of action to is repair the damages out-of-pocket and add collision and comprehensive (sometimes called full coverage) for the future.

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