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Do I need a police report to file a claim with insurance if I damaged my own vehicle?

I went mudding in a field on my property and the car spun out of control and hit a tree. Do I need a police report to file a claim with insurance?

Jan 16, 2020 Hillsboro, OH

Answer
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Kristine Lee

Manager, Content and Data

Credentials
  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty

Kristine is a licensed insurance agent who joined The Zebra in 2019 as an in-house content researcher and writer. Before joining The Zebra, she was a…

You do not need a police report to open a claim. Since it was a single-vehicle accident, you will be charged as at-fault if the claim is paid, which would result in a higher premium. I would get an estimate for the damage and see if it's worth filing a claim for, and possibly pay out-of-pocket to avoid a rate hike.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

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