When and How to File a Car Insurance Claim [Calculator]

Should you submit an insurance claim after a crash? Find out with our claims calculator.

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Ross Martin

Insurance Writer

Credentials
  • 5+ years in the Insurance Industry

Ross joined The Zebra as a writer and researcher in 2019. He specializes in writing insurance content to help shoppers make informed decisions.

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Kristine Lee

Insurance Analyst

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  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
  • 5+ years of Experience in the Insurance Industry

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…

Calculator: Should I file an auto insurance claim?

If you've had an accident or discovered that your vehicle was hit by another car, you'll need to decide whether or not to file an insurance claim. There are many cases where filing a claim is simply unavoidable — either the damage is too great or you don't want to risk being scammed. However, some types of damage make filing a claim less cut-and-dry.

Using The Zebra’s State of Auto Insurance report, we built an insurance claim calculator to help determine if you should file an insurance claim through your provider or pay for damages out of pocket. Try it out below. 

The calculator above looks at the parameters of your accident and details of your insurance coverage, and provides a comparison of the out-of-pocket expenses vs. insurance rate increases. Upon completion, you’ll receive our recommendation on how to move forward. Our recommendation is only guidance and shouldn’t substitute for advice from your insurer.

The calculator is intended to show you an estimate of how much you may pay in insurance premiums if any of the selected events occur. Although the calculator is based on actual premiums for insurance sold in your area, there are several reasons why your calculator results may not match your actual premiums that pertain to further specifics not captured in the calculation. Please contact your carrier if you are unsure if you should file a claim.

Note: completing this calculator will not impact your rates as we are not providing your results to carriers.


What is a car insurance claim?

A car insurance claim is a report you file after a collision with another vehicle or another incident that results in damage to your vehicle. A claim usually results in a payment from your car insurance company. This payout happens only after you meet your deductible.

Key takeaways

  • Car insurance claims can cause your insurance rates to increase for up to three years
  • Claims may take anywhere from weeks to several months to be processed
  • Most insurers now provide apps to help speed up the claims process

How to file a car insurance claim

Filing an auto insurance claim is a relatively straightforward process. The Insurance Information Institute[1] recommends contacting your insurance company immediately following a covered accident (or consulting your insurer's mobile app for more information). Your insurance company may provide incident-specific instructions, but the typical steps to file an auto insurance claim will be similar to the below.

Inform your insurance company
Inform your insurance company

Letting your insurance company know about the accident can help get the claim started. Most often this is done by calling your insurer at the scene of the accident. However, many major insurers now offer mobile apps that can speed up the process. In many cases, you can upload images of any damage immediately. 

Gather documents and file a proof of claim report
Gather documents and file a proof of claim report

If you filed a police report, be sure to keep a copy on hand. Supply any and all forms and information your car insurance company requests. 

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Make the claim in a timely manner

Confirm any document filing due dates and be sure to submit your forms on time. You'll need to make sure that all of your documents are submitted within the timeframe that your company requires.

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Ask about rental car reimbursement

While your vehicle is being repaired, see if your insurance company provides any sort of rental car reimbursement. This can help you to carry on with your life while repairs are being made. Some companies may offer reimbursement for ridesharing or public transit travel in lieu of rental car coverage. Keep in mind that this might also be an extra coverage option that could be smart to add.


Should I get an estimate before filing a claim?

If your vehicle was the only one to sustain damage — meaning that no other parties were involved — it's a good idea to get an estimate before making a claim. If the cost of repairs is small enough to comfortably pay out-of-pocket, it makes more sense to cover the expense yourself.

Remember that a car insurance claim stays on your record for at least three years, meaning that you will not only be paying your deductible to have your vehicle repaired. You will also see a rate hike for that duration as well. If the cost of repairs would be cheaper than paying your deductible and incurring the increased costs added to your insurance premiums, avoid filing a claim.

However, if the damage done is clearly severe enough to warrant a claim — or if other parties were involved — you may forego this step. Once you begin the claims process, it's likely that a claims adjuster will provide a rough estimate. Your insurance company may also direct you to a local repair shop for an estimate before the claim is paid out

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Zebra Tip: Don't admit fault


It's important not to admit guilt in the immediate aftermath of an accident with another driver, especially if fault is not clear. First and foremost, check that everyone is alright. Afterward, you may begin exchanging information and notifying the police. The natural urge to apologize can be strong, but this should be avoided, as even a simple "sorry" might be construed as an admission of guilt in some instances. Overall, it's best to remain calm and let the insurance companies determine fault through the process of subrogation.


Three scenarios in which you should file a car insurance claim

While at times it might work in your favor not to involve your car insurance company after a crash, there are times when you should always file a claim:

1. If anyone is injured

If you, passengers in your vehicle, anyone in another vehicle, or any pedestrians are injured in a crash, you need to file a claim — especially if there’s a chance you’ll be found at fault. Medical expenses can add up, and failing to file a claim can leave you open to litigation. If you wait to get sued before contacting your insurance company to file a claim, your claims representative could deny the claim altogether.

 

2. If fault is unclear in the collision

If you’re involved in a crash that results in property damage or injury, and the fault is in dispute, you’ll nee